Chitty Chitty Bang Bang...loved every minute of it!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 2:42pm

This show is going to run a looooooooong time, and deservedly so. It was a complete delight from the moment the overture started, to the moment the curtain came down at the end.

The cast is uniformly good- I can't think of one weak link in the group. Raul Esparza is charming and a fine Caractacus. I saw it during its first week, and he looked like he was still working on some of the dancing (he kept dropping his cane in Me Ole Bamboo), but I'm sure that will get taken care of. I liked his Hushabye Mountain more than Michael Ball's (whose version you can listen to on the Chitty website). Erin Dilly is a great Truly Scrumptious. If for some reason we can't get Laura Michelle Kelly to play Mary Poppins over here, she'd be a fine replacement. I loved her voice. And she looks REALLY good in those costumes. Beautiful woman. The kids were great too, both managed to keep their accents consistent. Philip Bosco is no singer, but that's ok, because his songs aren't all that difficult. The song with the inventors was a lot of fun, and he sold it well.

All of the supporting players did a fine, fine job. I have loved Chip Zien since I saw the Into the Woods video (and thought he never got the acclaim he deserved for his Baker), and he didn't disappoint. Neither did his partner in crime Robert Sella. The two of them work really well together and feed off of each other. As do Marc Kudisch and Jane Maxwell- solid performances from both of them. They're both just such natural comedians. And you can tell they're having a great time and enjoy working with each other.

The revelation for me was Kevin Cahoon's Childcatcher. I have only ever seen him as Ed in Lion King years ago, so I was somewhat unaware of just how talented this man is. I had also read that the Childcatcher in this production was somewhat laughable and not at all scary. That certainly wasn't the case. He managed to scare me, so I can imagine how the little children in the audience felt! I'll not forget that "chiiiiiiiiildreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen"...the way he said it freaked me out. He was booed (along with applause) during the curtain call, so I guess he did a fine job. I hope he gets nominated for Best Featured Actor, though that seems like it's shapng up to be a tough category this year, so who knows.

The score was infectious, and I'm still humming the songs almost a week later. Because most of it is not new, it will be ineligible for the Tony right? Or will they consider the new songs elibigible?

The book and story are kind of silly, but that's ok, because the whole thing is just so much fun.

Strangely, the choreography never really takes off. It's not terrible, and it's perfectly adequate, but it didn't wow me, like something done by Gillian Lynne should.

If nothing else, based on the other new shows I've seen, I would think Chitty has the Best Scenic Design Tony locked up. The physical production is very impressive, and that flying car does not disappoint. I was sitting in Row BB of the center orchestra, and at times the car was right over my head. Be warned though, that when it flies into the audience, if you're that close you'll be able to see the lift that makes it fly. However, when it's onstage, the lighting is done so well that you can't see the lift, and it's a magical moment that's very well done. Beyond the car, the rest of the set is equally impressive. I particularly loved how the Toymaker's shop was done. And also the sewers. As much as I loved that car, I loved the final exit for the Childcatcher even more.

Kudos also to the lighting and costume designers, who also should be honored with Tonys this year.

Director Adrian Noble manages to keep things moving along at a pretty quick pace, which is good because without good pacing, this thing could drag. The audience, made up of mostly children and families seemed entranced throughout the whole thing. If this audience was any indication, the show will get great word of mouth, as lots of people leaving were remarking, "We'll have to tell so and so to get tickets for their family."

Anyone heard any updates on a rush policy? I asked the man at the box office, but this was last Friday and all he said was, "there's going to be one, the producers just haven't worked it out yet." We can't wait to go back and see it again, and a rush policy would certainly increase the amount of return visits we made.

Also, is there going to be a Broadway cast recording, or should we just go ahead and buy the London one? I would love to have Raul Esparza on disc singing "Hushabye Mountain," but I have my doubts they'll make a Broadway recording.

[Britt0913]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 3:00pm

Glad to hear you enjoyed the show too! As of last night when I was there, I didn't see any type of rush policy, but it's only previews. The producers will probably have everything ironed out by the time the show opens.

As for a cd, you never know what will happen. It all depends on what the producers and other important people involved want to do. And, as others have done before, if they decide not to make a cd of the OBC, someone can always start a petition online to record it!

[SFFrontRow]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 4:22pm

I too am glad to hear you enjoyed the show. I have tickets during my visit to NYC (from SF) in June.

I have a question - you mentioned you were seated in row BB. I have seat BB1 for the performance I am attending. It seems from your description of the sets that the view is okay even though it is so close. Is that the case?

PS I sat in row AA very side orchestra for Ragtime and felt a little under the stage but still had decent view sightlines.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 4:26pm

"The score was infectious, and I'm still humming the songs almost a week later. Because most of it is not new, it will be ineligible for the Tony right? Or will they consider the new songs elibigible?"

I'm not at all familiar with any of the music. Was a lot of it written expressly for this production? If so, then those songs can be eligible for Tony consideration (ie, CAROUSEL in 1994). I really don't think it has a chance for a nomination, though.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 4:27pm

I think a good bit of the songs are directly from the movie. The title song makes me nauseous, and then it gets stuck in my head for like ten years.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 4:33pm

I didn't feel like I was too close at all being in BB 107. In fact, other than the flying car effect being spoiled, I thought that was about the perfect seat for this show.

I didn't have any trouble seeing everything, nor do I think you would in BB1.

Have a great time!

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 4:34pm

I'm going to see it today! Can't wait!

[kec]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 4:36pm

Most of the songs are from the film. These songs were written for the stage production: Act English, Come to the Fun Fair, Vulgarian National Anthem (although, in the film you can hear an instrumental version of this song as the Baron and Grandpa Potts go into the castle), Kiddy-Widdy-Winkies, Teamwork, and Bombie Samba.

[nyb418]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 4:51pm

I was equally impressed w/ the show last night.. (wednesday)Everything from the actors to the score to staging was top notch! Only disappointment was what happened to Child Catchers final exit? I had heard so much hoopla about his flying overhead in a net? it did not happen at last nights show!Technical problems I am assuming?

Oh well..still loved this amazing production!

[etheb]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 5:41pm

after the show last night, Kevin Cahoon said that he has no idea why he didn't fly up in the net. he was bracing himself to go up and suddenly a crew member just pulled him offstage. they probably had problems getting it all worked out.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 5:44pm

That's sad it didn't happen, the kids love it.

But I am sooooo glad they stopped him. I can't imagine how careful they have to be with those stunts. I was nervous for the actors, I really was.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 6:04pm

and he looked like he was still working on some of the dancing (he kept dropping his cane in Me Ole Bamboo),

He did that at the performance I went to as well. I haven't seen the movie in ages and only bits and pieces of it (I'm gonna rent it this weekend) but my friend said it was on pupose, because in the movie the character is supposed to be very clumsy. I'm not sure though.

[nyb418]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 6:27pm

Yes, I did see a crew member off to the side fumbling w/ the net but I thought it was to prepare Kevin for the flying scene.Sad i didn't get to see this part of the show.. was hearing so much about it and all.. but safety first!

Thanks for the info!!!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 7:01pm

"but my friend said it was on pupose, because in the movie the character is supposed to be very clumsy."

If that's the case, then they need to make that a LOT more obvious, because right now it just looks like he hasn't mastered the moves yet.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 7:14pm

I really do think it's supposed to look like that.

Um, is Raul still breathing heavily after all the numbers?

[LouW95]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 7:16pm

This play will outlast all the others including Spamalot no matter what the reviews or how many awards it does or does not win. The reasons are simple- Chitty has the largest potential audience base, songs you can go out singing, fantastic sets, and above all, the cast contains some of the best Bway people in the theatre today! Again, I remind you that Beauty & The Beast lost the Tony to Passion. 10 years later Beauty employs many of us theatre folk while Passion is little more than a PBS broadcast. So much for the Tony Awards and critics. Outside of NYC and a few other theatre enclaves, the Tony Awards and reviews are of little interest. One can see proof of this in the dwindling ratings with each passing Tony telecast. It's about time we had a big family, spectacular, singable musical back on Bway. We sure can use those long term jobs!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 7:26pm

"Um, is Raul still breathing heavily after all the numbers?"

Yes, but I don't really blame him. It doesn't look particularly easy to do, and I'd be out of breath too.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 4/8/05 at 11:24am

I can't wait!! I have tickets for opening night, center orchestra, Row M. I've never been to a broadway opening and I think this one will be a fun one to attend.

[alli2]

Posted: 4/8/05 at 11:39am

Kevin didn't go up in the net that night because they had tested the confetti machine earlier at intermission a pole fell down into the audience (it didn't hurt anyone, fortunately). so it wsa because the machine was malfunctioning and the broken pole. Though I don't know why Erin still 'shot' him at the end, it was kind of pointless without the glitter. (IMO)