'Lily Savage' Star Takes Over as Chitty ChildcatcherDate: 27 August 2002
Paul O'Grady, better known as his alter ego 'Lily Savage' (pictured), will take over from Richard O'Brien next month as The Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. O'Brien finishes his contract on 14 September 2002, after which O'Grady will join the cast for a limited 12-week season, playing from 16 September to 7 December 2002.
The role will mark O'Grady's first return to the stage since having a heart attack last spring. The comedian's previous theatre appearances have included Annie (in which he played Miss Hannigan), Prisoner of Cell Block H - The Musical and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens as well as numerous stand-up tours and West End gigs. On television as Savage, O'Grady presents the quiz show Blankety Blank while on film, and out of drag, he has appeared in Chariots of Fire and In the Name of the Father.
The rest of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang principals - including Michael Ball (Caractacus Potts), Emma Williams (Truly Scrumptious), Anton Rodgers (Grandpa Potts), Brian Blessed (The Baron) and Nichola McAuliffe (The Baroness) - remain in the cast.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang received its world premiere at the London Palladium on 16 April 2002 (previews from 19 March). Based on the classic 1968 children's film, the story follows the adventures of madcap inventor Caractacus Potts who sets about restoring an old car from a scrap heap with the help of his two children, and a lady friend named Truly Scrumptious. When the car develops magical properties, it attracts the evil attention of Baron Bomburst from Vulgaria.
The stage show is adapted by Jeremy Sams with original music by the Sherman brothers, directed by outgoing RSC artistic director Adrian Noble, choreographed by Gillian Lynne and designed by Anthony Ward, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Andrew Bruce, orchestrations and dance arrangements by Chris Walker, and musical direction and supervision by Robert Scott.
The original children's book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, was written by Ian Fleming and adapted by Roald Dahl for the hugely popular movie starring Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes. The Sherman brothers, Richard M and Robert B, were Oscar-nominated for the title song.
- by Terri Paddock
