The White Rock Theatre is one of those venues that is lot bigger side to side than it is front to back which means two things. Firstly, everyone is close to the stage and, secondly, that stage is huge – perfect for this year’s White Rock Theatre Summer Youth Project production, with plenty of room for the huge cast and space for a full size car to glide around majestically as well.
Ben Watson and Kirstie Wilde, the co-directors, have chosen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as the production that they have created, from scratch, in just 9 days! A huge challenge for even the most accomplished professional company, after all, flying cars are not something that one sees on stage every day but, somewhere deep down, I knew that if anyone can make it happen Ben and Kirstie can – and they really do deliver on every level.
The story, like all good children’s stories, is quite simple and very charming. Good overcomes evil and motherless children find a “Truly Scrumptious” stepmother. Although Ian Fleming is probably best known for creating the world’s most famous secret agent, James Bond, he also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as a present for his son, Caspar.
The tale concerns two children, Jeremy and Jemima who are adored by their widowed father, the eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, and their slightly potty grandfather (played in true Lionel Jeffries style by Damon Miller). In order to please his children Caractacus agrees to purchase and resurrect an old Grand Prix racing car, which turns out to be more than they could ever have bargained for.
But greedy Vulgarian Baron Bomburst and his child-hating Baroness are desperate to get their hands on Chitty, so they enlist the help of two very incompetent spies to try and steal the car – and the inventor!
Nathan McDonald plays Caractacus Potts perfectly. He serves the unassuming, simple nature of Caractacus well while still having the look of a slightly crazy inventor and, in the scenes with the family, he is effortlessly lovable as the father who would do absolutely anything for his children.
With a performance that is just as sweet as her name, Maria Crowter is Truly Scrumptious, daughter of sweet manufacturer Lord Scrumptious (Rowan Ringrose). Although quite headstrong and determined to be independent, she slowly reveals a quite lonely but “motherly” side, which softens her character well.
Clear, confident and, above all, wonderfully cute Ava Gooden-Blanks and Myles Hodges take on the massive roles of Jemima and Jeremy Potts, roles they share with Hermione West and Ted Connolly. From the outset they both act at a level well beyond their years and their superb singing voices, together with a palpable level of vulnerability, add depth to their characters’ youthful charm.
The Baron and Baroness Bomburst (Benjamin Hitchcock and Corbyn Smithers) add a great deal of comedy to the production with his child-like tantrums only soothed by her attempts to dominate him while Evie Dawes and Leo Gasson, as the bungling spies Boris and Goran, ramp up the comedy factor even higher.
With more than a passing nod to the character created by Robert Helpmann in the film version, Seth Ringrose dances and prances his way around the stage as the tremendously creepy Childcatcher. Enticing the children to leave the sanctuary of the Toymaker’s house with the promise of free sweets and treats, The Childcatcher continues to be one of the scariest child-centred villains ever created.
Although there is a full live orchestra, under the direction of Lesley Van Egmond, and a huge supporting company of very enthusiastic singers and dancers, who shine in numbers like “Toot Sweets” and “Me Ol’ Bamboo“, the real star of the show is, of course, the car, which is very cleverly designed, and will have you amazed. The act one finale has the audience clapping and cheering heartily as we discover that you really will believe that a car can fly.
To think that a production of this quality has been created in less than two weeks is mind blowing. The superb cast of 7 to 18 year olds, and the talented creative team who work alongside them, should be incredibly proud of their show. The enthusiastic applause from the near capacity audience is audible recognition of a job tremendously well done!
**** Four Stars