Kiss Kiss (Chitty Chitty) Bang Bang?

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Finally, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is coming to Broadway! It's been playing in the West End since 2002.

Of course, this show is based on the classic movie, with songs by the inimitableSherman brothers and starring Dick Van Dyke.

Initially, I wasn't overly thrilled about the prospect of seeing the stage musical version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Of course that was back in my judgmental days. However, John Sparks, the director ofTheatre Building Chicago Musical Theatre Writers' Workshop, saw it in London and loved it.

Amazingly John is the only person in the free world who had never seen the movie! Good grief, I even had Chitty Chitty Bang Bang paper dolls and a car as a young girl (both of which I lost and both of which my husband replaced for me!). He said the theater was full of kids -- preteens mostly (which is an age group I've never really seen at the theater in great numbers) going absolutely ape with enjoyment. And he noted that London audiences are much more vocal and emotional than New York audiences -- go figure!

Even though you know that there are hydraulics behind it, the flying of the car is magical. What I had forgotten (or was never really conscious of) was that Ian Fleming wrote the book and Cubby Broccoli produced the film! Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang! (hey, that phrase actually appears as part of the lyric of the title song -- coincidence? I think not!). John did say one thing that I've been pondering -- he said that the story was an obvious spoof of a James Bond story. I just don't see that...From Playbill:

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the musical based on the novel and film of the same name, begins previews at the newly renamed Hilton Theatre March 27 at 7:30 PM.

The "fantasmagorical stage musical," which originated in the West End in 2002 -- it continues to play the London Palladium -- stars Raul Esparza as Caractacus Potts, Erin Dilly as Truly Scrumptious, Philip Bosco as Grandpa Potts, Marc Kudisch as Baron Bomburst, Jan Maxwell as Baroness Bomburst, Chip Zien as Goran, Robert Sella as Boris, Kevin Cahoon as the Childcatcher and Frank Raiter as the Toymaker. The children are played by Henry Hodges (as Jeremy) and Ellen Marlow (as Jemima).

The nearly 50-member company features the talents of Ken Kantor as Lord Scrumptious, Dirk Lumbard as Phillips/Coggins/Inventor, JB Adams as Chicken Farmer/Inventor, Kurt Von Schmittou as Sid/Inventor, Robert Creighton as Inventor, Rick Faugno as Inventor, William Ryall as Inventor, Robyn Hurder as Violet and Michael Herwitz as Toby.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang features music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Song titles include "Truly Scrumptious," "Toot Sweets," "Hushabye Mountain" and the Oscar nominated title song "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." The musical will officially open April 28.

By Suzy Conn on March 27, 2005 8:18 AM | | Comments (0)


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