Saturday 6th August 2016. Yet again back at the wonderful Millenium centre. For my first two performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, on its three week run in Cardiff. Another show I’m really looking forward to see, especially the amazing voice of Carrie Hope Fletcher, ( it’s worth going to see the show just to see her perform). 

Firstly may I say what a wonderful show this is, great fun for all the family. For me Carrie Hope Fletcher as Truly is just magnificent. Her voice maybe the best I’ve heard at the centre (in a musical), and I must admit to having a tear in my eye as soon as she started to sing, as her Angelic tones rang through my head reducing me to real tears,as she sang ‘Lovely lonely man’in the second act. An absolute joy to watch and listen to, can’t wait for tonight’s performance.

 Chitty has a great blend of comical scenes,dance routines and general mayhem. The really good set helps the show to flow along seamlessly, with of course, the car as its main centrepiece, looking so good you want to leap on stage and drive it home after the finale. 

Lee Mead as Potts jnr is fabulous, as he marries his acting skills and singing voice together perfectly. The brilliance of Andy Hockley as Potts snr is totally believable and really well played, he also has a good singing voice. The young actors playing Potts children (Jeremy and Jemima) were so so good and deserve a special mention for just being brilliant, (reminds me of Billy Elliot all over again). And of course Carrie Hope Fletcher as Truly Scrumptious, just Magnificent (as I might have said a little earlier).

The scenes with Boris and Goran (Sam Harrison and Scott Paige) as the bumbling Vulgarian spies along with the Baron And Baroness played by Shaun Williamson and Claire Sweeney, provide the comedy slapstick section of the show, with a wonderful Samba dance by nearly the whole cast and a great performance by Claire adding to the proceedings, (I have to say Claire has a great singing voice as well). Matt Gillet as the scary and creepy Childcatcher, He played his part to perfection, looking menacing from the moment he came on stage, with some fabulous make up and costume to match. And not forgetting the toymaker (Ewen Cummins) and his part in a memorable performance of Chitty.

As usual the Ensemble were tremendous and always deserve a mention, every time they perform. Along with all the other child actors who graced this fabulous stage, they also must be mentioned for, again being so brilliant. And while I’m on the subject praise the Orchestra, as they were just superb throughout

The evening show was also so amazing and I even cried in the same place as I did for the afternoon. Again Lee Mead and Carrie Hope Fletcher were amazing.I’ve been lucky enough to see Carrie in Les Mis, War of the Worlds and now Chitty, what an amazing talent we have in our theatres at the moment. I would also say the whole cast were totally brilliant again. Really made my day to watch two brilliant shows with such a wonderful cast.

I was very impressed with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and would urge people to go and see it before it’s run in Cardiff. I’m back tomorrow for more shows, so something different to talk about then.