This review was originally written for The Reviews Hub: https://www.thereviewshub.com/chitty-chitty-bang-bang-marlowe-theatre-canterbury/

The iconic car shines as it takes flight in this whimsical musical adaptation of the 1968 classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Largely following the original film’s plot, the production sees Caractacus Potts (Ore Oduba), Truly Scrumptious (Ellie Nunn) and Potts’ children Jeremy and Jemima attempt to escape the clutches of the vicious Vulgarians desperate to steal the magical car. It is a production which thrives on its nostalgia but it misses the mark in attempting to combine newer songs with those more familiar.

Sensational as the crackers inventor Potts, Oduba more than makes the role his own in a brilliant performance. Oduba looks at ease in this role and is the complete showman as the leading man, oozing charisma as Potts, and tapping into his impressive dancing ability during the iconic Me Ol’ Bamboo routine brilliantly.

Alongside Oduba is Ellie Nunn as the sweet yet feisty Truly Scrumptious. Slightly underused in the first half, Nunn comes into her own as Chitty takes off and the quartet (Potts, Scrumptious and the children) find themselves in peril in Vulgaria. Nunn’s strong delivery of the wind-up toy in Doll on a Music Box mimics the original well, demonstrating at the same time Nunn’s excellent vocal range.

Liam Fox also hits the right notes as the goofy Grandpa Potts. Fox has the unenviable task of emulating the iconic Lionel Jeffries from the 1968 film, and more than holds his own in this portrayal. Fox’s singing prowess is impressive and his big number, Posh is just as daft as in the film and well replicated here. It is a shame that the famous nautical scene from the film is reduced to the outhouse hanging from a glorified fishing pole, but Fox captures the marching movement of Grandpa well.

As the dastardly Childcatcher, Charlie Brooks, of EastEnders’ Janine fame, feels criminally underused in this production. Brooks’ devilish delivery of the menacing character is a little more pantomime villain than the original, which left many first-time viewers traumatised for years, but nevertheless, it still works. Brooks’ solo is strong, but it is a shame that this role is so limited given the significance of the casting.

Martin Callaghan and Jenny Gayner are fun as the bawdy Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria. The pair bounce off each other well but it is a shame that the famous number Chu-Chi Face is almost unrecognisable in this production, losing the slapstick humour from the film and opting for a more risqué approach. Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph, meanwhile, make the most of every moment as Vulgarian spies Boris and Goran respectively, but are almost forgotten about following the interval after providing brilliantly much of the play’s humour.

Morgan Large’s set and costume design works hard to bring the production through multiple scene changes and ambitious locations. The fairground, for example, is creatively presented through costume elements made to mimic fairground rides, while Potts’ workshop is full of whizzing and fizzing pieces that capture his madness well. That said, it is a production that feels as if it gets smaller the more it goes on, with the eye-catching workshop being replaced by a castle which is just made up of a few blocks, a banner and a couple of thrones.

It is a production of two halves. The first half is jam-packed with iconic moments and songs that evoke nostalgia for the film, while the second is littered with original numbers that do not quite land. The cliche-ridden Teamwork and The Bombie Samba are too modern against the whimsical originals, and both feel unnecessary fillers given that this show almost hits three hours, especially as it takes ages for the Potts’ clan to reemerge properly after the interval, losing a lot of the energy and momentum that the first half garners.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to like in this production. It would be hard not to be moved and delighted at the sight of Chitty flying overhead, which certainly needs to be seen to be believed, and Oduba’s leading man routine is full of grace and charm. Despite some shaky newer numbers, the production comes to life thanks to its talented leads, hardworking ensemble and brilliant young performers, with the iconic hits still striking the right notes and evoking the nostalgic memories of the classic film. There is still lots of magic in old Chitty.