The Signal Mountain Playhouse’s summer production, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” opens at the Playhouse’s outdoor amphitheater Friday, July 8, and runs Fridays and Saturdays through the end of July at 8 p.m. each night.
This is the first year SMPH has presented the musical, based on the novel “Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car” by Ian Fleming, who is best known for the “James Bond” series. Most will remember the story from the 1968 film which features a script by Roald Dahl (author of “The BFG,” recently made into a feature film) and stars Dick Van Dyke.
“We wanted to do something we’ve never done before,” said Anne Rittenberry, SMPH publicity chairwoman. “There are a limited number of shows with lots of parts for kids, and we thought this would be a lot of fun.”
Tim Forsythe is in the main role of Caractacus Potts, the widowed inventor Van Dyke plays in the film. Potts’ children, Jeremy and Jemima, become attached to a former racecar that has been retired to a junkyard near their home in England. When a man at the junkyard tells the children he plans to purchase the car for scrap metal, they try to convince their father to buy the car, but he refuses.
As the children are playing hooky from school one day, they run into Truly Scrumptious (Shanda Burnett), a woman who, disturbed the children aren’t in school, gives them a ride home. She is also the daughter of a major candy manufacturer, to whom Potts attempts to sell the candy he’s invented that can be played like a flute.
After a series of events, including his firing from the candy factory and a run-in with a displeased customer of his automatic hair-cutting machine, Potts joins a song-and-dance group and earns enough in tips to purchase the car. Once rebuilt, the car reveals itself to have magical powers, including the ability to fly and float.
“Families will enjoy it very much, and children will get a kick out of it,” Rittenberry said, adding that a flying car is featured in the SMPH production. “It’s very lighthearted and fanciful, and a wonderful story of family love.”
Attendees will likely recognize a few songs from the score. Among those tunes is “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” which was nominated for an Academy Award in the “Original Song” category in 1969.
The play is directed by Allan Ledford and choreographed by David Wood, with Sandy Morris leading the 28-piece all-volunteer orchestra and Michael Huseman accompanying. Huseman’s son Zachary is playing Jeremy, alongside Collette Smith in the role of Jemima.
Tickets can only be purchased at the door and will go on sale beginning at 6 p.m. the night of each showing. The cost is $5 for children age 12 and younger and $15 for all other attendees.
Rittenberry said most people choose to bring lawn chairs to place on the amphitheater’s stone terraces, rushing to secure their spots as the gates open. Many mountain residents then return home before the show begins at 8, while nonresidents often grab a bite to eat, she added.
She said that while the amphitheater does have a concession stand selling pizza, popcorn and soda, attendees are welcome to bring in their own food as well.
The amphitheater is accessible to people with disabilities, who can bypass the orange cones at the entrance on Rolling Way, said Rittenberry.
“We want everyone to be able to experience the Playhouse,” she said.
The SMPH amphitheater is at 1104 James Blvd., at the corner of James Boulevard and Rolling Way. For more information call Rittenberry at 667-2062.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.