Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

 

Thank you for inviting Phyllis and me to your production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was good to see such a big audience at Forum 28, and thank you for your hospitable welcome

Because of the nature of the production, being set in different places in quick succession, means it is always going to be a very busy show for the backstage crew. They handled the many cloths and large trucks admirably, with very little downtime between scenes. The car was absolutely fantastic, I’m sure it must have been a technical nightmare, very well done. Both lighting and sound were well executed. The costumes suited the period well.

The orchestra was well led by Paul Blake, the tempos were good throughout the show, never at any time did they overpower the performers.

Ryan Grainger as Caractacus Potts played the part with great energy, his rapport with Jeremy and Jemima was excellent. However I felt Ryan was a little young for the role, and he didn’t come across as quite enough the eccentric inventor for me. Deborah McGuire as Truly Scrumptious was excellent, her singing, dancing and acting was faultless throughout. The highlight of her performance for me was her singing and characterisation of ‘ Doll on a Music Box’, along with Ryan, this number was outstanding. The night I attended it was Team Bang playing children, Jeremy and Jemima. Sisters Phoebe and Madeline Lever, playing the two roles were excellent, they were focused throughout the performance, never missing a step or note, very well done to both.  Our District 11 Representative  saw Team Chitty during the run and informs me they were just as excellent. Seamus Doran was very convincing as Grandpa Potts.

Neil Hastings and Sarah Carrick as Baron and Baroness Bomburst, played their roles brilliantly, never letting their comic characters slip. Bombie Samba and Chu Chi Face were really funny, very well done both. The Baron's spies, Boris and Goran, played by William Patrick and Thomas Lowes were incompetently hilarious throughout, their song Act English was a showstopper. The Childcatcher, played by Estelle Barton was convincingly evil, and her makeup was superb. All other supporting roles and ensemble numbers were very well done.

Choreographers Sally McKimm and Deborah Brown can feel very proud of themselves. All the dance routines were suitably energetic, and always in time, well done both. Finally I would like to congratulate Director Steve Carrick on a blockbuster production, bringing a show of this size and technical complexity to the stage, must have been a nightmare. A very big personal well done from Phyllis and me.

Thanks again for a memorable evening.

  Ed McGee NODA NW 10 Rep.  

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