I'LL start with the words of one of my two sons who said, as the curtain came down on the the first act before the interval, "wow! I expected it to be good, but I didn't expect it to be this absolutely, totally excellent!"

And it was. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang really does have it all. The best songs, an amazing set, hilarity, non-stop action, a terrific cast and of course, a 'flying' car.

Providing the most of the laughs were Vulgarian spy duo Boris and Goran, played by Sam Harrison (Boris) and Scott Paige (Goran), gloriously camping it up, adding just the right dose of naughtiness and superb dancing.

Not to give any spoilers but hats off to their 'disguises' and brilliant Vulgarian accents - they really had everyone laughing in the aisles.

Andy Hockley who played Grandpa Potts was again, quite the mover. I particularly liked the shoulder shimmies. He played the character like a version of the very endearing Uncle Albert in Fools and Horses, and who can resist him?

Amy Griffiths could not have given a more, well, 'scrumptious' performance of Truly Scrumptious, with flawless delivery of those famous songs and just the right mix of spunk and sweetness that the character is known for having. I'm sure if Dame Julie Andrews ever sees the show, she'd be absolutely flattered.

Michelle Collins and Phill Jupitus made a fabulously horrible pair as Baron and Baroness Bomburst, hamming it up to the max. Phill seemed to make the most of being unable to totally hide his Essex accent, which he wove exaggerated 'Vulgarian' pronounciation around, only adding to the comedy and impression that he was having an absolute unbridled ball. Michelle, who usually plays the part of the beauty, (Eastenders, Corrie), of course still looks stunning kicking her legs up in her fishnet stockings aged 53, but didn't at all mind showing her more vulgar and ungainly side playing the child-hating harpy.

Of course, the scariest part, the one you all remember being terrified watching on TV as a kid, was the child catcher, played by Martin Kemp. He really did a terrific job of being absolutely sinister - all those mean bad boy roles he has played on the screen obviously came in handy. Combined with the imaginative stage lighting which worked alongside his arrival, I noticed how my sons' eyes widened and jaws dropped whenever he came on stage.

Jason Manford, played Caractacus Potts effortlessly. Despite having featured him for many of his recent major roles he has taken on tour (Sweeny Todd, The Producers), this is the first time I had got to see him live in musical theatre action, and I was super impressed. He plays everything with a starry twinkle in his eye, and what a set of pipes!

Saving the cutest and best until last, were the children Jeremy and Jemima Potts, played by the extremely talented young Henry Kent aged ten from West Yorkshire, and Lucy Sherman, also ten from Leeds.

With a ten year old child myself, I really appreciated the demands those roles had on them, and how incredibly skilled they must be at acting, singing and having the audience eating out of their little hands. Watch out for them in the future.

Incidentally, given their young ages, they share the roles with Aaron Gelkoff, Daisy Riddett, Louie Green and Darcy Snares, so you might see other kids performing when you go.

The production stays at the Cliffs Pavilion until Sunday April 24. If you have even a bit of a chance, do go and see it. There really isn't a dull moment.

Kelly Buckley