Chitty Chitty

BANG! BANG!

It's quite a story, really. All about a magical car that floats and flies and even brings people together.

It was just about a year ago when my son-in-law, Andy, started talking with his co-directors at Gering High School's cast party, following the spring musical. They had promised each other that they wouldn't do it, but they just couldn't help themselves from talking about next year's musical. And just a few weeks later, they had contracted to bring Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to Gering for the 2016 musical. 

They had the talented students they needed to pull it off. And they had the dedicated and creative staff that was necessary for such an elaborate production. Andy would be the theatrical director, as he had done for several years already. Shelly would direct the music. And Mr. D would be in charge of set design and construction, lighting and sound, and of course, building the all-important car--all of those invisible behind-the-scenes jobs that are so essential for any theatrical presentation.

Andy wasted no time. He bought a copy of the movie and CDs of the music, both in English and German, of course, since he is also a dedicated German teacher. He and Tobin and Evelyn, and sometimes Meagan, too, listened to the CDs and watched the movie repeatedly last summer. My grandchildren may be the only preschoolers in the country who can sing the Chitty theme song in German!

Andy and Shelly and Mr. D conferred often over the summer, discussing what they would need to build that crucial car, and stock-piling parts for the set. Andy and Shelly were counting on Mr. D's expertise to build some fabulous scenery and construct an amazing car. Andy was obviously excited about the next musical, because he just couldn't stop talking about it, even at family gatherings.

Then, just one week after school started in August, the unthinkable happened. Mr. D died. The community was in shock. Not only was Mr. D an exceptional set-designer and technical director, he was an outstanding and greatly beloved teacher and mentor to hundreds of students and former students, like Andy. He was a great friend to most of the high school staff, and many others in our town. In so many ways, Mr. D was irreplaceable. He will never be forgotten.

Right away, some questions loomed to gigantic proportions in Andy's mind. Who would build the sets? Who would manage the temperamental sound system and the lights for the musical? Who would build the car?

It took some time and money, but lots of people worked together to come up with some solutions. A local couple volunteered to build sets. The community has raised nearly enough money for a brand new sound system, but it hasn't been installed yet, so a temporary sound system was secured and installed. An orchestra was hired to record all of the accompaniment needed for the musical, and another company provided sound effects, so the need for a live pit orchestra was eliminated. Kristian, Caleb, Raul, Angie, Carl, Phillip, Billy, Brenda--I only know a few of the names of the numerous people who stepped in to try to fill the huge gap left by Mr. D.

And the car? Andy searched all over the country to find just the right car, at a price that Gering High School could afford--in other words, cheap! He found one at a theatrical supply company in Kansas City, but the cost to ship it to Gering was prohibitive. Then, NTC, a local trucking firm, volunteered to ship the car to and from Gering, free of charge.

Easter weekend found Andy experimenting with a toy car and some yarn, on the kitchen table, to figure out how to move the Chitty car, marionette style, with ropes onstage.

Meagan asked me to go with the kids and her to the first showing, a Wednesday matinee for the kindergarten through third grade students from all of Gering's elementary schools. She rationalized that any noise made by her young children wouldn't be a factor in an audience full of kids. Tobin and Evelyn were so excited they could hardly stand it. Not only would they get to see their cherished Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, they would get to see their Daddy, who just hasn't been home much in recent weeks.

We sat in the back row, just a few seats away from Andy, who was situated right in front of the technical booth, wearing a headset and mike, and directing the stage production, lighting, and sound from his roost there in the back of the auditorium. Tobin and Evelyn had strict instructions to "not bother Daddy," and each darted over to give him a quick hug only a couple of times when there seemed to be a lull in the production. Otherwise, they were totally enthralled with the two hour long performance, singing along with the theme song every time they heard it. German or English? I couldn't tell.

Afterwards, we waited for the school kids to file out. Then, Tobin and Evelyn were thrilled to run up on stage and touch that magical car one more time before they headed home for lunch and naps.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a magnificent show. The sets, though rather minimalist to allow room for a moving car onstage, are wonderful. The high school actors nailed it--their acting and singing are superb. The twenty elementary and junior high kids in the musical do a marvelous job. And the car does its job admirably well.

Bill went to last night's opening show by himself, since he has a track meet today and a wedding reception during show time tomorrow. He said it was almost a full house, which is quite rare for a school night. He can be pretty hard to please, but he loved this production.

I'm going again tonight, with Levi and Victoria, and Erin and her boyfriend, Reed. I'm hoping for a full house. I don't think my hopes are in vain.

If you live anywhere near Gering, grab some tickets before they are all sold out, and come to see a spectacular production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It's quite a story, really. All about a magical car that floats and flies and even brings people together.

  In Memory of Jason DeMaranville