Quotable Quotes: On the Red Carpet with the Chitty Cast
WHAT: Opening night
WHERE: Hilton New York
WHEN: April 28, 2005
"The children never connect me with the man onstage when I come out the stage door. The parents spend all their time trying to convince them that I'm Caractacus." --Raúl Esparza, who plays Caractacus Potts
"Until our first preview, we were terrified that everything we assumed might work in London, might not work here. We were kind of pessimists." --Director Adrian Noble
"The minute I walk on stage they start booing and hissing. It's cool." --Kevin Cahoon
"It does do lots of gyrations. It goes up and down and sideways and twists and bends and turns. If you're not strapped in and don't hold on, it can be a little unnerving." --Philip Bosco on being a passenger in the flying car
"We're waiting for the fusion of a family so that you care about the repairing of this car, the resurrection of Chitty. Oh! The Resurrection of Chitty, that's the sequel." Erin Dilly
"Since I'm so small, I never get to go on roller coasters. I've never been to Disney World, no theme parks, Six Flags, nothing. And this car is like a roller coaster. It was the first time for me, and it was unbelievable." -- Henry Hodges on getting to ride in the flying car
"The truth is we are two incredibly selfish people that are so different and have absolutely nothing in common at all and yet are completely adoring of each other." --Marc Kudisch, who plays Baron Bomburst, on his character's relationship with his wife
"It's a piece of fluff. If you like flying cars and a lot of fun, then come down. If you like in-depth plots and multi-faceted characters, it won't be your cup of tea." -- Jan Maxwell
"The kids in the show are phenomenal. They don't make mistakes. These kids are so sharp and so funny and so well-behaved and fun to be around." -- Robert Sella
"They're screaming at me and yelling at me and cursing at me as I'm flying above their heads, and that's two and a half hours into the show. If the kids are paying that close of attention and listening that well, we've done a pretty good job." --Kevin Cahoon who plays the scary Child Catcher
"I'm making people that happy. How cool is that? That's my job." --Ellen Marlow
"I really loved watching the show tonight. It's great not taking notes, sitting back and really enjoy it. I shouldn't be saying that but I did." --Set and costume designer Anthony Ward
"I'm really not very fond of doing musicals because I feel awkward in the beginning. I'm not a trained signer or dancer of any sort. So I'm like in a different world. But my wife insists I do these things." --Philip Bosco
"I had to teach Raúl how to dance." -Choreographer Gillian Lynne
"To watch the parents with the kids as the kids are going crazy and enthusiastic and watching the parents become children again is thrilling." --Kenneth Kantor
"I've seen grown men crying, seeing that car fly." --Adrian Noble
"I fully expected a kind of jaded Broadway response and instead everybody was behaving like three year olds." --Raul Esparza on the audience reaction when the car flies
"I was there tonight with my children and their children. It's a wonderful feeling to see my grandchildren loving it and getting spooked by the Child Catcher and cheering when they over throw the Vulgarians." --Co-composer/lyricist Richard M. Sherman
"I was thrilled to sink my teeth into it. I've never played a villain like this before. Very exciting." --Kevin Cahoon
"It's every kid's dream to fly in a car. It's a big thing for a kid." --Henry Hodges
"It's rare to have something that's sole purpose is laugh, smile, have a good time." --Erin Dilly
"It's exciting. It's a change of pace. The money is extremely good." --Philip Bosco on the appeal of doing this show
"I thought that I would be here by the time I was 20, not by the time I was eleven. So it was kind of a surprise." --Ellen Marlow on her young Broadway debut
"Before there was Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket and Star Wars, there was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Willy Wonka. All I know is, let me do something in Willy Wonka when it comes to the stage, and I've sealed my childhood." --Marc Kudisch
"He was all over me at the audition, kissing me and stuff. I think I blushed for the first time in 20 years and said, it's nice to meet you to." Jan Maxwell on her co-star Marc Kudisch
"It's the happiest show in town." --Kevin Cahoon
Interviews by Paul Wontorek
Compiled by Alixandra Liner