By Bethan Kwak
I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at New Theatre Oxford thanks to That Oxford Girl, and it was an incredible experience!
The theatre itself was much larger than it appeared from the outside. Although the audience filled the venue, there was still ample space and room to move around. I can confidently say that New Theatre is much more comfortable than most Broadway theatres. The staff was courteous, and during the intermission, the theatre paid tribute to the recently deceased Dame Maggie Smith, who began her acting career in Oxford.
I came into the show not knowing anything about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but was hooked from the moment the orchestra began the overture and the lights started flashing. The set and costumes were vibrant, beautiful, and truly transported me to England in 1910. The production made great use of flashing lights and fog machines, and while I won’t spoil anything, one special effect in particular left me wondering how on earth they were able to pull it off.
The story was charming, exhilarating, wholesome, and witty. The comedic timing and mannerisms of certain characters had the audience chuckling on many occasions. The title song was so catchy that my friend and I were still humming it hours after the show.
And the cast was wonderful! Callum Train, who played the lead role of Caractacus Potts, had an incredibly smooth voice. His rendition of “Hushabye Mountain” was a standout for both me and my friend. While the entire cast was extraordinary, I was especially impressed by the child actors. The show ran for nearly three hours, including the intermission, but I found myself almost sad when the curtain fell and the final bows were taken. As I mentioned, I went into the show with no particular expectations, but I left thoroughly delighted.
The cast and crew of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are on tour, so the show is only playing in Oxford until Sunday, October 6. Grab your tickets before it’s too late!
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