Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Coterie Summer 2014
The Coterie’s production of the hit musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is based on the MGM motion picture and featuring The Sherman Brothers’ original music from the film, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG receives its Theatre for Young Audiences World Premiere as part of The Coterie’s Lab for New Family Musicals. The show is directed by Jeff Church, from June 17 – August 3, 2014, on The Coterie’s main stage.
I've come to love The Coterie 's creative interaction with the audience and their masterful combination of simplicity (inspiring young imaginations), ingenuity (very creative sets, costumes, and music), and style. In an era where movie special effects are more and more realistic, I think there is great value in children watching as, in the case of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a cardboard box is transformed into a magical flying car.
The Coterie shows are top-notch, over-the-top, creative, interactive, professional, theatrical productions that entertain the entire audience, young and old... Chitty Chitty Bang Bang did not disappoint!
I grew up watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and like many children, I adored the antics of Dick Van Dyke (from Mary Poppins to his television show), he is one of my personal favorites.
“Some time ago, I saw the stage musical in London with a car that flew using hydraulics to lift and tilt it. How will we do it? Well, I’m working with designer Alex Espy, who is creating the car from a concept I had for staging the show in an imaginative, new way,” explains Coterie Producing Artistic Director Jeff Church. “This is the first time permission for the musical has been given to try a new way of showcasing the car. We're very excited to show our audiences. but I'm not giving away any secrets early!"
For those unfamiliar, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, set in early 20th century England, is a children's book by Ian Fleming (the James Bond author who took a romp into children's writing with this now-classic tale) and screenplay written by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach) with music by the Sherman Brothers (also composers for Mary Poppins). So imagine blending Willy Wonka and James Bond and you get Mr. Caractacus Potts, played on film by Dick Van Dyke and portrayed at The Coterie by Jake Walker. Mr. Potts is a wild-eyed big-dreaming inventor and widowed father to two children, Jemima (played by Allison Banks) and Jeremy (played by Lucas Dorrell). Jemima and Jeremy spend their time playing with a broken down jalopy of a car at local mechanic's shop. The children learn that the car is about to be sold and they convince their father to purchase it for them. This leads the family on a wild adventure where they meet candy - heiress Truly Scrumptious (portrayed by Stefanie Wienecke) and creatively raise the funds to buy the car. After the purchase, inventor-dad Mr. Potts must fix the car and he manages to not only fix it but turn it into the ultimate driving / floating / flying machine. Unbeknownst to the family, the car is a famous grand prix winner coveted by the Baron of Vulgaria (Jerry Jay Cranford) who sends two spies (Damian Blake and Teddy Trice) on a quest to steal the car. The family is chased by the spies until they wind up in Vulgaria where the Baroness (played by Julie Shaw) has banished all children from the country. She hires the Childcatcher who sniffs out hiding children with his exceptionally long nose and entices them to follow him with promises of free candy (lots of talking points here for parents).
About the Childcatcher, growing up watching the film, I always thought it was a "little too long" and there are a few scenes that make me squirm... the Childcatcher in particular. Some children cringe at the Wicked Witch, others find Jafar to be the most eerie, but for me the Childcatcher was always the scariest movie villain of all time (I don't watch horror films, so I suppose my list of villains is mostly Disney). Walking into the play, I was curious to see how The Coterie would handle this element of the story. This pivotal character is included in the Coterie's production, and he dons the traditional raggedy black suit, flimsy top hat, and exceptionally long nose. However, the actor (Hughston Walkinshaw) does a great turn in making the character more comical than spooky (still a bit frightening for my four-year-old) while maintaining the story. The notion of an evil grown-up luring children to imprisonment with promises of free ice cream brings up a lot of after-show conversation for parents (this is only 5-10 minutes of the show, but it is important).
The Childcatcher aside, the show lives up to its phantasmagorical promises with beautiful and creative sets, wonderful music, terrific choreography, and absolutely delightful acting. This show is perfectly cast - I am challenged to choose a favorite. We delighted in the return of Julie Shaw as a crazy and villainous royal after watching her in a similar role for Once Upon a Mattress. Damian Blake and Teddy Trice were nearly scene stealing spies with over-the-top antics leaving the audience roaring with laughter. The children, Allison Banks and Lucas Dorrell, were absolutely charming. And, Stefanie Wienecke as Truly Scrumptious brought a beautiful singing voice and warm charisma to the part. However, Jake Walker as Mr. Potts had one of the more challenging parts taking over Dick Van Dyke's iconic role. I am happy to say that he played the part masterfully, making it his own, with Mr. Potts as a loveable, warm, caring, and very out-of-the-box father.
The show is filled with delightful songs. Favorites include: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as the cast winds through the audience in the magical flying car, Toot Sweets a fun choreographed piece in the candy shop, and my favorite Doll on a Music Box where Truly Scrumptious imitates the movements of a wind-up doll as she sings.
And, before I forget, the preshow interaction with the characters was one of my girls' favorite aspects of the evening! Mr. Potts came to the audience and asked the children what he should invent next - they offered creative and fun suggestions and with great improvisation he replied to each one with a perfect, funny, and in-character reaction the entire audience enjoyed!
In this production, The Coterie took a much loved book and movie and beautifully made it their own. You will not see film-quality special effects, but you will be taken on an imaginative musical journey to unbelievable pretend places... delightful for audiences young and old. My daughters gave the show two thumbs up and asked to go see it again (quite the compliment coming from girls who attend live theater shows regularly)! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Coterie is a Kansas City Summer Must-See!
SHOW DATES, TIMES & TICKETS
The Coterie, now in its 35th Season and named “One of the Five Best Theaters for Young Audiences in the U.S.” by Time magazine, will perform Chitty Chitty Bang Bang June 17 - August 3, 2014, in The Coterie Theatre located on level one of Crown Center Shops in Kansas
City, MO.
- Individual Tickets: Tickets are $10.00 for youth under 18, students, and seniors age 60 and older; and $15.00 for adults.
- Group Pricing: The Coterie offers groups of 20 or more a special preview rate of $5.00 per person the first week of the run, June 17-June 22. After preview week, groups pay only $5.50 per person on weekdays and $6.50 per person on weekends (Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays).
- Subscriptions: New this season, The Coterie introduces the Spotlight Club Pass, which works like season tickets without committing to a set schedule. Spotlight Club members pay $90.00 for a flexible pass that includes 10 tickets - a savings of 40% off individual ticket prices - that can be used for any show or combination of shows in the 2013/2014 Season.
- Target Saturdays: To help encourage a love for the arts in young adults and children, Target generously sponsors The Coterie's Saturday matinees. Patrons who purchase a full price admission to any Saturday matinee will receive one free ticket per order. (Some restrictions apply).
- All tickets and the new Spotlight Club Passes are on sale now and may be purchased by calling The Coterie’s box office at (816) 474-6552, dropping by the box office on level one of the Crown Center Shops, or by visiting www.thecoterie.org.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCE EXTRAS
Take advantage of these special, free performance extras (with paid admission):
- A FREE Book & 2-for-1 tickets on Target Saturdays - Saturdays, June 21, July 5, 12, 19, 26, and August 2, 2:00 p.m.: Receive a FREE copy of the young adult novel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Rides Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce (while supplies last), and purchase a full price admission and receive one FREE admission per order. Some restrictions apply (see website for details).
- Company Q&A – Saturday, June 21 & Sunday, June 22, 2:00 p.m.: FREE post-performance question and answer period with members of the company.
- Cast Photo Op & Autograph Session – Fridays, June 27, July 11, 18, 25, and August 1, 7:00 p.m.: FREE meet and greet with members of the cast.
- “How to Host High Tea” – Sundays, June 29 & July 20, 12:45-1:15 p.m.: The Daughters of the British Empire will hold a FREE pre-show discussion on the finer points of hosting a formal tea, Truly Scrumptious-style.
- Give-Away Sundays – Sundays, July 6, 13, 27, and August 3, 2:00 p.m.: Every audience member will be automatically eligible to win FREE Coterie gifts, such as posters signed by the cast, backstage tours of the theater, and Spotlight Club Passes to attend Coterie’s 2014/2015 Season.
- Interpreted performance in American Sign Language - Saturday, July 12, 2:00 p.m.
J Robert Schraeder