There was an air of excitable nostalgia wafting over the audience as the brilliantly bonkers 1964 Ian Fleming gem was transformed into a colourful musical at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow.
The story of Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang is such a delightful mix of eccentricity and good over evil, it oozes fun and fizz for all ages to enjoy.
Currently on a nationwide tour, the musical has an impressive cast, cracking set and costumes and marvellous music to push it over the edge of over excellence.
The story tells of charismatic inventor Caractacus Potts (played with aplomb by Adam Garcia), and his two children Jeremy (making his professional debut, Roshan Thomson) and Jemima (the impressive Gracie Cochrane) who are down on their luck.
Living with them is their slightly potty grandfather (Liam Fox) and Edison, the well puppeteered dog. Their lives are turned upside down when the remains of a once great junk car arrive at their home.
Selling off an invention, Potts manages to buy and transform the magical car, and it turns out to be a very special addition for the family.
In steps a love interest for Potts called Truly Scrumptious (Ellie Nunn, who has a lovely voice) and off they head on an adventure which has a few spills and thrills along the way.
The family come across Vulgarian spy duo Boris (the hilarious Adam Stafford) and Goran (played by the equally daft Michael Joseph) in the fictional European dictatorship and have to fight off the men who think their new car is the answer to all the country’s problems.
The spies are equalled by the dictatorship’s monarch The Baron (Martin Callaghan) and Baroness (Jenny Gayner) who love toys, but not children, so much so they have employed The Childcatcher (played by Glasgow’s own Elaine C Smith) to capture any small people.
Luckily for the family, they are helped by The Toymaker (John Macaulay) who tries to hide them from the catcher.
But she is too smart for them and lures the children into her lair with huge ice creams and sticky lollies.
There they find other unfortunate children (from Glasgow) captured and it takes some fine invention from Potts and Truly Scrumptious to rescue them.
It’s a show full of vigour, noise and a fantastic flying car and is a must watch for nostalgia and fun lovers.
Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang runs at Glasgow until Sunday 8th September 2024 and then moves around the UK until its final date at The Theatre Royal in Plymouth from 6th to 10th May 2025. Tickets are available from www.atgtickets.com and www.chittyontour.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family
Photographs by Paul Coltas
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