Review: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Sheffield Lyceum

There is nothing like a good old fashioned, terrifying plot about a child catcher to tell your children before bed.
Carrie Hope Fletcher (Truly Scrumptious) and Lee Mead (Caractacus Potts) during the song Toot Sweets in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.Carrie Hope Fletcher (Truly Scrumptious) and Lee Mead (Caractacus Potts) during the song Toot Sweets in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Carrie Hope Fletcher (Truly Scrumptious) and Lee Mead (Caractacus Potts) during the song Toot Sweets in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

It’s surprising how a harrowing tale of imprisoned youngsters could have ever won over our hearts to become a world favourite on screen and stage.

Now Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has roared onto the Sheffield Lyceum stage where a flying car and creative set make this show as magical as ever.

The audience, in full cheer, clapped away to the familiar songs in the show, such as ‘Me Ol’Bamboo’ and ‘Truly Scrumptious’.

The zany sub-plot, created by Ian Fleming, fantastically blurred the line between imagination and reality in this dream-like show.

The evil child catcher was given a spine chilling entrance on stage, beginning with the clever use of shadow hands creeping across the stage, leaving a dark fear in my bones. Fortunately this was balanced nicely with the lovable characters of the Potts family, the inventor and his two adorable children, who meet the sugary-sweet Truly Scrumptious.

Lee Mead, of Casualty fame, gave an amazing heartfelt performance as Caractacus Potts. He was complemented by the amazing young Yorkshire actress Lucy Sherman in the role of his daughter Jemima who had great stage presence for a ten year old.

The Truly Scrumptious Carrie Hope Fletcher perfectly performed the porcelain doll scene, but for me it was the ‘Vulgarians’ Goran and Boris (Scott Paige and Sam Harrison ) who stole the show with their comedy double act and high energy song and dance routine.

And Ex-EastEnders duo Michelle Collins and Shaun Williamson were equally hilarious playing the Baroness and Baron Bomburst.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is an amazingly visual treat and well worth a trip out before it closes on July 17.

The lessons we will all take from the show is that you can never dream too big and it’s OK to have an imagination, however never take free lollipops from strangers, or you could end up in a cage.