đ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
đ New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, London, SW19 1QG
đ Tuesday 21st May 2024
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A TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS FEAST FOR THE EYES
I was invited to the press night of this joyful performance of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, which is playing at the New Wimbledon Theatre until Sunday 26th May. Â
As someone who hadnât seen the 1968 movie and wasnât familiar with the plot, I was coming into the show with fresh eyes. And I loved it. It felt like a real privilege that my first time seeing the story was in this setting being performed by this company of talented actors and musicians.
The musical began with an impressive opening number from the live orchestra, which continued to perform beautifully throughout the entire show. For me, everything on stage gave the musical a cosiness that made for the perfect escapism from my rainy Tuesday.Â
In terms of the acting, I felt the actors had been cast really well for their roles. Everyone on stage, especially the young children Jemima and Jeremy, played by Gracie Cohrane and Rosham Thomson respectively, were triple threats â great at acting, singing and dancing. I also loved how the villains perfectly balanced being both evil and loveable at the same time. This made the performance fun and enjoyable for all ages in the audience.Â
The show contained both overt humour, which worked to keep the younger audience members engaged and happy, as well as a thread of naughtier quips for the adults. I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions during the showâs run of over two and a half hours, as did many of the audience members around me.
The way the set had been created was delightful. More often than not, the colours of the props and backdrops were yellow and golden, particularly in the family home. This created a real sense of warmth, a feeling that no doubt complemented many of the audienceâs nostalgia towards this tale.
I also enjoyed the use of costumes throughout and liked it when they were worn as a way of presenting inanimate objects. In the fun fair scene for example, actors come on dressed as helter skelters and merry-go-rounds, moving as these inanimate objects would. Similarly, Truly Scrumptiousâ time as a doll in a music box was also very impressive, with the choreography making her look like a real doll.
And I canât not mention Chitty, now, can I? The way the production team presented the carâs magic abilities on stage was phenomenal. I even found myself getting goosebumps at one point! I loved the way the car moved around, responding to the actors. These interactions gave Chitty a real personality and brought it to life, meaning she was much more than just a prop!
Without meaning to sound like a horrible person, my only criticism was that Jemima and Jeremy are rescued from the child catcherâs grasp fairly quickly, and it therefore doesnât feel like thereâs very much time at all between things going wrong and them being put right. This is clearly good for the characters, but a little more build-up and suspense would have perhaps helped to make the happy conclusion all the more satisfying in the end.
If youâre looking to escape to the theatre for a couple of hours of joy, I canât recommend CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG enough! Itâs showing at the New Wimbledon Theatre until Sunday 26th May. Book your tickets here.
Estelle Luck
All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.Â
My ticket for this performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was gifted by the New Wimbledon Theatre who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.
CAST LIST:
Adam Garcia as Caractacus Potts; Liam Fox as Grandpa Potts; Charlie Brooks as The Childcatcher; Ellie Nunn as Truly Scrumptious; Roshan Thomson as Jeremy; Gracie Cochrane as Jemima; Martin Callaghan as The Baron; Bibi Jay as The Baroness; Adam Stafford as Boris; Michael Joseph as Goran; John Macaulay as The Toymaker
Ensemble: Hadrian Delacey; Charlie Bishop; Ruaraidh Blackwood; Belle Kizzy Green; Kirsty Ingram; Isabella Mason; Theo UK Rose; Callum Train
RUNNING TIME (approx):
2 hours 40 minutes, including interval
The New Wimbledon Theatre is South West Londonâs premier theatrical venue and has been an iconic landmark in Wimbledon Town Centre since 1910. With a year-round programme of musicals, comedy, family entertainment, dance, drama and of course their legendary annual pantomime, it is also home to the Studio, where amazing development work from new writers, comedians, directors and producers brings the former ballroom to life.
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