BROADWAY SNAP-SHOT
by Russell Bouthiller

Dateline: May 25, 2005

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

There's a great deal of credit being claimed for CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. The official title, I should correct myself, is IAN FLEMING'S CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. With a score by brothers Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, and adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, based on the MGM/United Artists motion picture by screenwriters Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes, one needs an intermission just to keep all that praise in order.

The name itself is derived from a purring, stuttering noise made by the star of this $15 million extravaganza. In no way should that be taken to slight the over-the-title talent: Raul Esparza of TABOO fame; Erin Dilly of the recent FOLLIES revival; and, Broadway veteran Philip Bosco of the current Roundabout revival, TWELVE ANGRY MEN. The big draw of this "most fantasmagorical stage musical in the history of everything" is the over-the-audience prop to end all props. The star is the car and the car is the star.

The brainchild of perspicacious inventor Caractacus Potts (Esparza), this beat-up Grand Prix alumnus gets super-sized into the most spectacular dream car ever imagined. Hoisted up by some tremendous flex-arm contraption and hovering at a 45 degree angle over the first dozen rows, this fine four-fendered friend sprouts wings and takes flight just in time for the big Act One finish. And, since it worked so well in the first lap, the ol' girl comes back just in time for the checkered flag.

Since a plot is needed to bring reason to all this fanciful flight, there is a truly malicious villain, the Baron Bomburst (Marc Kudisch), and his truly hideous wife, the Baroness (Jan Maxwell). They want to steal this juiced-up jalopy, but mistakenly kidnap Grampa Potts (Philip Bosco) instead, whisking him off to their Nazi-styled homeland of Vulgaria.

With plenty of trunk space for sub-plots, we have Truly Scrumptious (Erin Dilly) taking a shine to Caractacus Potts, an eccentric widow with two adorable children, Jeremy (Henry Hodges) and Jemima (Ellen Marlow). When a character is called Truly Scrumptious, it stands to reason that a "Truly Scrumptious" ditty will go along with it.

The Sherman Brothers provide a score fully loaded with familiar tunes from the movie, most notably the infectious title jingle which idles in your memory for days and days. Performances by the very talented cast are all sufficient with considerable meat on the bones for the more villainous types. Kevin Cahoon's sinister Childcatcher literally goes over the top. And, Kudisch and Maxwell both earned Tony nominations for their arch turns.

Raul Esparza plays his cute and quirky character with unabashed gusto. Philip Bosco offers up a jolly Grampa Potts. Erin Dilly scoops out heaps of sugar, earning her a Tony nomination. Anthony Ward got one, too, for his spectacularly askew set creations, yet was passed over for his well-crafted costumes. Lighting by Mark Henderson also gained a nod while director Adrian Noble was overlooked. CHIITY CHITTY BANG BANG, now at the Hilton Theatre.