 | |
 Page updated Sunday, March 4th, 2007 |
 |
| |
  Notice Board
Richard O'Brien in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang | |
 back to the main Notice Board page |
|
|
As reported some time ago in the newsletter, Richard O'Brien took to the West End stage in the new production of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium (Box Office 0870 890 1108). Richard played the part of the Child Catcher up to September 2002, the production also starred Michael Ball, Emma Williams, Anton Rodgers, Brian Blessed (who Richard appeared with in the Flash Gordon movie) and Nichola McAuliffe. There is also a web site for the show at www.chittythemusical.co.uk
TimeWarp Review We took Dana along to the performance on 29th March, not really an excuse as Stephanie and myself can be big enough kids anyway! GO AND SEE IT! Of all the theatre productions I have seen 'Chitty' is one of the most visually stunning. A great cast brings the movie to life on stage. The show itself differs from the film in a few ways, but stays loyal to the basic story of the magical car. All the songs from the movie are there, plus a few others. The Baroness (played by Nichola McAuliffe) and the Baron (played by Brian Blessed) are wonderful versions of the characters. Anton Rodgers as Grandpa seems to be straight out of the movie. Michael Ball and Emma Williams have amazing singing voices and the ensemble cast provide stunning backing for all the big numbers. Richard played the Childcatcher with great gusto. For those of you who have seen the movie, he portrayed the character very well. His final exit from the stage is stunning and a highlight of the show, I won't spoil it by going into too many details here. He got a song of his own as well. The star of the show of course is Chitty Chitty Bang Band itself. My friend Nik Rosser said of the premiere of Jurrasic Park that they used real dinosaurs in the filming, well in Chitty they must have used a real flying car! Although the tickets are not cheap, the show is well worth seeing, (even though Richard is no longer in it) for the sheer spectacle and size of the production. Buy a ticket before it sells out! TimeWarp Webmaster, March 31st, 2002 Updated Sunday, September 22nd, 2002
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" CASTING CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG", the stage musical, will receive its world premiere at the London Palladium on Tuesday 16 April, following previews from 19 March. This will be the first stage adaptation of the internationally known hit film made from Ian Fleming's classic story. The London Palladium production will have sensational sets and stunning special effects and, of course, the memorable score by the Sherman Brothers, which includes such standards as "Truly Scrumptious", "Toot Sweets", "Hushabye Mountain" and the Oscar-nominated title song "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". West End musical and recording star Michael Ball will play 'Caractacus Potts'. His many West End musicals include "Les Miserables", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Aspects of Love" and "Passion", and he has recorded 10 gold albums. 18 year-old newcomer Emma Williams will be making her West End stage debut as 'Truly Scrumptious'. Anton Rodgers will star as 'Grandpa Potts', Brian Blessed as 'The Baron', Nichola McAuliffe as 'The Baroness', Richard O'Brien as 'The Child Catcher' and Edward Petherbridge as 'The Toymaker/Coggins'. The cast also includes Helen Baker, Julie Barnes, Leo Bidwell, Peter Bishop, Darren Carnall, Stuart Chaffer, Ben Clare, Lisa Cook, Phyllida Crowley Smith, Ray C Davis, Ross Dawes, Steve Elias, Darren J Fawthrop, Nia Fisher, Ben Garner, Jocelyn Hawkyard, Emma Hennigan, David Henry, Graham Hoadly, Maria Holley, Nic Ineson, Nicholas Johnson, Bret Jones, Emma Kerslake, Robert Kramer, David Lee, Rory Locke, Remy Martyn, Gary Milner, Claire Morland, Liza Pullman, Matthew Rixon, David Ross, Tommi Sliiden, Scarlett Strallen, Lynsey Wise and Emil Wolk. CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" has music & lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, who were also responsible for "Mary Poppins", "The Slipper and the Rose", "The Aristocats" and "The Jungle Book". The Sherman Brothers have won two Academy Awards with a further nine nominations, two Grammy Awards and they have received 21 gold and platinum albums. The film has been adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, whose recent theatre work includes "Spend Spend Spend" and "Noises Off". The show will be designed by Anthony Ward, currently represented in the West End by "My Fair Lady". CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" will have musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne, whose London credits include "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera", and the show will be directed by the Royal Shakespeare Company's Artistic Director Adrian Noble. The production will have lighting by Mark Henderson and sound design by Andrew Bruce, with orchestrations and dance arrangements by Chris Walker and musical direction and supervision by Robert Scott. CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" will be produced by Barbara Broccoli, Michael G Wilson and Dana Broccoli for Eon Productions, Frederick Zollo, Nicholas Paleologos, Jeff Sine and Michael Rose Ltd for Chitty (UK) Ltd. Performance times will be Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Ticket prices range from £15.00-£40.00, with preview and Wednesday matinee tickets priced from £10.00 to £37.50. Tickets are available from the London Palladium Box Office on 0870 890 1108. Visit the CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" website on www.chittythemusical.co.uk ends |
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Top of Page 
Print page 
Email this to a friend Copyright ©TimeWarp fan club