Review: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Bristol Hippodrome
Posted on: 30 Apr 2025Colette Hand and granddaughter Lily give top marks for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Bristol Hippodrome!
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG we love you… A fun-filled hit for all the family... absolutely fantasmagorical..catch it while you can!
This new production of the family favourite fantasy musical theatre show is based on the 1964 children's novel “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car” written by Ian Fleming, a musical theatre adaptation of the 1968 MGM film starring Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes. The car is named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang after the quirky sound it's engine makes.
The story is set in 1910 rural England, two children Jeremy and Jemima fall in love with the clapped out wreck of a champion race car. They beg their father to save it from being crushed and melted down. To save the car, eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts has to try and sell one of his inventions. After a series of mishaps, he is eventually able to raise the money to renovate the old race car, transforming her into a magical flying machine that carries him and his family to the land of Vulgaria, a kingdom ruled by the (very slightly) wicked Baron Bomburst and his child-hating Baroness. The family are transported on a magical fantasy adventure to rescue their mistakenly kidnapped grandfather, Caractacus Potts Snr, where they encounter the evil tyrant (not really!) Baron Bomburst and his child-hating wife, who have the children imprisoned and try to steal Chitty.
I invited my sassy, eight year old granddaughter, Lily, along with me to see the show. Beforehand, I gave her a brief synopsis of the plot and showed her clips of the original film version. She wasn't impressed at all. She rolled her eyes, made a face, and you could just tell that she had changed her mind about coming along with me… to be honest it did seem a bit dated and cheesy. I was dreading it. However I needn't have worried, all was well. Lily was soon smiling, laughing, giggling, and clapping along. She particularly liked the Baron and Baroness Bomburst, especially when they sang ‘Chu-Chi Face’. Her favourite scenes featured the children, especially the dance scenes. She was mesmerised and told me that she wished she could go to acting school.
As for myself, I am not a sentimental person but surprisingly I did feel emotional and overwhelmed at times, (in a good way). I found myself becoming peculiarly attached to Chitty and felt a lump in my throat when she took flight.
It was a fantastic performance all round…The show stars actor and broadcaster Ore Oduba (Strictly Come Dancing Winner) as the eccentric Caractacus Potts, actor Liam Fox (Emmerdale) as Grandpa Potts, actor Charlie Brooks (EastEnders) as the evil childcatcher, and many other talented actors such as Ellie Nunn as the beautiful and wealthy heiress Truly Scrumptious, and the gifted young actors Isla Ithier and Charlie McGuire who played Jemima and Jeremy Potts on this particular evening. Strong performances also from John Macaulay (The Toymaker), and Hadrian Delacey (Lord Scrumptious), with comedic performances from Martin Callaghan (Baron Bomburst) and Jenny Gaynor (Baroness Bomburst), and Adam Stafford (Boris) and Michael Joseph (Goran). Thank you all.
The music and lyrics were written by Richard and Robert Sherman. The title song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 41st Academy Awards. The musical theatre adaptation of the film which premiered in 2002 at the London Palladium contained six extra songs by the Sherman Brothers that were not in the film. This much loved musical is loaded with memorable songs from the Sherman Brothers such as You Two, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain, Me Ol' Bamboo, Truly Scrumptious, The Roses of Success, Doll on a Music Box, and of course ChittyChitty Bang Bang, and some new ones such as the fun, bright, colourful, energetic, and quite silly Bombie Samba. The show has something for everyone of any age… music, dance, comedy, villainy and of course romance.
Lily and I had a fabulous time and so will you. Allow yourself to be transported to a magical land, but you have to be quick as it is only at The Bristol Hippodrome until Sunday 4th May 2025 - get tickets here.
Thank you all for entertaining us.
Article by:
Colette Hand, BA graduate of Bath Spa University and retired primary school teacher. Now an avid crafter for charity and volunteer shop assistant for SENSE charity. Enjoys time spent with twin grandchildren.
