Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the New Wimbledon Theatre

As the show opens, the audience instantly starts clapping along with the overture. This joyful spirit carries through to the interval and again for the curtain call. It’s not just a fantastic show; it’s a perfect introduction to musical theatre for the next generation.
The night I attended, there was a large number of young students supporting their peers. A quick heads-up: there are a few flashes and bangs throughout, along with some innuendoes.

The two henchmen, Boris and Goran, played by Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph, are wonderful and provide much-wanted comic relief. Their physical and vocal performances kept me and the rest of the audience laughing. Although their redemption arc is rather fast-paced at the end, it’s clear we all loved them regardless.
The musical largely follows the same plot as the film, with only minor changes that will go unnoticed by most. For instance, there’s a mention of Truly giving the children a lift home on her motorbike, which was amusing to imagine.

Adam Garcia plays Caractacus Potts with charismatic wistfulness and a fun twist on the costume that is sure to entertain. Charlie Brooks portrays the Childcatcher, the only downside is that the character didn’t have more stage time. Brooks delivers a wonderfully creepy performance.
I was amazed by Gracie Cochrane as Jemima Potts. Her clear and thoughtful characterisation is fantastic; definitely someone to watch out for. A big shout-out to Bibi Jay from the Ensemble, who stepped up to play the role of Baroness opposite Martin Callaghan as the Baron. These two were magical, offering a different but delightful dynamic compared to the film. Their cheeky partnership brought a new level of humour to the show.

The set, designed by Morgan Large, is mostly minimalistic, with tabs and backdrops showing blueprints and various blocks moved to represent different locations. I loved watching the junkyard Chitty transform into the famous windmill, which kept turning throughout the scene. One spectacular scene change occurs when they go to the carnival. The great costumes, also designed by Large, include carousels and even one person sat on another’s shoulders with tinsel to represent the big top.

“The Old Bamboo” was the spectacular number you’d expect, and Adam Garcia didn’t miss a step, except for the one he’s meant to at the start, which must be a challenge.
I can’t end this review without mentioning the various puppets, from dogs to balloons to cars of different sizes. I’m unsure if the full-sized Chitty Chitty Bang Bang counts as a puppet or automation, but either way, it was amazing to watch it pop its wings out and fly around the stage.

Photo Credit: Paul Coltas.
Reviewed on the 21/05/24 at the New Wimbledon Theatre