Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (BMOS Musical Theatre Company)

So risking life and limb with a lively and impish Childcatcher, played with some considerable enjoyment by Mitch Miller, I took the journey to Vulgaria with a highly accomplished and talented cast. However let’s focus initially on the quite outstanding staging of a deceptively difficult piece of musical theatre, injected passionately with life by Director, Stephen Duckham and littered with exceptional dance numbers (the ‘Me Ol’ Bamboo’ and ‘Roses of Success’ pieces to name but, two that will live long in the memory) from Choreographer, Suzi Budd, not to mention some dynamic conducting from Musical Director, David Easto.

Stage Managers rarely get a mention in reviews but, Thomas Jevons and his team really do deserve considerable credit for some complex scene changes and of course a hydraulic car that provides that audience wow factor.

James Gordanifar is a gloriously understated and highly absorbing Caractacus Potts, central core of the Potts Family, consisting of Nick Owenford as a thoroughly entertaining and likeable Grandpa Potts, with at this performance the cheeky personality of Rui Greaves as Jeremy and the effervescent smile of Daisy Green as Jemima, not forgetting show stealer Falkor as family dog, Edison.

Living very much up to the character name, Carys Wilson is an absolutely magnificent Truly Scrumptious with a golden voice to match, a nice little cameo as her father Lord Scrumptious from Stewart Keiller, delivering with aplomb my favourite line, ‘had your chance, muffed it’.

One of the standout performances is Michelle Worthington’s dry comic timing as Baroness Bomburst,  foiled nicely by the childlike whimsy of her Baron, played by Alistair Jolliffe. Comedy comes in the shape(s) of Jake Genders and Tim Reeves as spies Boris and Goran, their performance of ‘Act English’ is first-rate in every way and worthy of any professional stage (yet another choreographic masterpiece from Suzi Budd, perhaps the multiple mentions will lead to a well deserved award from some artistic authority or other).

Michael McCulley is nervously believable as The Toymaker and the supporting cast of all ages add colour, vibrancy and depth to the many scenes they grace, making this a production you will regret missing as much as you will want to get up and do the Bombie Samba. So with the run of this classic ending on Saturday 30th June 2018, get out and grab your tickets while you still can.

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