Car's still the star (From Wiltshire Times)

Car's still the star

4:34pm Wednesday 20th January 2010

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The trouble with watching a show based on such a well-loved film is that, subconsciously, you will always compare it to the original.

That’s the case with this production, which has its roots firmly in Cubby Broccoli’s 1968 movie. The West End version of this tour was even put together by Broccoli’s daughter Barbara.

Of course a theatre is not going to recreate the scale of a film, instead it has to rely on the performance of the cast to capture its spirit and the company here just about manages that, with the help of some great sets, a collection of wonderful songs and the star of the show, that magical car.

The story is little altered from the film, widowed inventor Caractacus Potts rescues a wrecked racing car from a scrap heap after accidentally inventing a new type of musical sweet.

Inspired by his children, and a meeting with sweet factory owner’s daughter Truly Scrumptious, Potts rebuilds the car, bringing it to the attention of evil Baron Bomburst. He kidnaps Pott’s father in the mistaken belief he is the inventor and Chitty sets off on a rescue mission.

The show suffers from a clunky start with a new number that doesn’t really set the pulse racing but once the story takes us to the sweet factory, and the first big dance number, Toot Sweets, it comes alive.

From there on in it is one great song after another, even if the acting seldom climbs above panto level Darren Bennett ,as Potts, looks and sounds like Paul Nicholas and is perfectly fine in the lead role, as are Samantha Allison and Thomas Higgins as his children.

The comedy roles of John Griffiths as Grandpa Potts and Edward peel and Kim Ismay as the Baron and his wife throw themselves energetically into their parts but don’t get enough funny lines.

The biggest disappointment is Dean Maynard as The Childcatcher, the film’s terrifying villain. His menace may have been toned down for the matinee we saw but to me he just came across as slightly camp.

Thanks to the technology the car sequences are wonderful and the theatre is brought to its feet as Chitty takes to the air.

The show, which runs until January 30, is a great night out.

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