16th May 2025
H.M.S. Pinafore
Clevedon G & S Society, Prince’s Hall, Clevedon, Somerset
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Author: Brian Oliver
Information
- Date
- 29th August 2018
- Society
- Bournemouth & Boscombe Light Opera Company
- Venue
- Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director
- Helen Barrington
- Musical Director
- Ian Peters
- Choreographer
- Carly Simmerling
When the curtain came down on their magnificent 2017 production of Pricilla Queen of the Desert, I don’t think that anyone in BBLOC might have dreamed that their company would be one of the few chosen to be offered the performing rights to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2018. It shows that rights holders recognise the potential and ability of this excellent company.
The company took up the challenge and also took the brave decision to put it on five afternoon and five evening performances during the week following the August Bank holiday when there would be lots of visitors in town for the Bournemouth Air show.
Bbloc certainly delivered the goods, with a first class production team, the show was well cast, I thought that all the leading rolls were excellent. With lots of colourful costumes and set that brought the car to life and made it fly, it all looked stunning. The choreography was superb, “Me Ol’ Bamboo” was the outstanding musical number in the show, I was mesmerised watching it and I wished that I was still young and fit enough to have been part of it.
Before seeing this production I did not appreciate how large the children’s roles of Jeremy and Jemina were. On the Wednesday night, we saw two excellent performances, and they certainly stole show, followed a close second, by the wonderful dogs that caused the audience to oh and ah every time one appeared on the stage
I thought that each and every member of the cast put their whole heart into this wonderful professional standard production.
To move into the theatre on a Sunday morning, build the set, have tech and dress rehearsals for the company and two teams of children, followed by two performance a day, for five days, competing against the Bournemouth Air Show, has to be considered as a fantastic achievement for an amateur company. This was another great triumph Bbloc and to quote my wife when she spoke during the standing ovation “It was absolutely magnificent”. A massive congratulations to all concerned
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