Darlington Hippodrome – until 3 November 2018
3***
Darlington Operatic Society present Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the autumn offering this year. Performed on the West End and Broadway it is now licensed to amateur performers.
Based on James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s children’s book about an eccentric, widowed British inventor with a magical car, the 1968 film’s story was expanded by co-screenwriter Roald Dahl to include the inventor’s tales of the sinister empire of Vulgaria, where infants are outlawed.
The story follows the down-at-heel Potts family, headed by widower and inventor of wacky machines Caractacus (Julian Cound), Grandpa (David Murray) and children Jeremy and Jemima (on press night Matthew Scott and Alex Lennie). When they meet the enchanting Truly Scrumptious (Beth Hopper on press night) their fortunes look set to change, but first they must evade the villainous Vulgarian Baron (Leighton Taylor-Jones) and Baroness Bomburst (Hannah Teasdale), who have designs on their beloved family car and a disdain for children – personified in the creepy child catcher (Christopher McCann in a rather spectacular costume). With the Baron’s spies, Goran (Eddie Taylor-Jones) and Boris (Nic Myers) bumbling around and the Toy Maker (Tom Kentfield-Wells) helping to save the day.
The car is unmistakably the star. The titular jalopy gets the biggest applause of the show, and rightly so. When Chitty spouts a hovercraft undercarriage and sails away from an approaching Vulgarian battleship, the anticipation becomes palpable. When it takes wings and flies the first time, right before intermission, the crowd goes wild
Stand out moments are definitely the Murray’s Grandpa who truly embodied the spirit of Lionel Jefferies; the wonderful Myers who brings bumbling to a whole new level and Hoppers rendition of Doll in a Music Box, which was a delight to watch.
The ensemble work well under Joanne Hand’s direction, with Cameron Wallace multi-tasking and appearing in many different guises in almost every scene. The staging works well and Stephen Hood’s musical direction meant the live band didn’t drown out any of the singing. And whilst this is an amateur production it is a good production.