Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Everyone's favorite flying car comes to life in the musical adaptation of the beloved family film.
Show Essentials
12
Roles
+ Ensemble
G
Rated
2
Acts

Full Synopsis

Act One

The story begins in Mr. Coggins' Junkyard, where Mr. Coggins is describing the last race of a great race car ("Opening"). The English car was the star of her day, but she met her end during the British Grand Prix of 1910, when the Vulgarians sabotaged her. Now she is a lonely wreck, with only two children, Jeremy and Jemima, to care for her. The children have come to love the old car and they are shocked when Coggins tells them that he must sell it. He promises them that, if they can raise thirty shillings, they can have the car. Meanwhile, Truly Scrumptious has arrived at the junkyard searching for a part for her motorcycle. She is distressed to see the two children out of school. As they leave, two Vulgarian spies enter. They have been searching for the legendary car for years and are determined to get it before the children.

Truly takes the children home and meets their father, Caractacus Potts. The Potts patriarch shows Truly his many amazing inventions, including a new type of candy. Truly and Potts argue about how he is raising the children, and she leaves. Potts and the children prepare to eat ("You Two"). Jeremy and Jemima tell their father about Coggins' offer to sell the car, and he promises them that he will try to come up with the thirty shillings to purchase the vehicle. Later, Grandpa tries the new candy that his son has invented and realizes that it can make a beautiful whistling sound.

The next day, Potts and the children pay a visit to the Scrumptious Sweet Factory, trying to sell his new candy, which he calls Toot Sweets. They run into Truly, who tries to get her father, Lord Scrumptious, to buy it ("Toot Sweets"). The candymaker tries one, blowing on its whistle, which causes dozens of wild dogs to invade the factory. Potts and his family beat a hasty retreat. Meanwhile, the two spies have raised the money to buy the car but then realize that Coggins will never sell it to two Vulgarians. They decide to disguise themselves as Englishman ("Act English").

Back at the windmill, Potts sings his children a lullaby ("Hushabye Mountain"), then takes one of his inventions, an automatic haircutting machine, to a local fair. There, he meets Violet and her boyfriend, Sid. The machine cuts all of Sid's hair off, and he is furious! Potts tries to make his escape and gets caught up in some dancers getting ready to perform ("Me Ol' Bamboo). Luckily for Potts, he runs into a Turkey Farmer, who wants to use his haircutting machine to pluck and cook turkeys. Potts finally gets his thirty shillings and is able to buy the car. Potts sets to work fixing the car while Grandpa and the children keep the house in order ("Posh!"). Potts finishes repairing the car. Truly arrives, and they all admire the gleaming car, which they name Chitty Chitty Bang Bang after the sound she makes ("Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"). They decide to go on a picnic at the seaside. Once there, Jeremy and Jemima tell Truly that they love her, and she confesses that she cares for them as well ("Truly Scrumptious").

As the children sleep, Caractacus and Truly begin to realize that they have feelings for each other. Distracted, they don't realize that the tide has come in and surrounded the car. And, as if that weren't bad enough, a Vulgarian ship begins to fire on them! Suddenly, Chitty begins to transform into a boat-car, and they are able to escape their pursuers. Learning that Chitty can float on the water makes Baron Bomburst want the car even more.

Back at the windmill, the Vulgarians think that Grandpa is the inventor for whom they are looking, so they kidnap him by lifting him up in his hut with a large hook that is attached to an airship. Potts, Truly and the children speed after them, not realizing that they are heading straight for a cliff. As they plummet to the ground, Chitty grows wings and takes flight to Vulgaria in pursuit of Grandpa!

Act Two

The Vulgarian air ship deposits Grandpa in the Vulgarian Town Square. Still believing that Grandpa is a brilliant inventor, Baron Bomburst orders him – under pain of death – to make his car float and fly. Grandpa meets six inventors who have been prisoners of the Baron for years. Grandpa despairs, but the inventors tell him that nothing is impossible ("The Roses of Success").

Potts, Truly and the children arrive in Vulgaria, secretly searching for Grandpa. The Toymaker brings them into his shop just in time, for the Childcatcher appears, sniffing the air for the thing that the Baroness has banned from all Vulgaria – children! The Toymaker shows Potts where the people of Vulgaria have hidden their children – underground, in the sewers. At the toyshop, the Childcatcher tricks Truly and takes Jeremy and Jemima.

The scene shifts to the Baron and the Baroness, as they prepare for the Baron's birthday party ("Chu-Chi Face"). While in the sewers, Potts is determined, not only to rescue his children and Grandpa, but to put an end to the misery of Vulgaria ("Teamwork"). The Baroness describes her grand plans for the festivities ("The Bombie Samba").

At the Baron's party, the Toymaker nervously brings out his latest toys: two lifesized dolls. As they spring to life and begin to sing, we realize that they are Truly and Potts in disguise ("Doll on a Music Box").

The children from the sewers rise up against the authorities, the ban on children in Bulgaria is repealed and the Toymaker banishes the Baron and Baroness from Vulgaria. The sewer children are reunited with their families, and Grandpa is rescued. Potts and Truly declare their love for one another, and, along with Jeremy, Jemima, Grandpa and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, they all live together as one happy family.

Casting
← Back to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Cast Size: Flexible Cast Size
Cast Type: Children
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Caractacus Potts
An eccentric, brilliant, English inventor and loving father and son. His inventions and children are his life.
Gender: male
Age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Truly Scrumptious
Daughter of the famous candy maker, Lord Scrumptious. Strong and independent, but gentle. Falls in love with Caractacus.
Gender: female
Age: 20 to 30
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Grandpa Potts
Caractacus Potts's father, who is a former war hero. He loves to tell old War stories. A sort of second father to Jeremy and Jemima.
Gender: male
Age: 65 to 75
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Baron Bomburst
Tyrannical ruler of Vulgaria and a lover of toys. A man-child, he is very immature, needy, and whiney.
Gender: male
Age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Baroness Bomburst
Head of the Vulgarian Parliament and a hater of children. Tyrannical and dramatic.
Gender: female
Age: 30 to 45
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: G3
The Childcatcher
He makes sure that Vulgaria is child-free. Evil and manipulative. Hates children almost as much as the Baroness.
Gender: male
Age: 45 to 60
The Toymaker
With all children outlawed in Vulgaria, this toy-making genius only works for the child-like Baron. Smart but frightened.
Gender: male
Age: 45 to 60
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Jeremy Potts
Caractucus's son. An adventurous boy with a vivid imagination. A total child at heart who loves his family.
Gender: male
Age: 10 to 13
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Jemima Potts
Caractucus's daughter. She is an adventurous girl with a vivid imaginations. A total child at heart who loves her family.
Gender: female
Age: 10 to 13
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Boris
A member of the two-person Vulgarian gang that works for the Baron and Baroness. Though he is not very smart, he is the leader.
Gender: male
Age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Goran
One member of the two-person Vulgarian gang that works for the baron and Baroness. A dumb oaf.
Gender: male
Age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Lord Scrumptious
Owner of the Scrumptious Sweet Factory. Extremely busy, important, and decisive.
Gender: male
Age: 40 to 55
Ensemble
Kids; Inventors; Soldiers; Townspeople; English Crowd
Full Song List
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Overture
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Opening
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: You Two
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Them Three
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Toot Sweets
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Hushabye Mountain
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Me Ol' Bamboo
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Posh!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Truly Scrumptious
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Nautical Reprise)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Finale Act One
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Vulgarian Town Square
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Roses of Success
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Chu-Chi Face
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Teamwork
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Bombie Samba
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Doll on a Music Box

Show History

Inspiration

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a stage musical based on the 1968 film of the same name produced by Albert R. Broccoli, which was, in turn, inspired by the novel, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car by Ian Fleming. Fleming based his story upon the real Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car, which was built in 1921 by Count Louis Zborowski, the best known amateur racing driver of his time. Zborowski was an eccentric gentleman, wealthy enough to own and race many cars, both in Europe and America. He took racing very seriously but was known for his fun approach and colorful clothing. At Higham, along with engineer, Captain Clive Gallop, the count built four aero-engined cars and called three of them "Chitty Bang Bang."

Productions

The musical premiered on the West End at the London Palladium April 16, 2002, with six new songs by the Sherman Brothers, who wrote the original Academy Award-nominated title song. The West End production, directed by Adrian Noble with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne, closed in September of 2005. It was the longest-running show ever at the London Palladium, taking in over 70 million pounds in its three-and-a-half-year run.

The Broadway production opened on April 28, 2005, at the Foxwoods Theatre. The production was again directed by Adrian Noble with choreography by Gillian Lynne, and starred Raul Esparza and Erin Dilly (Truly Scrumptious). It closed on December 31, 2005, after 34 previews and 285 regular performances. A National Tour began in November of 2008 at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Since closing in London, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has toured the UK from December 2005 to August 2008. The UK Tour visited Asia for the first time when it opened on November 2, 2007, in Singapore's Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay. The Australian national production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opened on November 17, 2012, at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia.

Trivia

  • The song, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," was nominated for an Oscar in 1968.
  • Ian Fleming, the man whose imagination first gave flight to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is best known as the author of fourteen books about the world's most famous secret agent: James Bond.
  • The Chitty stage car (from the West End production) holds the Guinness World Record for being the most expensive prop in the history of British theatre.

Critical Reaction

"A marvel of stage magic!"
– The Australian

"The sincere sweetness [of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang] is carefully rationed to avoid diabetic coma, producing a family musical that will enthrall children and not embarrass or bore adults."
– Variety

"Genuinely magical."
– The Daily Telegraph

Connect

Billing

Based on the MGM Motion Picture

Requirements

You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Production Contract, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on houseboards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
(100%)
 
Music and Lyrics by
RICHARD M. SHERMAN and ROBERT B. SHERMAN
(50%)
 
Music by Special Arrangement with Sony/ATV Publishing
(50%)
 
Adapted for the Stage by Jeremy Sams
(50%)
 
Based on the MGM Motion Picture
(37½%)
 
Licensed Script Adapted by Ray Roderick
(37½%)
 
In advertisements of 1/4 page size or less, and online and mobile ads where in each case only the title of the play, performance dates and venue are provided and in outdoor advertising, transit and taxi ads and marquees where no other person is billed,the following "shortened billing" is permissible:
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

Video Warning

In accordance with the Performance License, you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:

ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK30
PIANO VOCAL SCORE2

Production Resources

Resource
CUSTOMIZABLE SHOW POSTER
-
FULL SCORE ACT 1
FULL SCORE ACT 2
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
KEYBOARD PATCH SOLUTIONS
KEYBOARDTEK
LOGO PACK
LOGO PACK DIGITAL
ORCHEXTRA
PERFORMANCE ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING
PRODUCTIONPRO-DIGITAL SCRIPT/SCORE
REFERENCE RECORDING
REHEARSAL ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING
SCENIC PROJECTIONS
SCENIC PROJECTIONS PRO
SCENIC PROJECTIONS-ANIMATED
SCENIC PROJECTIONS-STILL
STAGE WRITE APPLICATION
TRANSPOSITIONS-ON-DEMAND
VIRTUAL STAGE MANAGER

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
BASSACOUSTIC BASS , ELECTRIC BASS
HORN
KEYBOARD 1
KEYBOARD 2
PERCUSSIONCHINESE CYMBAL , CONCERT BASS DRUM , COW BELL , DRUM KIT , FINGER CYMBALS , GUIRO , LIGHT RATCHET , MARK TREE , PIATTI , SANDPAPER BLOCK , TEMPLE BLOCKS , TIMBALE , TRIANGLE , WOOD BLOCK
PERCUSSION 2BELL TREE , CASTANETS , CONCERT BASS DRUM , CONGAS , COWBELL , DUCK WHISTLE , GLOCKENSPIEL , LARGE SHAKER , MARK TREE , ORCHESTRA BELLS , PIATTI , RATCHET , SHAKER , SIREN WHISTLE , SMALL TOM TOM , SMALL TRIANGLE , SPLASH CYMBAL , SUSPENDED CYMBAL , TIMPANI , TOM TOM , TRIANGLE , TUBULAR BELLS , VIBRASLAP , WHISTLE , WOOD BLOCK , XYLOPHONE
REED 1ALTO SAXOPHONE , CLARINET , FLUTE , PICCOLO
REED 2COR ANGLAIS , ENGLISH HORN , OBOE
REED 3Bb CLARINET , BASS CLARINET , Eb CLARINET , FLUTE
TROMBONEEUPHONIUM , TROMBONE
TRUMPETCORNET , FLUGELHORN , TRUMPET
TRUMPET 2CORNET , FLUGELHORN , TRUMPET