Memorable highs, but no big names

THE problem is we have been spoilt by high quality shows of late courtesy of the Theatre Royal.

The likes of Mary Poppins or more recently Flashdance, which have been built then launched from Devon before heading around the country, have set the bar for entertainment.

Car aside, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is fine, it's all right, there's nothing to grumble about.

Many families will go and have a great time — It's just not in the same league as Poppins, which I found surprising.

The main stumbling block, and this is picked from of an evening of huge enjoyment, is that the two leads weren't as strong as hoped.

The company wisely chose 'talent' over 'big names', with Darren Bennett (Caractacus Potts) and Truly Scrumptious (Rachel Stanley) appearing with a raft of experience behind them.

This is the only time it has happened in my career as a journalist but I sat there, looking longingly at the programme with pictures of past productions with the likes of Scarlett Strallen, Gary Wilmot, Jason Donovan and Brian Conley, and felt a bit miffed we didn't have someone of their caliber.

Rachel Stanley was the stronger of the two, perfectly in character throughout. But I didn't warm to the part that much.

And Darren Bennett, who called off an interview due to illness, looked like he was struggling for some of the songs.

He might not have been, but he didn't seem to be giving it 100 per cent, especially in the first act.

This said, the show did have a host of memorable highs, including performances from Edward Peel and Kim Ismay as Baron and Baroness Bomburst.

There were some lovely comic moments courtesy of Nigel Garton and Richard Ashton as Goran and Boris.

The set was superb and the scenes moved along at a pace, seemingly quite effortlessly.

The use of dogs is a guaranteed hit and the car is simply amazing, with awesome effects timed to perfection, hiding how it is done.

There were also some lovely scenes in the second act with 'sewer children' sourced locally.

Doll on a Music Box was brilliant as was the various choruses of the title song.

But I felt surprisingly nonplussed by Me Ol' Bamboo.

In all the show should do well for it's summer run, but it's not going to set anyone's world on fire or cause any ripples in the theatre world pond.

With a cast and budget it has, I find that surprising.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang plays at the Theatre Royal until July 25.