Taking on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was always a big ask. Yes, Oxford’s revered Musical Youth Company Oxford always pulls it out of the bag, and their skillset is mighty impressive, but could a cast of 52 12-19 year-old’s really bring the epic musical to kaleidoscopic life? Had they bitten off more than they could chew?
From the word go it was obvious to everyone at Oxford Playhouse last night that MYCO had once again risen to the challenge to ensure they gave the beloved musical the reverence and respect it deserves, throwing everything at it.
From the costumes to the choreography, sets to props, they didn’t hold back as the MYCO voices soared up to the Oxford Playhouse roof.
And what a perfect time to bring something so joyful and escapist to the stage, whisking us away from the grim global news to Vulgaria via the wonderful yellow Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flying car, as the ever changing landscape flew past on the screen at the back of the stage, a clever and effective device transporting us to beaches, picnics and beyond.
How they got the Chitty car on stage we will never know but it took us all by surprise, complete with working lights, a floating device and wings, rising into the air from the stage, amidst much gasping from the audience.
How director Julie Todd managed to pull it all together we’ll never know ‘It will be fantasmagorical!’ MYCO to stage famous musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Oxford Playhouse so buy your tickets ‘Toots Sweets’, and yes there were a few minor wardrobe malfunctions as expected on opening night, but the musical never faltered, and in terms of the sheer scale and ambition of MYCO’s Chitty production, it blew our minds.
That’s not to deter from the actual performance itself, the mastery and sheer volume of the voices, taking us through Chitty’s beloved musical backlog in a whirlwind of wardrobe and set changes.
Toot Sweets which takes place in the Scrumptious Sweet Factory was a whirlwind of pink, transporting us effortlessly from the countryside one minute to the vast sweet factory the next, and Me Ol’ Bamboo at the funfair was another memorable and high energy number, the hair cutting machine keeping the audience chuckling away.
But perhaps it was the closing number The Bombie Samba that demonstrated just what this enormous accomplished group of young people could really achieve when they put their minds to it, the sheer joy of performance evident with every step and note.
Huge respect to choreographer Catie Marie Simpson for enabling such complex and ambitious dance routines to take place so adeptly despite the huge cast crammed on stage.
Giacomo Ruffmann as Caractus Potts was amazing from the word go, both as an actor and singer, hugely confident in his role, his rendition of Hushabye Mountain a special moment, while his cohort Truly Scrumptious (Dolly Ogier) really got going in the second half, demonstrating the incredible range of her vocals in numbers such as Lovely Lonely Man.
Other stand out performances included the baron and his wife, (Maxime Abecassis-Loyer and Ava Lea-James) whose comic and endearing turn put smiles on all our faces, alongside their henchmen Boris (Jasper Carter) and Goran (Elise Talbut). Ava Lea Jones’ vocals were amazing and stopped us all in our tracks during Chu-Chi Face. Where has she been hiding?
Everyone got their moment in the sun however, The Roses of Success in the inventors laboratory also memorable, offering the spotlight up to other members of the cast, and proving the sheer breadth of talent nestled within MYCO.
Julie certainly took the Chitty mantra ‘Never say no to adventures’ and rode with it, leaving no stone unturned in her quest to do Chitty Chitty Bang Bang justice, taking us on a ride we won’t forget. Bravo
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang runs at Oxford Playhouse until Saturday (April 4). Book here https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/chitty-chitty-bang-bang
