Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Grand Opera House York, April 2023

The Hatters flew on over to The Grand Opera House to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but does it fly, or chug along? Find out what we thought below…

Adapted from the Ian Fleming novel (yes, the same writer as James Bond…something I still can’t get my head round!) York Stage have given the familiar story wings with this licenced production, directed by Nik Briggs.

Madcap inventor Caractacus Potts is played by Ned Sproston, who has plenty of eccentric charm and great chemistry with Truly Scrumptious (Carly Morton). Morton delights with powerful vocals and a genuine warmth.

Some of the biggest laughs come for Vulgarian spy duo Goran (James Robert Ball) and Boris (Jack Hooper) We saw Hooper play Mr Poppy in Nativity the Musical last year, and Boris here shows his versatility – we barely recognised the playful man-child of a Teaching Assistant from December!

Alex Papachristou’s Baron is a triumph of casting, and the Baroness (Jackie Cox) makes for the perfect pairing. They both have excellent comic timing, and Cox’s reaction to hearing that children have been spotted is a retching delight.

Speaking of children, we saw Esther De La Pena as Jeremy Potts and Eady Mensah as sister Jemima. Both excelled, with confident stage presence, great vocals and plenty of energy.

Grandpa Potts (Mike Liversidge) has a believable relationship with his grandkids, and Posh (with a capital P!) featuring the three of them is a joy.

Richard Barker’s Childcatcher is sublime, and genuinely unsettling. Maintaining the character right through to the final curtain call, Barker wrings every ounce of creepy from this iconic role without venturing into panto villain territory. The stuff of nightmares.

The whole cast work together like a well-oiled (flying) machine, and this is the definition of an ensemble production. Special mention must go to the child actors who will have had a very busy Easter holidays fulfilling a packed schedule of shows!

A highlight for me and Mrs Hatter was the beautiful music box sequence, with Carly Morton mastering every twitch and gesture of a robotic rotating doll. As a routine it works like…well…clockwork!

Other stand-out moments include the toe-tapping Me Ol’ Bamboo featuring dazzling choreography, the poignant Hushabye Mountain and of course the phantasmagorical flying car. I won’t say too much about the car, except that we feel that Dress Circle seats may be the best position to full appreciate the technical wizardry and keep the magic alive.

I was fortunate to see the original West End production with Jason Donovan as Caractacus Potts, and the late Stephen Gately as The Child Catcher, and it was a real spectacle. Obviously a top London production has more under the bonnet in terms of production values and budget, but York Stage do an incredible job of staging such an elaborate and technically complex show.

A live orchestra ensures the fantastic score shines throughout the production, expertly led by Musical Director Adam Tomlinson. One or the two of the stage-specific numbers are less memorable but overall the songs are a treat for the ears!

The action never stalls, and our two boys (6 and 9) loved every minute. They weren’t familiar with the story, but are now itching to watch the movie on our next family film night. Tickets start at around £22, a fraction of the price of a big West End production and a chance to support local talent. It’s a lot of BANG for your buck!

A truly scrumptious night out for fans of flying cars, musicals and great family theatre!

MAGIC RATING