Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sunderland Empire

11:18am Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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IT'S the 15-minute mark. We know that musical debutant Matt Baker is a dab hand at dance, having won his shot at Caractacus Potts with an impromptu Blue Peter attempt at Me Ole Bamboo back in 2002, but can he also act and sing?

His first test comes with You Two, a song alongside nine-yearold Eliott Allinson from Richmond and Rebecca Chapman, 11, of Sunderland, who confidently took on the roles of Jeremy and Jemima Potts.

The man in charge of Chitty's steering wheel never falters and although he hasn't got the strongest of singing voices, the affable presenter displays all the potential of re-inventing himself as a song-and-dance star.

Aled Jones might be succeeding him when the tour moves to Wales, as the producers use homegrown talent to boost tickets sales, but you couldn't see the former choirboy performing the back flip and forward somersault with which Baker completes his Me Ole Bamboo routine this time.

Easington-born Baker knows he's on safe ground thanks to Caractacus gaining a Durham twang and that he needs a little more stage experience - which rumour has it, is already on offer. I for one, wish the show with the world's most expensive prop, a £1m car, an open road and plenty of passengers for its extended run until June 7.

Tony Adams is madcap military man Grandpa Potts with a nice line in humour and leads a second half song-and-dance treat of The Roses Of Success.

Rachel Stanley is a slightly operatic but believable Truly Scrumptious while Wayne Sleep reprises his London Palladium Childcatcher with relish and Edward Peel and Kim Ismay ham it up nicely as evil Baron and Baroness Bomburst.

With the evil doings down to the Vulgarians, there is plenty of Vulgar comedy scope for spies Goran (Nigel Garton) and Boris (Jaymz Denning). The massive cast includes 11 youngsters from all over the North-East who knocked spots off performances I saw from the West End cast, just like the show's first visit to Sunderland in 2005.

This is said to be Chitty's last tour for a while, so don't miss this great charabanc ride of a show.

■ Until Saturday, June 7.

Tickets: £14-£39.50 (top price tickets have a £5 discount for children and pensioners). Box Office: 0870-602-1130 or www.sunderlandempire.org.uk Viv Hardwick