Five Minutes With… Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Star Adam Garcia
We talk to actor Adam Garcia about his role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ahead of its run at Newcastle Theatre Royal
A brand-new production of the Sherman Brothers musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – based on the Ian Fleming book and subsequent 1968 film starring Dick Van Dyke – is coming to Newcastle’s Theatre Royal this June with Australian actor Adam Garcia at the helm as the lovably eccentric Caractacus Potts.
Ahead of its Newcastle run, we caught up with Adam for a chat about the musical, what it’s like playing such an iconic character and what he plans to do while visiting the city.
When did your love of musical theatre begin?
I think it was another Sherman Brothers musical, Mary Poppins, also with Dick Van Dyke. I watched that when I was very little and who didn’t fall in love with Julie Andrews or Dick Van Dyke? Everything about it is wild fantasy with amazing skills – I think that’s what is required for musical theatre. And I love dancing anyway!
How does it feel to be playing the iconic role of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
They’re big shoes to fill, not only with Dick Van Dyke but people like Jason Manford and Michael Ball who have also played him before. I was nervous at the beginning but the script is so good, the story is so fun and the songs are so lovely to sing. It’s a challenge every night to go out there and play this wacky crackpot but it’s also really, really funny. He’s eccentric, so you’ve got a lot of leeway to see which way he goes each night.
But the show itself is really good fun – I don’t think I’ve had this much fun doing a show. There’s no strain or stress or feeling like “Oh no, I need to go on again.” It’s a real ride and he’s a really fun character to play.
The 1968 film is a childhood favourite for a lot of people. Do you have fond memories of watching it as a kid?
Yes, absolutely! I think what stood out for me most was the “Doll on a Music Box” scene where Dick Van Dyke is doing this dance attached to wires. I just thought it was so amazing to watch that as a performance.
The film is such a total flight of fantasy. The story is bonkers and for kids, that’s just fantastic. I think the legacy of the film and the story is that such an age range of people enjoy it – older people love it for nostalgic reasons, and kids love it because it’s bananas.
How is the tour going so far? What has the audience reception been like?
The audiences have been amazing. Pretty much as soon as the orchestra starts they’re clapping along and by the time we meet Chitty – pardon the pun – in full flight, people are just absolutely up for it.
So, audience response has been really wonderful and it’s a funny show. We’ve got these other characters – the Baron and Baroness who are hilarious and the two spies played by Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph who are just sensational.
My wife is quite critical (laughs) and she was like, “It’s really good!” It never lets up and there’s always something different. Whenever a new scene or new characters come up, everyone is playing at such a high level that it’s constantly entertaining.
The show has a lot of big dance numbers. How do you cope with playing such a physically demanding role night after night?
We’ve got a pretty rigorous warm-up and I tend to do stretch routines in the morning for maintenance and cool-downs after the show. Probably a massage at least once a week!
It does require a lot of discipline. Most of your focus is enabling you to get onto the stage each day, but that’s what life is always like for people in theatre – that’s the job.
I don’t dance like the chorus though – the chorus are doing a lot of dancing in this show and I do, like, two big numbers. I’m happy that I can still kick my legs about at a more senior age! I’m very, very grateful to be able to do that.
You visited Newcastle back in 2018 when you toured with Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds. Did you get to explore the city much?
No, nothing unfortunately! We were there one day then off to the next city the day after, so I have little to no experience of Newcastle and I’m really excited to spend a week up there and get to know it a bit. It’s an iconic UK town – it’s its own thing – and I love exploring new cities and finding spots to eat and discovering galleries, so I’m really looking forward to it.
Many people will remember you from your role in the film Coyote Ugly. Do you have any plans to recreate that famous ‘dancing on the bar’ scene at any of Newcastle’s bars?
Look, I’m not totally unfit but at the time I shot the movie, I was very physically fit! I’ve said to other people, “Let it live in your memory”. Let it live there and not be tainted. Let’s keep it like that!
Lastly, what do you think makes this production Chitty Chitty Bang Bang so special? Why should people come see it at the Theatre Royal?
I think it’s a show that anyone can like – obviously, kids love it and there’s people who love the story and shows or the movie.
The music is amazing. The Sherman Brothers are incredible, the choreography that Karen Bruce has done is spectacular and we’ve got an amazing team and cast who are really top-notch.
I think if people want a family show that everyone can enjoy where you experience what theatre can do in terms of theatrical magic, then this is definitely the show for you.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 4th June to Saturday 8th June 2024. To book tickets visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/chitty-chitty-bang-bang.
Main image: Adam Garcia, Photo by Paul Coltas
