Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Review, July 30th, 7 PM

The show was really good. The only thing that bothered me was that there was a family who talked the entire show, and it wasn't even the kid, the adults. I was so close to saying, this isn't an amusement park or a baseball game! Though it sure did feel like one, with people yelling, "GET YOUR CHITTY!" and selling things in the audience before the show.

The cast was great. I must say, if I were ever to see the show again, I would only like to see the Baron / Baroness scenes. So, here's my review my actor.

Raul Esparza: He was great. He carried the show, and did a great job, his love for the kids was really believeable and it was a great performance. At the stage door he was very polite and took pictures with everyone and signed everyones playbill.

Erin Dilly: At first I was very apprehensive. I found her scene on the motor-bike to be very bland. But she was amazing. Her "Doll on a Music Box" was fantasic! She was great and amazing with the children as well. My favorite scene was when the Childcatcher desquises himself and she locks him in the toyshop, really well done. She was very nice at the stage door and I told her that everyone at bww.com was hoping she would get better soon!

Kevin Cahoon: Genius! He was my favorite character, well him and the Baroness. He was great! The kids really hissed at him a lot during the show. He was really funny at the stage door because Jan [Maxwell] announced that he was the Childcatcher, so the kids would know it was him without the makeup, and he returned in a really funny way, "And this is the Barrroness!" Really nice guy.

Henry Hodges / Ellen Marlow: These kids were amazing! They stayed in character the entire show and were the best child actors I've ever seen on stage! They were both very appreciative at the stage door.

Marc Kudisch / Jan Maxwell: He was hysterical but she was riotous! I heard her adlib something along the lines of, "I'm ovulating!!" to the Baron. Really funny. Both performers were great, especially when she kills the soldier and goes "O0o0o0o0opppsiies!" Marc stayed and talked to my friend and I for a while after everyone else left, he's a great guy and really would like to get to talk to him more.

Phillip Bosco: He did a good job. The character is very bland in my opinion. His reprise of the "You Too" Song was weak but a good job overall. He didn't stage door.

Chip Zien / Robert ??: They were hysterical!!! Defiantely the adult highlight. Chip was a great guy at the stage door and was tlaking to my friend and I about into the woods. Caroline Rhea was there, who is Chip's good friend and he said that she saw the show on Friday and came out and signed everyones playbill and he yelled at her so this night she wasn't allowed! lol. Robert Didn't Stage door.

Overall, I enjoyed the show. Sorry that it's so long!

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*PRAYS for a lucky Tuesday night* ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease

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Good luck!

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*crosses every body part possible*
Do you think I should cross my eyes for good measure? It starts to hurt after a while.

NO! Emcee, be optimistic!!!!! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. *hums "teamwork can make a dreeeeeeam work," though this has nothing to do with teamwork*

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WickedGeek28 glad you enjoyed the show!

I totally agree with you about Chip Zien and Rob Sella, I also thought they were hysterical. Though, my friends thought they were cheesy.

I didn't come up with it! And no, you'll hurt your eyes and won't be able to watch the show!

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ooooh. I want to guess as to what *that* might be.

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BUMP~ For extra good luck!!
ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohPLEASE. I've been crossing my eyes periodically for extra EXTRA good luck.

And my avatar STILL won't work. *kills somebody* Grrr....

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Thanks! ohpleaseohplease....

That would TOTALLY freak me out. I get scared so easily. I'm such a wimp.

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why so long a wait?!

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Finally saw the show today (the matinee). I agree with most of what WickedGeek said. But I was surrounding by antsy, jabbering children throughout the whole thing. Why can't parents tell their little brats to shut up? Instead, they sit and have conversations with them.

I know these shows are geared toward children, but there needs to be an adult-only section to protect my sanity. I don't remember it being this bad when I saw The Lion King. Oy. At least the girl sitting next to me today was well-behaved.

I'm sure someone's made this comparison before, but didn't the Baroness remind anyone of the Donatella Versace character from SNL (in a good way)?

eta: I also found it odd that despite the number of established Broadway veterans in this show, the only character to garner entrance applause was the car -- before it was even flying.

Updated On: 8/7/05 at 12:50 AM

I don't blame the children. I blame the parents. Sometimes it's a bad day, kids are unruly and there's not much they can do. But all the parents I saw yesterday made no attempt to tell their children to be quiet or be still. Most were ignoring their behavior, and some were talking louder than the children.

I'm not talking about squirming and talking a few times during slow points in the show. I'm talking about constant, nonstop jabber during the entire show.

If they thought the show was boring, then they could have left at intermission and stopped irritating the rest of us.

But "good" is always going to be a matter of taste. As I said, the girl next to me was very quiet and seemed to enjoy the show. Likewise, my niece was bored out of her mind when she saw The Lion King. But she didn't say anything about it until we got back into the car.

Parents should be (and should encourage their children to be) courteous no matter what they think of the show. At the very least, the parents should not be behaving as badly as their children.