Chitty Chitty Bang Bang — Page 2

Hey. not bitter at all. but brit theatre is truly disenfranchised and never quite as good as american theatre. It happens over and over again...its the spectacle that drives people in...never the work. It's a fast buck...and it always seems to be the case with their kind of theatre. If Sh*tty Sh*tty was less concerned about selling you the toys, lollipops and model cars...wait let's see (family of 4=$400 plus the tshirts, toys and lazer-beam light...oh yeah and don't forget the GIANT tub of popcorn which teaches all our audiences what NOT to do in a theatre house..losing all theatre ettiquette altogether)....instead of focusing on creating a story up there on that stage that can give something juicy for actors to work with...it might work out better.

It is not about expecting high-art....

But time has proven with so many other shows "mamma mia, phantom, mary poopins....and the horrible retelling of "Batboy" recently......that they are into fluffing things out...with dry or no humor at all..and never about the warmth of storytelling the way we do in America. I cringe at the arrival of Billy Elliot..I hope it proves me wrong.

I am optimistic about it...But there are other things to spend your time and money on...than Sh*tty Sh*tty.....

there just is.

I just don't need to see 20 dogs running on stage so everyone can say///'OOOOhhh lookkk how cute!!!!"

I think it's all a cheap stunt. one trick pony show.

and that's what this entire show felt like...it's like the producers and directors sat there to say..

"ok,...how many cheap tricks can we put out there so people can oooh and ahhhh for 2 hours"....
sorry...
NOT for the NY Broadway Theatre.
I felt the same thing for Lion King.
A puppet show...that's all.

It's a fine flashy show....if you're at Disney world...
and that's where it belongs......


sorry. it's just an opinion.

I hardly know enough about British theatre to accurately discuss that, but it's quite silly to make such a blanket statement that ALL British theatre is one thing. I've only been to the West End once, but I doubt it is. Like New York theatre, it appeared quite varied and diversified, though maybe in a different, unfamiliar way. We often dislike that to which we are unaccustomed.

I suppose if you'd dig up the political undertones that hide underneath the story, you'd see that it isn't TRULY all about the tricks, and even if it is mostly so - let it be. It's got some value, even if you have to dig a little bit deeper for it than you might have to do with Sondheim.

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Updated On: 8/15/05 at 04:50 PM

The show is very lame. If you do not have another choice, say lose the lottery of DRS or Q or Bee or something and still want see a show, then you can try it with student rush. I don't think the show will last long and see that car for $26.5 is not too bad.

Updated On: 8/15/05 at 06:52 PM

Oh,Emcee, someday I should meet you on Broadway and you can kill me as much as you like. :)

I'm wondering why there is this blanket assumption that everyone can do student rush. Are those of us who have finished our schooling really that much of a minority now?

Aww. I really enjoyed it. More than I expected to, actually.

I could see it being far more objectionable if it interfered with the show, no? I've seen the same thing at Mamma Mia!

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Updated On: 8/15/05 at 07:22 PM

Something that gives this "worthless", "trite", "stupid" show value is the father-children relationship. My dad died when I was little, and I guess that's one of the reasons I love Chitty so much. So I took more away from the show than just some spiffy flying car effects... I think it has a lot of heart, and watching the Potts family onstage is really a joy for me.

And for the car horn performance, I paid fifty dollars for the seat (center front! Whoo!), but for the other performances I paid $100. No more spending for me this year...

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Oh! How did you get front row for $50? I'd be willing to pay that.