Car's the star as Chitty drives Bristol audience wild with delight

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Bristol Hippodrome

The Bristol Hippodrome has had its fair share of stars over the years, but last night the star of the show boasted four wheels and a set of wings.

After four years at the London Palladium (where it became the longest running show in the history of the theatre, beating productions like Oliver! and three years touring large scale venues all over the UK) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is back.

And this week it sailed into Bristol as part of its new UK tour.

There are few people – of any generation – that aren't familiar with the story and songs of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The 1968 film was a huge hit and its pedigree was impeccable: a script by Roald Dahl; book by James Bond author Ian Fleming; songs by the famous Sherman Brothers; Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes taking the lead roles and Albert R "Cubby" Broccoli producing.

It's a hard act to follow, but this new stage show gives it a good shot. This is more than a show for kids and nostalgics – the production delivers in every department, from music to sets to performances.

In case anyone needs reminding, this is the story of eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts who takes care of his two young children, Jeremy and Jemima, and their slightly barmy, ex-military man Grandpa Potts.

When the children beg their father to buy a broken down jalopy at a local junk yard, Caractacus does whatever he can to make some money to buy it.

Using his inventing skills, he transforms the piece of junk into a beautiful working machine, which they name Chitty Chitty Bang Bang because of the unusual noise the engine makes.

But unbeknown to the Potts clan the car is also attracting interest from the Baron and Baroness Bomburst, rulers of Vulgaria, who have outlawed children and even employ the sinister Child Catcher to ensnare them. The few remaining children have been hidden by their friend the Toymaker in the sewers beneath the baronial castle.

When two Vulgarian spies kidnap Grandpa Potts, believing him to be the great inventor behind the car, and the Childcatcher gets his evil mitts on Jeremy and Jemima, Caractacus and Truly Scrumptious now have many more people to save and, through teamwork, hatch a plan that might just work.

The sets, including the Potts' windmill home, the sugar factory and the palace of the Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria are impressive, while the musical numbers, including the morris dance of Me Ol' Bamboo, endearing singalong of Grow The Roses and of course that uplifting title song, are faithfully rendered by a vocally flawless company.

In terms of performances, Katy Ray as Truly Scrumptious is the vocal star of the show, and although Darren Bennett lacks some of the pizzazz of Van Dyke's Caractacus Potts, he has a twinkle in his eye and bags of energy.

Edward Peel and Kim Ismay have camp fun with the roles of the villainous Baron and Baroness Bomburst, while Dean Maynard brings a more dark-hued quality to the Childcatcher – one of the most sinister characters in children's entertainment.

And let's not forget spies Boris (Richard Ashton) and Goran (Nigel Garton) who inject plenty of humour, much aimed at the grateful adults!

The biggest applause all night, however, was for Chitty itself. Make no mistake, in this production the car – the most expensive stage prop in the history of British theatre – is definitely the star.

When the car is first revealed, gleaming and sparkling away under the lights, it garners the expected gasps of delights from the audience and a spontaneous round of applause.

Given the limitations of a touring production, the flight sequences are slick and visually impressive.

As Chitty sails over the stage, the audience responds with deservedly enthusiastic cheers and when the car and its passengers vanish behind the curtain to send the audience giddily into the intermission, the verdict is unanimously positive.

You'll leave the theatre with a skip in your step.

8/10

NATALIE HALE