CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
It was around seven years ago that I was converted. Up until that point I will freely admit that I was not a fan of Ian Fleming’s book and certainly not a fan of the film. Then I saw Brighton Theatre Group’s production at Theatre Royal Brighton and was won over. It’s an ambitious piece for any company to take on, professional or amateur, and somehow they pulled it off and with style.
So it is little wonder that they have decided to do it again, and again they have done it justice, well more than justice, they do it so well, building up the comedy and knocking off some of the excessive saccharine sweetness. Their version has feisty kids and a Truly that would clearly stand no nonsense. Kiarne Camp is not only strong in that sense but she has the most delightfully powerful voice that adds character to her performance and to her songs.
Steve Emery is very funny as Grandpa Potts, more aging rascal than blundering and bewildered old duffer and all the better for it and Carl Lovejoy brings so much warmth to Caractacus that he is very believably the caring single parent as well as the hyperactive inventor.
Ronnie Harman and Eve Morris-Fuzi shine as Jeremy and Jemima Potts, there is a cheeky warmth to them and a fine display of both acting and singing talent that is certainly to be watched.
Gary Lynn’s Baron Bomburst is a teddy wielding delight, entitled and yet pathetic and very funny indeed and Jodie Michele’s Baroness is stunning, combining exacting physicality with camp joy in a performance that brings back memories of Fenella Fielding, and in a good way. She is also choreographer for the whole and drills the entire company in a way that brings out the very best from so many people in so small a space. But that choreography is at its best when the five inventors appear in a tail coated tap routine that just keeps on giving.
And the comedy does not stop there as spies Boris and Goran have some of the best written comedy moments of the whole, towering Philip Lloyd Davies and less vertically blessed Dean Coward make a wonderfully silly double act, particularly when they swim through the stalls having been lost at sea. And only at that point do we get any saucy innuendo, a blessed relief when sat in a sea of tiny children who do not need to be exposed to adult humour.
At this point a word about The Child Catcher, one of the scariest of Fleming’s creations and I am sure the stuff of nightmares for many. Jake Beniston was suitably sinister, got the audience hissing but was not as threatening as some others I have seen. Robert Helpman in the film was pretty damn scary but nothing compared to Lionel Blair in the west end who sent chills.
Nick Jordan’s Toy Maker was convincingly affable and caring and Wain Douglas as always gave a fine performance as lord Scrumptious in a role that is sadly underdeveloped in the script.
Once again BTG deliver and in spades, the stage is always full, and full of talent, and their productions are lavish and no doubt expensive, you’re never going to see a touring or west end production on this kind of scale and the city’s audiences know that which is why BTG can sell out a week at TRB.
My only caveat this time is that the sound quality throughout was rather reedy and lacking oomph, when TRB is full the volume needs to be turned up to max and especially when you have an excited room full of kids and, dare I say it, noisy pants and grandparents who seem not to realise that keeping quite is the polite way to watch a show.
Director Michael Burnie with choreographer Jodie Michele and musical director Dan Lacey have once again pulled it of. Producer Keith Shepherd has no bounds to his ambition so what next from this amazing community theatre group?
Andrew Kay
13 August
Theatre Royal Brighton
Rating:
