Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The Border Musical Theatre scene has been well and truly blessed this year with such a wonderful selection of popupar and very different shows. KAOS have literally pushed ‘the car out’ in a massive way, with spectacular effect. 

The directional vision for this show must have had many challenges but the slick scene changes, projected images and lighting plots made the whole show roll along as smoothly as GEN11.  

It was also evident that the company were blessed with a very well established professional production team, as well as cast members with glowing CVs who have performed in numerous Edinburgh shows.

The opening excitement of the stage version of this well loved film was very tangible. The two youngsters Jemima and Jeremy, played on the night by (Minnie Cooper and Munro Currie), were perfectly cast as delightful siblings. With good diction, acting skills and singing ability, they were a credit to the company. The alternate evenings were played by (twins Alice and Joseph Taylor), siblings in real life and children of the leading lady. I was well informed that they also played their roles superbly.

Leading lady Truly Scrumptious (Claire Taylor), usually part of the KAOS orchestra, was truly superb in her on-stage role. A welcome change for her and fortunate change for KAOS. A natural actress with a beautiful singing voice, she owned the role and shone throughout. ‘Lovely, Lonely Man’ was beautifully sung, but my favourite number had to be the music box song with the counter melody by Caractacus in rag doll guise. Such a perfect pairing of lead characters.

Caractacus (Keith Gilgore), in his first lead role with KAOS, was certainly a major asset to the company. His years of musical theatre experience made him the perfect choice, and he was exceptional in his role.  A natural and engaging character with a fabulous, pitch perfect voice which was a joy to listen to.  The bedtime scene, with cogs and wheels projection, was enchanting, as he sung ‘Hushabye Mountain’ to the sleepy Jeremy and Jemima. 

Grandpa (Dougal Affleck), totally embraced his first role with the company. His thoughtful,’Them Three’, revealed his emotional ownership of his family commitment and ‘Posh!’ was a lovely song with the youngsters preceding the reveal of GEN11. I really enjoyed his interaction with The Vulgarian inventors in, ‘The Roses of Success’. The twitching, white-haired, white-coated scientists made me smile. 

The real life couple playing Baron and Baroness Bomburst were the hilarious, expertly characterised and perfectly in tune duo, Taylor Greame Williams and Wendiejo Bennett. The infantile Baron and the child-hating Baroness engagingly wowed us with a comically choreographed ‘Chu-Chi Face’, while the  dynamic ‘Bombie Samba’ gave the chorus and dancers also a chance to shine. Superb duo!

The pantomime-like, bumbling baddies, Goran and Boris were very comfortably played by Jennifer Redpath and Sadie Johnstone. In some crazy, outlandish guises they were suitably OTT in their quest to recover the car. As non-Vulgarian, Doris and Gordon they continued their manic obsession in their well presented,  ‘Act English’.

The sweet, caring Toymaker was sympathetically characterised by Jamie Wilson. How could a teacher in real life be anything but brilliant with kids? This was evident in his portrayal and his supportive role to inspire and free the sewer-dwelling youngsters who were super confident in ‘Teamwork’.

There is no doubt that the scary role of the Child Catcher had to be powerful and menacing and Harry Robertson had this evil villain captured and woven into to his demeanour. I hope the children in the audience didn't have  too many sleepless nights.

The memory of an airborne car in a Border theatre will always prove that nothing is impossible.

Well done KAOS, that was fantastic, and ’Thank You’ again for the fabulous welcome and interval tea. 

 

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