This month with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – the Musical, prepare yourself to experience a “world of pure imagination” on stage at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
Though Welsh born fighter pilot, spy and writer Roald Dahl’s story of Charlie and Willy Wonka needs no introduction, here’s a little bit of information for those who don’t know it. This is one of Dahl’s early children’s stories written in 1964 and is based on personal experience from when he was in school and got to try chocolate from a local factory.
The story follows young Charlie Bucket, played by the exceptionally talented Isaac Sugden (in Cardiff’s performance) from an impoverished family in Britain, living in a small house with his mum (Leonie Spilsbury, also plays Mrs Teavee) and his grandparents.
The family Grandpa Joe (Michael D’Cruze), Grandma Josephine (Kate Milner Evans, also plays Mrs Gloop) Grandpa George (Christopher Howell, also plays Mr Salt) and Grandma Georgina (Emily Winter, also plays Mrs Beauregarde) are so excited when Charlie’s lucky enough to find the fifth and final ticket. Accompanied by Grandpa Joe, they embark on a tour of the factory recently reopened by the eccentric chocolatier.
Waiting until just before curtains down for the intermission, the audience is left in suspense to meet sweet inventor extraordinaire Willy Wonka (Gareth Snook). The suspense builds until almost the interval, when you finally get to meet the confectionary inventor. Just like the movie, the myth, the legend, the rumours build until the final reveal.
Throughout the factory tour, the other golden ticket holders Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde and Mike Teavee are all eliminated in quite unusual circumstances. The impressive staging and lighting effects, leaving everything to the imagination with quite comical scenes.
The glutinous Augustus Gloop (Robin Simões Da Silva) from Bulvaria can’t seem to keep his hands or mouth to himself, and falls into the chocolate river before getting stuck in a decontamination tube. It’s quite difficult to imagine how they might pull this off on stage, but they do this brilliantly, much to the enjoyment of the audience.
World champion bubblegum chewer Violet Beauregarde (Emma Robotham-Hunt), is determined to try Wonkas new Three Course Dinner chewing gum and ignores the warnings that the dessert is defective. As Violet reaches the blueberry pie and blows up to look like a berry herself , she is rolled off to be juiced.
Spoilt Veruca Salt (Kazmin Borrer) who always gets what she wants, doesn’t like being told no by Mr Wonka when she ask for a squirrel. Determined to get one even if she has to do so herself, Veruca is seen as the bad nut she is and ends up down the garbage chute, with her dad following soon after. The funniest thing is the look on Mr Wonka’s face, I’m not entirely sure he cares what happens…
TV obsessed Mike Teavee (Teddy Hinde), not much of a chocolate fan meets his downfall in the TV room. Determined to be on TV even if that means being shrunk down to the size of a chocolate bar. Well, he gets what he deserves is all we can say.
The new helpers around the factory, the Oompa Loompas, are very different from the films, think steampunk cyber men and it wouldn’t be far off what you see on stage. With musical numbers and dance routines to move the story along.
With only Charlie left of the five children, will Mr Wonka keep his word.
The set designed by Simon Higlett was astounding with its moving parts, including a shop within a junk pile and a border of TVs for the first half of the production. There’s a lot to capture your attention and it’s just so much fun seeing how it all comes together. Simon not only designed the set but is also the genius behind the costumes, with outfits for each character different than you see in the films. He’s managed to capture the essence of each golden ticket holder perfectly.
With the times changing, we find that technology is becoming a bigger part of staging. It can be used as a backdrop, or a projection onto the stage floor, and blending seamlessly with the physical set also encourages interactions with the actors on stage. The elevator scenes are absolutely spot on… and creates the illusion of movement through animation.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory wouldn’t be the same without the music, and the orchestra led by David Shrubsole does this superbly. Unless you are sat near to the front of the stage, they would be hard to miss, so look closely.
The production included well known songs “World of Pure Imagination”, “The Candy Man”, “Oompa Loompa” and “I want it now” but also has other fun songs from the multi award-winning songwriters of Hairspray.
What a great show for all the family with the incorporation of sign language for inclusivity throughout, it’s one that the kids will absolutely and the tickets are still on sale here.
