Fanatasmagorical fun with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

12:46pm Thursday 10th July 2008

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THE most fantasmagorical car in musical history drove into the Wales Millennium Centre this week as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang arrived on the latest leg of its European tour.

Nominated for three Olivier Awards, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang became the longest running show in the history of the London Palladium, but you’ll need to be quick to catch the magical car in Cardiff, where it will be amazing audiences until August 30.

The story of eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, his children, Jemima and Jeremy, Grandpa Potts and Truly Scrumptious outwitting the evil Child Catcher and outsmarting the childhating Baron of Vulgaria is familiar to generations of children from the film, but there’s nothing quite like seeing the spectacularly special car live.

Children of all ages, even the grown-up ones, will be enchanted by the stunning sets and fabulous dancing, not to mention the ten dogs that join more than 70 cast members to to create another amazing moment in a fabulous show.

Aled Jones gives Caractacus real charm and is endearingly credible as Jemima and Jeremy’s father, while Tony Adams (once a household name as Adam Chance in Crossroads) plays Grandpa Potts with panache and humour.

There’s no doubt, though, that the star of the show is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - a breathtakingly spectacular sight, but the brilliantly choreographed (by Gillian Lynne) and fabulously executed numbers, among them Toot Sweets and the samba, were absolutely mesmerising.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang runs at the Wales Millennium Centre until August 30. To book, visit wmc.org.uk