JADAR

★★★★☆

Jeremy Sams’ stage adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has been flying around the world for over 20 years. A brand-new production, directed by Thom Southerland, is currently touring the UK with an all-star cast.

The musical follows inventor Caractacus Potts (Ore Oduba), who transforms an old car into a magical flying vehicle that transports him and his family to Vulgaria, a vile kingdom ruled by a childish Baron (Martin Callaghan) and child-hating Baroness (Jenny Gayner), who set their eyes on said car. It’s a daft, sometimes plotless, plot, with irrelevant subplots, unnecessary diversions, and everything but the kitchen sink.

However, like with all good art, there are political undertones, with Vulgaria (Bavaria?) clearly being based on Germany and the kingdom’s disappearing of children reminiscent of the Holocaust. Contemporarily, one could draw parallels between the petulant, dictatorial Baron and the current resident of the White House, which is perhaps a testament to the ever-relevance of this storyline. Death of the author and all that.

One might criticise the story, and its portrayal of the villainous Vulgarians (which sounds awfully like Bulgarians but is, of course, a reference to “vulgar”), for being a bit xenophobic, what with its cartoonish portrayal of Germans. However, I appreciate that the book and film were written not so long after the Second World War, and modern audiences want the Bavarians to be similar to those in the film.

The musical is much longer than it needs to be. The first act is slow and bloated. So much happens but little of importance. A lot of it is just character building, which is unnecessary for such a (proudly) silly story. Things pick up when the titular car finally appears, and even more so when we visit Bavaria and catch a glimpse of the Childcatcher (Charlie Brooks). The second act is much more quick and sharp, especially because the Bavarian characters are incredibly entertaining.

I could rip a dozen pages out of Sans’ book but I appreciate that it’s an adaptation, and people want to see as much of the film onstage as possible. Ultimately, this musical is made for fans of the film, and most of them seem to love it, so it has done its job.

Whilst the original production was elaborate, like with most productions, it has gotten cheaper over time. However, this new production (designed by Morgan Large) is a definite improvement on other recent productions of the musical. In general, a lot of modern productions have minimal set and an overreliance on screens, but this production just uses the screen for simple things like the sky.

There is an abundance of small set pieces but fewer, bigger set pieces might have better transported the audience to the countless locations, from the seaside to Bavaria, rather than just using a few frames and one’s imagination.

This production is very much a good example of making the most of what you have. It’s a mid-sized production that does its best to create a world of invention and imagination. The result is mixed, but there are some wonderful scenes, particularly those where Chitty floats – and flies!

Like with the new production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, which left Manchester just days ago, the direction is playful and whimsical; it has a child-like quality and wonder to it, like a dream brought to life.

The costumes are fabulously outlandish, especially the garish concoctions worn by the aristocratic Vulgarians. They are certainly pantomimey but that captures the tone of this adaptation. I’m not a fan of pantomimes, and I understand why a child-focused show would take on a pantomimic tone, but Chitty is very much a family musical, by virtue of being based on an old film that even people in their seventies grew up watching. The musical did not need to go so hard with the pantomimic humour.

However, there are some great comedic elements, such as adult humour and jokes directed at the British. Vulgarians Boris (Adam Stafford) and Goran (Michael Joseph) get many of the best lines, such as, “Could I speak English and still be Vulgar?” “No, that would make you American.”

There are some epic group numbers, choreographed by Karen Bruce, particularly ‘The Bombie Samba’, which has (deliberately) been designed to look like a sheltered White person’s fantasy of Brazil. It’s another unnecessary scene but it signals the ignorance and ridiculousness of the Baron (Martin Callaghan) and Baroness (Jenny Gayner), who steal every scene (and every child!).

Ore Oduba is delightful as the protagonist. It’s hard to believe that he stepped into the role, replacing Adam Garcia, just days ago. He’s charismatic and charming to the core. The female lead, Truly Scrumptuous, is played by the silky-voiced Ellie Nunn, who starts off icy but soon melts away. Liam Fox is loveable as Grandpa Potts, John Macauley is a marvellous Toymaker, and Hadrian Delacey dazzles as Lord Scrumptuous and the Announcer – a role too small for an actor of his talent.

The Childcatcher was supposed to be played by the late, great The Vivienne (who Liam dedicated the show to during the curtain call). I interviewed her for The Wizard of Oz, and she told me that the Childcatcher was one of her dream roles. Her life was cut short but she achieved a lot in a small amount of time, and I’m so glad that another dream came true before her untimely passing.

Charlie Brooks, who opened the tour and was scheduled to return on April 1st, has returned a little earlier. Her rendition of the iconic villain is unashamedly camp but still sinister. Few people can play a villain as well as Charlie.

Elaine C. Smith also played the gender-swapped villain last year.

The star of the show, however, is, of course, the sublime score, which is performed wonderfully by this terrific troupe.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is no musical masterpiece but it does not want to be and it does what it needs to do. It’s fun for all the family, with a pantomimic (complete with adult humour) take on a 20th century classic that simultaneously honours and honourably separates itself from the original.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang runs at Palace Theatre Manchester until March 16 and tours the UK until May 10.

Photo: Paul Coltas