From left: Lourdes Navarro, Mike Baker Jr. and Steven Labovitch sing a song from the show. Photo Courtesy of Maggie Swan
When eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts rescues an old race car from a junk heap, he decides to restore it with his children’s help. Little does he know then that it has the magical ability to fly and float. And once word gets out, an evil baron tries to get the car for himself.
“This play is so new for amateurs that there are only three cars available for it that we could find. Ours comes from California.”
-Elaine Wilson, director
That’s the premise of the Alliance Theatre’s upcoming musical, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Set in early 1900s England, it’s based on the children’s book written by Ian Fleming and later turned into a movie. The cast and crew of 60 has been rehearsing since May, and local theater legend Elaine Wilson, the director, says things are “going beautifully.”
Wilson founded Chantilly High School’s theater department and taught drama there for 30 years before co-founding Alliance. And the show’s music director, Glenn Cockrell, was the school’s choral director for 26 years before retiring in 2012. Rounding out the production staff are choreographer Annie Ermlick, producer Maggie Swan and assistant director Barbara Carpenter.
Show times are Friday-Saturday, July 24-25 and July 31-Aug. 1, plus Thursday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are Sunday, July 26 and Aug. 2, at 2 p.m., at Chantilly High. Tickets are $16 via www.TheAllianceTheatre.org or call 703-220-8101.
“Ian Fleming was a spy in Washington during WWII and loved creativity, inventing, technical knowledge and inspiration,” said Wilson. “And every main character in the show has these attributes, too. It’s a wonderful cast and they all love what they’re doing and have great enthusiasm. Each person is making their role their own to make it stand out and be unique.”
The scenes take place at the Grand Prix, a candy factory, a carnival, in the English countryside and in Vulgaria, a country ruled by the baron and his wife, the baroness. And the children in the ensemble are in eight scenes, portraying everything from puppets to clowns, trees, orphans and candy-factory employees.
It’s the first time this show has been produced in the local area. In fact, said Wilson, “This play is so new for amateurs that there are only three cars available for it that we could find. Ours comes from California.”
She said the audience will love the “inventiveness behind how we go to all those places on the stage. We think this show is rather more fun than the movie, and the story, itself, has a lot of love, tension and an intricate plot. The script is very well-written and exciting, and the dancing is amazing.”
Rich Amada plays Caractacus Potts, a widower desperately trying to make one of his inventions a winner so he can support his two children. “He initially buys the car as a plaything for them, but then revamps it into a working automobile,” said Amada. “He’s forever hopeful and optimistic, despite his many setbacks. He loves his children and would do anything to make them happy.”
Amada likes playing Potts because “he’s so eccentric. He also has a love story, plus an adventure, when Grandpa is kidnapped to Vulgaria and they have to go rescue him in their car.” His favorite song is “You Two,” which he sings to the children at the beginning of the show. Said Amada; “They join in, and it establishes our close relationship and how the three of us are a team.”
He said the audience will be impressed that “we’re putting on such an ambitious production. There’s a large cast, with lots of children and special effects. People will also enjoy the music score, and almost everyone will be able to hum along with the title song. This show has some nice moments, with humor for both children and adults. It’s a family show, but will also let adults relive parts of their childhood. And, honestly, who hasn’t wanted a flying car?”
Playing Potts’s son, Jeremy, is Steven Labovitch, 11, of Oak Hill. “He just wants to hang out and follow along with whatever’s happening,” said Steven. “He can be outgoing, but calm. He has a fun energy without being crazy-wild about everything.” Steven was “thrilled to get this role; I thought I’d be cast into the ensemble. I’m enjoying playing Jeremy because he has a good personality and is sweet, kind, gentle and generous.”
He especially likes the “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” theme because it’s so catchy. “It makes me feel happy and it’s a fun song to sing,” he said. “Most of the audience has probably seen the movie, so they’ll like seeing how we make the car fly. And in one number, we’ll be using glow sticks, so it’ll be a cool illusion to see.”
McKensey Struzik portrays the wealthy Truly Scrumptious, whose father owns the town candy factory. “She’s a sweet, caring woman, but not afraid to express her opinion — even though women didn’t have much of a voice then. She’s more independent and doesn’t let her wealth and social standing get in the way of her love for Potts. She finds him quirky, creative and different from the men she knows. But she questions his carefree parenting style and the lack of structure in his children’s lives.”
Struzik grew up watching this movie and singing the songs so, she said, “This is a blast for me to play this woman I loved when I saw her on film. It’s going to be lots of fun and I’m super excited.” Her favorite song is “Truly Scrumptious,” which she and the children sing together. “It’s catchy and is the only moment in the show where Truly’s alone with the two kids, and it’s a special bonding moment with them.”
She said people will love seeing the car transform and do its wizardry. “In some scenes, it’ll upstage us,” said Struzik. “The music is fun and upbeat, and the audience will like seeing the story come to life. And since this show’s not performed often, it’ll be new and exciting.”
Playing Boris, a hapless spy from Vulgaria, is veteran Alliance Theatre actor Mike Cash. “His mission is to get this magical car,” said Cash. “So he and his sidekick Goran [Spencer Boyd] pretend to be English by acting English. But Boris isn’t nearly as smart as he thinks. He’s frequently wrong, but seldom in doubt.”
Cash said it’s wonderful playing this part. “I get to speak in an accent, but act English and debonair,” he said. “There’s a lot of physical comedy.” He also loves singing and dancing with Boyd in the number, “Act English.” In it, said Cash, “We have a license to be foolish.”
He said the audience will enjoy the performances of both Potts children, whom he called “adorable and talented.” (Lourdes Navarro plays the daughter). And, added Cash, “As the baroness, Cathy Arnold has the perfect amount of swagger and Cruella de Vil. She’s a comedic genius — and what a voice! Overall, this show is loaded with two-level humor; there’s silly stuff for the kids and double entendres that’ll make the adults laugh.”