‘CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG’

Tale of a magical car flies into Signal Mountain Playhouse next four weekends

You can’t put on a production of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” without a flying car, and Signal Mountain Playhouse manages to put that magic in the machine with its production of the musical, which opens Friday, July 8, for eight performances.

“Charles Dunlap, Sue Christenson, Lee Abelson and Jennifer Hamilton have headed up an army of volunteers who have built three cars from scratch to be Chitty, created props such as a breakfast-making machine and hair-cutting machine, and sets that include trays of candy in the candy factory,” says director Allan Ledford.

“This is absolutely the biggest show I’ve ever been involved with in terms of props and sets,” he adds.

The playhouse’s production includes a cast of 65 adults and children, as well as a full orchestra directed by Sandy Morris.

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” tells the misadventures of quirky inventor Caractacus Potts and his two children, Jemima and Jeremy, who live in a windmill with Grandpa Potts. The children have their hearts set on buying a dilapidated race car — a former Grand Prix winner — they’ve discovered in a junkyard. They are told the car will be sold for junk unless their father can come up with 30 shillings to purchase it, which of course he doesn’t have. They nickname the car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the noises its engine makes.

With the sale of one of his inventions, Potts is able to purchase the jalopy, refurbish it and return it to its former glory. During this time, he meets Truly Scrumptious, daughter of the owner of the town’s candy factory, and a sweet romance begins. When Potts and children take her on a drive for a picnic at the beach, they discover the magical powers Chitty possesses.

But their happiness is derailed by the Baron of Vulgaria, who wants Chitty for himself. He doesn’t hesitate to kidnap Potts’ loved ones to get what he wants. How the family stands up to the Baron — with a big assist from Chitty to save the day — will entertain the audience with comedy, music and lots of surprise special effects, Ledford says.

Tim Forsythe is cast as Caractacus Potts and playing his true love, Truly, is Shandra Burnett. Both are well-known for their roles at the playhouse and Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

Zachary Huseman and Colette Smith are the Potts children.

“These are major roles for the two children. They are onstage throughout the show,” says Ledford. “There is a lot of comic relief in the musical, and David Wood and Samantha Teter are certainly that. They are the Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria, and their characters are larger than life.” Wood is also the show’s choreographer.

Playhouse parking will be at the town complex, not on Rolling Way, according to playhouse staff. Only patrons in need of handicap parking will be allowed to drive onto the playhouse grounds for parking.

Curtain rises at 8 p.m., but the box office will open at 6 p.m. for anyone who wishes to place lawn chairs early or picnic.

David Wood and Samantha Teter provide comic moments in the musical in their roles as the Baro and Baroness of Vulgaria.