Chitty Chitty Bang Bang review (The Marlowe Theatre)

[AD – PR invite*]

★★★★

The magical family musical ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ has flown into Canterbury for the next two weeks, with performances at the Marlowe Theatre. Having watched the film many times as a child, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to watch the stage adaptation on opening night here in the city and share my thoughts on this ‘fantasmagorical’ musical. It is ideal for families, appealing to audiences of all ages, thanks to the mesmerising special effects, exciting set design and nostalgia.

Imaginative set design

The spirit of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ is the wonder of the fantasy world, the memorable characters and the car itself. The visual design is absolutely captivating, from the elegance of the vehicle to Morgan Large’s vibrant costumes and the amusing use of puppetry. From the moment that the overture plays, you are transported to a whimsical land worlds away from the streets of Canterbury and it is pure escapism.

The reveal of the car is one of those jaw-dropping moments in theatre, where the lines blur between the real and fantasy. The evolution of the vehicle is so cleverly done, slowly building in spectacle until the end of the first act when the car takes to the skies. Even as a theatre enthusiast who has witnessed some incredible illusions on stage, I was absolutely amazed by the technology, truly believing in the magic. This is testament to the creative team’s efforts in trying to create the unbelievable on stage; taking imagination to a whole new level.

Comedy elements

Like any family musical, there is lots of comedy in the show which is largely driven by Adam Stafford as Boris and Michael Joseph as Goran: the conniving Vulgarian spies who are desperate to get their hands on the Paragon Panther racing car. I really enjoyed the scenes with just the two characters; specifically their efforts to make themselves appear stereotypically English and the phone call reports back to Vulgaria which often end in drama. That being said, sometimes the sillier elements of the show take over and the narrative comes across as slightly panto. This is largely isolated to the Vulgaria scenes where the comedy goes off the rails. For example, the Latin American-themed ‘The Bombie Samba’ which takes place during the Baron’s birthday party feels somewhat unnecessary and chaotic, blurring the lines between being amusing and too much. I would have preferred a slightly less madcap approach to the comedy, allowing the underlying themes of the source material to shine brighter, even in moments of silliness.

Inspiring cast performances

Ore Oduba has boundless charm as Caractacus, really excelling in the fatherly moments with the Potts children. Supported by Ellie Nunn as Truly Scrumptious, her vocals are absolutely beautiful throughout – most notably in the dainty ‘Doll on a Music Box’ where you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre. That being said, for me, the children in the company are the real stars in this production. From the mischievous Jemima and Jeremy to the energetic young ensemble during ‘Teamwork’, I was constantly wowed by the talent on stage. In fact, I thought ‘Teamwork’ was such a strong moment in the show that I’d like to have seen more of the young ensemble performing Karen Bruce’s sharp choreography in unison. What a fantastic moment that musical number is!

Final thoughts

This is a really exciting production of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and the sheer spectacle of it all makes it a brilliant show for introducing young people to musical theatre. You can catch ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday 12th April 2025, with tickets available via the theatre’s website. The memorable songs are sure to get stuck in your head on the way home, amplified by the delightful orchestrations.

Thanks for reading my blog today.

Love Kat xxxx

*My ticket for ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.