April 17, 2002
The tale of the flying car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang received a standing ovation last night after its first showing on the West End stage.
The new hi-tech stage version of the movie classic was unveiled to rapturous applause from a star-studded audience.
James Bond star Pierce Brosnan, Oscar winner Halle Berry and impresario Harvey Weinstein were among those on their feet to congratulate the show's star Michael Ball.
He plays inventor Caractacus Potts, the role made famous in the film by Dick Van Dyke.
Ball broke theatrical tradition by making a speech thanking the audience for their response.
He told them the former film musical had been in each of the cast's hearts from the moment they had first seen it.
‘We still adore it today,’ he said.
Most expensive show ever
He paid tribute to the musical's writers Dick and Robert Sherman who said afterwards they had enjoyed it tremendously.
The original story was written by James Bond creator Ian Fleming.
The role of the Child Catcher, who lures youngsters away from their parents and locks them up in dungeons, is played by Rocky Horror Show star Richard O'Brien.
Brian Blessed, Anton Rodgers and Nichola McAuliffe also make up the cast.
Eighteen-year-old newcomer Emma Williams makes her West End stage debut as Truly Scrumptious.
In the adaptation of the children's story, Potts invents a flying car which takes him and his family to the faraway kingdom of Vulgaria, where children are outlawed.
The stage version is directed by Adrian Noble, artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
At a cost of £6.2m to stage, the show is the most expensive British production ever seen in the West End.
Spectacular special effects include the car leaving the stage and taking to the air.
Producer Michael Rose said: ‘Creating the illusion is the major event of the show and when Chitty flies above the audience you believe it!’
The show is already fully booked up to October.
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Copyright (c) 2000-2002 Sue Kelly