CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Review

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:11am

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Review

A whole lot of Sugar and a little dash of Spice makes “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” pretty darn nice. Everything about the current London transfer that is now playing at the gorgeous and newly renamed Hilton Theatre screams Big, Bloated, and Overstuffed. But, it is a meal that is sure to cleanse even the most skeptical and pessimistic of palate’s out there, even though a few tasteless bites must be endured. There is no deep, dark story that one must invest their time with, it is surface level fluff that is a pure delight. Nor is this that much of an actors piece; even with the likes of Raul Esparza, Mark Kudish, Phillip Bosco, Jane Maxwell, Erin Dilly, and Kevin Cahoon; the most truly scrumptious and fantasmigorical item in the entire production is the flying car!

Yes, that’s right the flying contraption known as Chitty rises far above the Hilton stage and if you’re lucky enough to be sitting in the first five rows, directly above your heads as well. It is a true spectacle that is sure trump the competition across the street at the New Amsterdam. At the close of the first and second act, Chitty takes flight and so do the hearts of every child (or child at heart) in the audience.

Getting to those astonishing heights might not be so powerful though. That is not to say the evening is mind numbing, but a bit more thought prodding and provoking by book adapter Jeremy Sams would have been helpful. While the original MGM/United Artists Motion Picture of the same name was far from quantum science, it seems that physics is the only thing that propels the stage version into greatness. Even under the capable but slightly miscast hands of Raul Esparza, (Taboo, Cabaret) the weird inventor Caractacus Potts invents the amazing flying car, which drives by itself. Esparza, while still a charming Broadway leading man, seems to think the character drives itself as well – unfortunately it does not. Each of Esparza’s big numbers are delightful, but lack the umph to reach the back row of the rather large space. And while the car takes Mr. Potts children and precious Truly Scrumptious (Erin Dilly, who is a combination of Laura Benanti and Rebecca Luker, gives an enchanting performance in a stark role) to Vulgaria, the audience begins to wonder why. We learn that here, the sinister Baron and Baroness Bomburst (Marc Kudish and Jan Maxwell turn two thankless roles into magnetic characters) kidnap the car. Again, unsure of why, the audience is still captivated with illegal children, and Caractacus and Co. trying to rescue the children of Vulgaria from the Bomburst’s and the evil Childcatcher (Kevin Cahoon does frighteningly charming work with a role that requires a Cathy Rigby-esque exit.)

With all it lacks in story and character, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” makes up for it with a dazzling set design by Anthony Ward. While the moveable steps from “42nd Street” have all but disappeared, the windmill and flying car have filled the space quite nicely. While the same cannot be said for Gillian Lynne’s abominably boring choreography, the result doesn’t damper matters much, just hinders what should be much shorter or much better dance sequences especially during the first act.

But in the end, it all boils down to the car, the laughter and smiles garnered by the humming of the shows catchy and uplifting title song, and the display of gravity defying techniques that seems to have become all the rage on Broadway these days. While Chitty itself will be remembered for all of its expensive efforts, it is safe to say this is truly a case where the sum is greater than the parts of its whole.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:12am

but lack the umph to reach the back row of the rather large space.

I was afraid of something like that. I don't think he's done all that much in spaces so big.

[cturtle]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:22am

thanks for taking the time to write such a nice review!

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 8:04am

Yep Emcee, this sure aint Studio 54 or the Plymouth and it kinda shows.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:23am

I hope he gets used to it.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:20am

What is the "umph" that he lacks? Could you be more specific? I hope you don't mean that his choices are too small, because if there is anything about Esparza that is true it's that his choices are always quite large.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:26am

Not here they arent. He tones them down to be less Raul like and more father figure like. Although I heard that infamous Raul growl on several occasions, it took me right out of Chitty and straight back to Taboo. I was sitting in the Dress Circle and he just didnt connect with the audience much at all - I could only imagine what the poor folks in the Balcony could gather. Yes, he was the only actor to recieve enterance applause and he really is a delightful actor. But in Chitty he just lacks a certain something that an actor better suited to play this type of character could really nail (I would like to believe Esparza is THAT good because I really like him, but he was much better suited in the darker TABOO & CABARET)