- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 
Poster for Original Broadway ProductionMusic Richard M. Sherman
Robert B. ShermanLyrics Robert B. Sherman
Richard M. ShermanBook Jeremy Sams Basis Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
1968 filmProductions 2002 West End
2005 Broadway
2005 National UK Tour
2007 Singapore
2008-2009 National US Tour
2009 National UK TourChitty Chitty Bang Bang, also known as Chitty the Musical, is a stage musical based on the 1968 film produced by Cubby Broccoli. The music and lyrics were written by Richard and Robert Sherman with book by Jeremy Sams.
Contents
Productions
- Original London production
The musical premiered in the West End at the London Palladium on April 16, 2002 with six new songs by the Sherman Brothers who wrote the original Academy Award-nominated title and song score as well. The West End production, directed by Adrian Noble with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne, closed in September 2005. It was the longest running show ever at the London Palladium, taking in over £70 million in its three and a half year run.[1]
- Original Broadway production
The Broadway production opened on April 28, 2005 at the Foxwoods Theatre (then the Hilton Theatre) in New York City, garnering good reviews only for the lavish sets. Ben Brantley in the New York Times noted that the show "naggingly recalls the cold, futurist milieus of movies like 'Modern Times' and 'Metropolis,' in which machines rule the universe" and featured songs that sounded "not unlike what you might hear in sing-along hour in a pre-K class".[2] The production was again directed by Adrian Noble with choreography by Gillian Lynne and starred Raúl Esparza (Caractacus Potts), Erin Dilly (Truly Scrumptious), Philip Bosco (Grandpa Potts), Marc Kudisch (Baron Bomburst), Jan Maxwell (Baroness Bomburst) and Henry Hodges (Jeremy Potts). The Broadway production closed on December 31, 2005 after 34 previews and 285 regular performances, losing its entire financial investment.[3]
- Subsequent touring productions
Since closing in London, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang toured around the UK, stopping in Sunderland (9 December 2005- 4 March 2006), Manchester (20 March 2006- 10 June 2006), Birmingham (23 June 2006- 2 September 2006), Liverpool (18 September 2006- 18 November 2006), Edinburgh (1 December 2006- 24 February 2007), Bristol (9 March 2007- 9 June 2007) and Southampton (25 June- 15 September 2007), Bradford (11 February 2008 - 5 April 2008), Sunderland (17 April 2008 - 7 June 2008), Cardiff (3 July 2008 - 30 August 2008). The UK Tour visited Asia for the first time when it opened on 2 November 2007 in Singapore's Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. Encouraging ticket sales resulted in an extension of the show to 9 December,[4] adding 24 more shows to a run which was originally planned to end on 18 November 2007.[5]
Songs
- Act 1
- Overture — Orchestra
- Prologue — Company
- "You Two" — Caractacus, Jeremy & Jemima
- "Them Three" — Grandpa Potts
- "Toot Sweets" — Caractacus, Truly, Lord Scrumptious & Ensemble
- "Think Vulgar" (2002–2005) "Act English" (2005–present) — Boris and Goran
- "Hushabye Mountain" — Caractacus
- "Come to the Funfair" — Company
- "Me Ol' Bamboo" — Caractacus & Ensemble
- "Posh!" — Grandpa Potts, Jeremy & Jemima
- "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" — Caractacus, Truly, Jeremy & Jemima, & Grandpa Potts
- "Truly Scrumptious" — Jeremy, Jemima & Truly
- "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"(Nautical reprise) — Caractacus, Truly, Jeremy & Jemima
- "Chitty Takes Flight" — Company
- Act 2
- "Entr'acte" — Orchestra
- "Vulgarian National Anthem" — Company
- "The Roses of Success" — Grandpa Potts & Inventors
- "Kiddy-Widdy-Winkies" — Childcatcher
- "Teamwork" — Caractacus, Toymaker, Truly & Juvenile Ensemble
- "Chu-Chi Face" — Baron & Baroness
- "The Bombie Samba" — Baroness, Baron & Ensemble
- "Doll On A Music Box"/"Truly Scrumptious" (Reprise) — Truly & Caractacus
- "Us Two"/"Chitty Prayer" — Jeremy & Jemima
- "Teamwork" (Reprise) — Toymaker & Company
- "Chitty Flies Home (Finale)" — Company
Notes: In the 2009 tour, the following songs are omitted: "Come to the Funfair", "Kiddy-Widdy-Winkies", "Us Two/Chitty Prayer". "Kiddy-Widdy-Winkies" was replaced with a version of "Lovely Lonely Man" from the original film, sung by Truly Scrumptious. The overall script is also changed to more closely match the film, notably, missing the childcatcher tricking the family by dressing as the Toymaker and Grandpa.
Casts of London and Tour productions
- Original London cast
- Michael Ball - Caractacus Potts
- Emma Williams - Truly Scrumptious
- Anton Rodgers - Grandpa Potts
- Brian Blessed - Baron Bomburst
- Nichola McAuliffe - Baroness Bomburst
- Richard O'Brien - The Child Catcher
- Edward Petherbridge - Toymaker
- George Gillies / Harry Smith - Jeremy Potts
- Carrie Fletcher- Jemima Potts
- Emil Wolk - Goran
- Final London cast
- Jason Donovan - Caractacus Potts
- Jo Gibb - Truly Scrumptious
- Tony Adams - Grandpa Potts
- Christopher Biggins - Baron Bomburst
- Louise Gold - Baroness Bomburst
- Alvin Stardust - The Child Catcher
- Richard Smith- Jeremy Potts
- Georgia Russell- Jemima Potts
- Freddie Lees - The Toymaker
Many respected British actors have appeared in various roles during the London production run, including: Brian Conley, Gary Wilmot, Caroline Sheen, Scarlett Strallen, Sandra Dickinson, Louise Gold, Victor Spinetti, Christopher Biggins, Paul O'Grady, Peter Polycarpou, Lionel Blair, Stephen Gately and Derek Griffiths.
The original UK Tour cast (2005) starred Tim Flavin, Marissa Dunlop, Robin Askwith, Paul Greenwood, Sean Blowers and Jane Gurnett. The final UK Tour cast (2008) starred Aled Jones, Rachel Stanley, Ian Watkins and Tony Adams.
Awards and nominations
Original London production
Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result 2002 Laurence Olivier Award Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical Nichola McAuliffe Nominated Best Set Design Anthony Ward Nominated Original Broadway production
Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result 2005 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Erin Dilly Nominated Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Marc Kudisch Nominated Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Jan Maxwell Nominated Best Scenic Design Anthony Ward Nominated Best Lighting Design Mark Henderson Nominated References
- ^ "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical". Eon productions. http://www.chittythemusical.co.uk/show_history/. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ Brantley, Ben. "She's a Diva on Wheels of Song."New York Times, April 29, 2005. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
- ^ 2005 Broadway box office grosses for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Broadwayworld.com
- ^ Majid, Hasnita A. ""Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" musical to extend run till Dec 9." Channel NewsAsia.com, November 1, 2007. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
- ^ "Chitty Chitty to open with a big Bang Bang in Singapore." MI6 News, October 4, 2007. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
External links
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Internet Broadway Database
- Chitty fan page
- Performance of Hushabye Mountain by Julian Lloyd Webber
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Characters Objects and locations Media Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car · Chitty Chitty Bang Bang · "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (song) · Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)Other Categories:- West End musicals
- Broadway musicals
- Sherman Brothers
- 2002 musicals
- Musicals based on films
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
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