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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
‘Chitty’ doesn’t go far, but it’s a fun ride
The musical “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is like a fun road trip with nice and crazy friends who take turns behind the wheel.
There’s no particular destination. We look at this and that. There are stops for sightseeing, nonsense and flirting with danger.
But when the gas gauge tips toward empty, it’s time to head for home and the expected happy ending.
Based on the book by Ian Fleming and the 1968 movie musical, the stage show by Richard M. Sherman, Robert M. Sherman and Jeremy Sams opened Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the Victoria Theatre Association’s Chase Broadway Series.
“CCBB” is named for the sputtering sounds a salvage-yard auto makes after amazingly gifted inventor Caractacus Potts coaxes it back to life.
Without so much as a smear of axle grease across his face, the tall and handsome widower soon has it purring. Voila! It’s an amphibious vehicle and one that can take to the air carrying him, his sweet kids Jeremy and Jemima, and candy heiress Truly Scrumptious (Kelly McCormick). The kids have invited her into the family with eventually predictable results.
Fleming’s penchants for flashy cars, distinctively named women and villains seeking world domination find a different level of expression than in his James Bond novels, but the formula is similar.
Rather than a wow-maker, the car that flies is a sedate amusement park ride blessed with some impressive touring-theater technology. It got momentarily caught up in one of the curtains at the rear of the stage on opening night, but a far heavier burden was the gratingly repetitive theme song that reprises whenever the machine lifts off.
The show is mostly good, clean family fun with a sprinkling of double meanings for the adults who far outnumber kids at subscription series events like this one. Kids will probably like the show most during Act 1, before a fairly simple story about a family detours into a musical hall variety show with production numbers and standup comedy.
Played with pleasing strength, expression and sensitivity by Miami University graduate Steve Wilson, Potts all but carries Act 1. He disappears for long stretches after intermission, when the car and supporting players grab prominence.
“Chitty” could use more of him, as demonstrated by his ability to stand out in “Me Ol’ Bamboo,” a dance number with the male ensemble that pales in comparison to the version in the movie.
The best things in the production, along with a pack of trained and groomed dogs that sprint on cue from one side of the stage to the other, are: the convincing relationship between Potts and his kids; the antics between bumbling spies/comic duo Boris and Goran (Dirk Lumbard and Scott Cote); and the villainous Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria (George Dvorsky and Elizabeth Ward Land), who wear out their welcomes after one too many numbers featuring them.
A diabolical duo ruling over a land of red skies and hints of Nazi Germany, they want the car, but are too distracted by their own personalities to grab it for long. They’re more entertaining as an odd couple,
There are some nice songs, particularly “Hushabye Mountain” for Caractacus and kids. There are funny and silly ones, too, including “Toot Sweet,” in the candy factory, and “Chu-Chi Face” for the Baron and Baroness.
“Chitty Chitty” is mostly a good time with little to show for it but a lingering smile afterward. If that’s enough for you, grab a seat.
Performances continue through Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Schuster Performing Arts Center, Second and Main streets. Tickets, which have been discounted across the board, are $23-$59.50, the lowest in recent memory for any local Broadway Series offering. Call (937) 228-3630, toll free at (888) 228-3630 or on line at www.ticketcenterstage.com. .
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