chitty chitty bang bang

When EBOS announced the bold decision to stage Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at South Hill Park venue there was a real sense of excitement at the ambitious plan to tackle this iconic title and always a very good chance that it would sell out given its wide appeal. It is a very complex show with a large band, two teams of children essential to the story telling and of course a car that can act as a boat and fly. EBOS has proven track record in staging musical theatre and the celebratory reception at the end of the performance proved that they had succeeded in staging a very entertaining show.

The hiring of the flying car is essential to the production and an obvious drain on production budgets requiring some creativity to provide solutions to the multitude of other scenes from the sweet factory to Potts home to the Vulgarian Palace and underground sewers and it was understandable that an open stage with plain wooden portals and a white cyc were used as a basis for these locations.

Key to the success of the show are the children with huge roles for Jeremy and Jemima and a Junior and children’s Ensemble for the army of displaced kids who rally to Potts’s call to assault the Palace. EBOS Bamboo team were excellent (and I have no doubt Hushabye team would be too) and at times out shone the principals with their confident and charming performances. The strong relationship between the two children and their father Caractacus Potts, and Truly Scrumptious is crucial and the EBOS team delivered with a delightful believable quartet, especially in the wonderful Truly Scrumptious and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang songs which closed Act 1. 

The production sounded excellent with a large band and good vocals which really stood out in the fabulous well drilled Me Ol’ bamboo routine and the whole cast coming together for the Act 2 finale reprise of the title song. Congratulations to all involved to bringing this wonderful title to the Berkshire stage.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.