THE professional commercial theatres in Bristol (the Hippodrome, Weston-super-Mare (the Playhouse) and Bath Theatre Royal all open their doors to productions by local amateur companies.

Weston Operatic Society, founded in 1908 and the oldest of the local clubs, had to wait until a change of management in 2008 before they could establish themselves as regular visitors to the Playhouse, with two productions a year. Since 1956, battling their way through Covid and several changes of ownership, BLOC and two other groups have risked their own money to perform in Frank Matcham’s Bristol Hippodrome.

When it comes to welcoming amateur groups to their stage, Bath Theatre Royal can claim bragging rights over the other two venues in that they have two regular top flight amateur groups, Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society and Bath Light Operatic group, as regular visitors.

BLOG is celebrating the seventh anniversary of appearing on the Theatre Royal stage with this spectacular production of Jeremy Sams’ stage adaptation of the Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes screenplay of Ian Fleming’s delightful children’s adventure yarn Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

You have to go some to match the much-loved 1968 film, starring Dick Van Dyke, the Truly Scrumptious Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Gert Frobe, Anna Quayle, and of course Chitty the flying motor car.

The splendid replica of Chitty – made for the film by the Ford Racing Team – drew a round of applause and thereafter upstaged the actors every time it appeared. Compared to bigger, more elaborate productions, the car didn’t soar that high above the stage – (do I detect the hand of Health and Safety here?) – but it was right out of the top drawer. So were its inhabitants, Ed Corbishley and Lizzie Andrews, both in sparkling vocal form as Caractacus Potts, an inventor with wonderful ideas but no commercial sense, and Truly Scrumptious, a spoilt heiress who finds love in an unexpected quarter, and Potts’ super-confident children, Jemima and Jeremy, roles shared by Nancy Bower and Emlyn Pugh, and Cecily Fitton-Cook and Ben Page. They left the audience in no doubt that love and truth will always win out.

Also hitting the spot was Caractacus and Truly’s doll dance, despite the distraction of a light behind Truly which made it difficult to follow her perfect movements as the mechanical Doll. This slight error is the only fault that can be laid at the door of Jon Vooght’s otherwise excellent, expertly delivered lighting design.

Director Matt Heaton drew some delightful characterisations from the cast. On the side of the goodies was the much-loved repeater of stories Grandpa Potts, stylishly played by Geoff White, bringing the experience of nearly 50 years playing on this stage to make Posh and The Roses of Success look and sound far easier than they are to vocally create a fun filled moment. Chasing up the same humorous home straight, Rich Newman and Sophie Harris keptjust the right side of overplaying, and getting as well-deserved and fulsome response from the audience for Chu-Chi Face.

There is no need for Mattew Brock and George Miles to be restrained as they relentlessly chase every comedy moment as the bumbling spies Goran and Boris. Alex Piper creates a really frightening and villainous Childcatcher. There was certainly nothing frightening about Nick Feirabend’s quietly heroic Toymaker or Simon Carr Minns’ sympathetic garage owner Mr Coggins.

MD Matthew Finch and choreograoher Alison Price had the blessing of working with a full chorus, varying in age from – I suspect – under ten to bus pass age. Between them, like a pair of truly good cooks, they blended the elements together so that there were no lumpy bits in the vocals or movement – and some wonderfully visual and vocal moments to enjoy.

This was a worthy production for BLOG to celebrate 70 years of appearing on the Theatre Royal’s stage. and one that will surely ensure that the theatre’s management, along with BLOG’s supporters, will be only too ready to welcome them back for number 71.

GRP