tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018674141461956408.post250969455344896267..comments2023-02-15T08:44:52.111+00:00Comments on Theatre and Show Reviews and Previews: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Congress Theatre Eastbourne Reviewwebmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220136644169161767noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018674141461956408.post-43656303599442765082010-08-26T22:40:12.133+01:002010-08-26T22:40:12.133+01:00Truly Scrumptious - unless, like me, you saw the o...Truly Scrumptious - unless, like me, you saw the original West End production. The cuts in this production are so severe that it looks like a bad Am Dram shot at the impossible!<br /><br />The original car race opening made sense. One rather bad child actress bouncing up and down totally improbably in a wrecked car is no real substitute.<br /><br />The breakfast machine moment was so short that even the microwave generation would find it unbelievable. Grandpa looked like cousin in heavy make-up, Lord Scrumptious looked like the child-catcher on his day off and his alter-ego Baron Bomburst reminded me of one of LS Lowry's matchstalk men! Memories of Brian Blessed, perfectly cast in the same role made this feeble characterisation all the more improbable.<br /><br />The best song in the show, 'Kiddiewiddiewinkies' had disappeared without trace (a bit like the phenomenal 'Revenge of the Nursery Toys' scene in 'Mary Poppins' and probably for the same totally pathetic reason to do with not scaring children!) See 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' or 'Peter Pan' to see how this is done properly!<br /><br />Fortunately all was forgiven (or nearly) because Chitty Flew - but not for as long or as dramatically as she did at the London Paladium.<br /><br />If you havent seen it - go. It is still a hell of an experience. If you saw the original West End run then steer well clear and live on your memories!Jonathan Rhodeshttp://www.youthmusicals.co.uknoreply@blogger.com