AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. - The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn.

The Ella Performance Group, part of the Ella Together Company in Runcorn, are a troupe dedicated to inclusivity and boast many members who have both physical and mental disabilities, including those with severe learning difficulties, and somehow, manage to incorporate these as seamlessly as possible into their productions. Something which takes love, skill, and dedication, but if this production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr is anything to go by, then the fruits of their labours paid off several times over. 

All the performers in this one hour studio theatre show were under 18, and the director made good use of all in the cast. The stage and backstage area in this studio space are very limited and as such much creativity and careful consideration is needed inasmuch as entrances / exits / stage set and props. Mostly the director's ideas paid dividend, although the car needed to be covered over when not actually a part of the scene.

Where this company found Jeremy and Jemima (Lucas and Elise Hampson) I shall never know, as I defy anyone to find me a better pair of protagonists! Loud, clear, in character throughout, and just a complete delight! Together they told the story of how their inventor father raises enough money to buy an old banger of a car which turns out to be rather fantastical and magical, and the envy of the Vulgarian Baron who wants it for his own, with simplistic skill and aplomb.

Caracticus Potts Jnr (their father) was played this afternoon by a very personable Molly Willis, working well with and having a good rapport with those on stage with her. Whilst Caracticus Potts Snr (Grandpa) was played very much OTT high-comedy style by Aidan Carroll. Grace Harrison was excellently chosen as Truly Scrumptious, not only looking the part but inhabiting the role with ease, whilst Julieanne Doyle was a very down-to-earth and kindly toymaker. Corey Birch McClure was hilarious as a very deadpan and fiercely earnest Baron, whilst Jessica Knowles had much fun in being the Baron's Chu-Chi-faced Baroness, playing the role with comedic glee. Thomas Hampson was a very convincingly evil and slimy Childcatcher.

Utilising four chorus members as Kabuki-style ensemble - ie: dressed entirely in black, therefore the convention that they are invisible, but the props they carry or the things they do we do see - was a stroke of genius and worked excellently. In fact the choreography and mise-en-scene in general for this show worked superbly. My only one criticism in the negative was sadly the car itself. When everything else - including the costumes - were superlative, it was a huge let down. Made from take-away food tinfoil containers, cardboard and selotape it looked very ragged and amateurish in amongst such an otherwise professionally staged production.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 19.2.23