Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

I knew that. I was simply saying he knows it.

Oh, emicardiff, you are generous spirited. I went this afternoon, only having booked last night, and it's definitely a Musical I've Seen But Definitely Shouldn't Have. The actual show (not considering this production) is crap - an idiotic and outdated transatlantic view of the UK and continental Europe cast in the medium of a homage to pantomime. I thought that Truly sang nicely (assuming it was live, as I couldn't tell) but her spoken lines all fell like lead balloons to deathly audience silence, although I'd largely blame that on the dreadful script. Lee Mead was pure panto, as opposed to proper acting, and I'll avoid him in future. The child catcher moved very well but the rest of the choreography was crass, in the manner of the tradition of musicals which puts most sane people off ever attending a musical. After the wonder of Billy Elliot at the WMC in June and July, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang takes us right back to the Dark Ages. However, everyone else relished clapping along to the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang song, on each of its many reprises in this tosh.

I quite expect an immediate tweet from Rachel O'Riordan, and possibly a full page Announcement in the Western Mail:

"The Sherman Theatre wishes to make it clear that it has ABSOLUTELY NO CONNECTION to the Sherman Brothers."

Get on that venom train and off the weight train.

But having seen the show I totally disagree with both of you. And cannot wait to book for Lee Mead (sweaty and all) in his next show. His performance is quite not panto and in fact very reseved. But if you do not like him to begin with, you will make a comment about this. The paid press does not agree with you.

But to each his own.

My comment about him being sweaty was merely a tongue in cheek comment. As my comments on many other threads indicate I'm very fond of Lee Mean (some might say too fond, but I'm sure that joke will fall flat as well)

And all my comments come from disliking the actual musical/story/film as a whole-I was bored by the story, didn't enjoy the humour which IS very panto, which is fine as it's a family show it's just not my preferred humour. As Honoured Guest says there were some very panto style jokes in it, that cannot be denied, and that's 100% fine if you like that, I don't.

And as I said I've never seen the film, perhaps if I had fond memories of it as a kid I'd love the stage version, however to me it was just a very odd musical about a flying car which for me personally didn't have great jokes and had ok but not outstanding music. I said in my original post I felt it was a good production if that's your thing. I loved Claire Sweeney Carrie and Lee, all talented performers IMO who deserve better.

Oh and by the way, I was there as press.

Well that was looking decidedly tired tonight. Why dos Phil Jupitus keep getting cast in musicals? His acting is rubbish. If dropping out of accent was supposed to be an in-joke then it bombed.
Jason Manford has a nice voice but mugged his way through the show, I understand the panto accusations above. I think the spies are the very same actors I saw at the WYP a year ago. They could be forgiven for seeming a bit jaded after all that time but were actually the best in the show.

It was all a bit lacklustre compared with Leeds.

Oh Jason and Phil are in this now. Still got bad memories of the Producers!

Thankful I saw this show with a previous cast.

Just heard Jason Manford on Michael Ball's radio show say there could possibly be a return of the show next year as 2018 will be the 50th anniversary of the film. What do we think? Another tour already or West End transfer possibly?

To be fair, there were cast changes, and from May to September, both leads (Caractacus and Truly) were played by musical theatre performers.  Also, the ensemble were all musical theatre performers, as were the Child Catcher, the Spies and Grandpa Potts.  In fact, the only roles filled by Celebs from May to September were the Baron and Baroness, so hardly a cast "packed with useless, talentless celebs..."

When I saw it with Lee and Carrie I found it painful to watch 😖 Blighted with issue after issue. I can only assume things improved as the run continued.

There was talk during the tour of a possible return to the West End for the 2018 anniversary, but while I really enjoyed the latest version, there's no denying it would need to be upgraded (particularly the car) for a run of that kind.