Who can take a sunrise, 
sprinkle it with dew, 
cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two?

I don’t think I have come across a musical so divisive as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Having spent a while reading comments on social media relating to the tour, I find myself frustrated at the ignorance of many. 

“Why were the Oompa Loompas 6ft tall silver cybermen?” 

“Charlie Bucket is a boy and should not be played by a girl.” 

“Hardly any of the songs from the films were in the show.” 

Those are just a few comments which irritated me. It makes me wonder how many of those nigglers have ever been to musical theatre before, and that maybe this medium is not for them. It’s theatre, and if creativity interprets Oompa Loompas as silver, then so be it (And they were not all 6ft tall, they were the dancers). Similarly, there is no reason Charlie cannot be a girl and finally, if people wanted a carbon copy of the film, then they are best sticking to watching the film and not a musical theatre interpretation. But that does not mean I didn’t have a gripe of my own. Although, excellently performed, the casting of adults in child roles (The four naughty Golden Ticket Winners) made me cringe. There are some fantastic child performers in the UK, so use them. There … rants over.

I’m not going to dwell on the plot because if you’re reading this, you will know the ins and outs of the story anyway. Let’s face it, it’s on TV most Christmases. The show stays faithful in the main to both original book by Roald Dahl and the movie versions which followed. And going back to silver Oompa Loompas, Dahl’s original vision was them being black pygmies. Ouch!

Although Willy Wonka is billed as the chief character, I am going to differ and give top spot to Jessie-Lou Harvie as Charlie Bucket. Let’s face it, Wonka does not appear until the end of what is a rather slow Act One. I had no issues with Charlie being female and it did not cross my mind otherwise until I saw negative feedback afterwards and needed to defend. Jessie-Lou was magnificent (Loved the accent, as well), excelling in acting, song, and dance. Particularly during Almost Nearly Perfect.

Wonka himself was played on this occasion by Ewan Gillies, the second understudy in a lead role I had seen in a week, but no less amazing. A top draw performance capturing the magic, mystery, and eccentricity you would expect of Willy Wonka.

In the part of Grandpa Joe, we had Michael D’Cruze who fitted the role and delivered Charlie, You and I very well. I must have missed the reasoning, but I couldn’t fathom why Joe went to the factory tour dressed as a Bus Conductor. As usual, though, the lazy bugger, having spent 20 years in bed, jumps up in song and dance when there’s a chance of free chocolate. At least he didn’t persuade Charlie to steal Fizzy Lifting Drink.

Mrs Bucket (also Mrs Teevee) was portrayed by Leonie Spilsbury and sang Candy Man. I was also impressed with the signing by Spilsbury throughout. The other parents shared roles with the bed-ridden grandparents: Morgan Scott (Grandpa George/Mr Salt), Kate Milner-Evans (Grandma Josephine/Mrs Gloop) and Emily Winter (Grandma Georgina/Mrs Beauregarde).

I have already said my opinion about adults in child roles (Bleugh!) but cannot fault Kazmin Borrer as Veruca, particularly in the ballet sections. Equally well done to Robin Simoes Da Silva (Augustus Gloop), Marisha Morgan (Violet Beauregarde) and Terry Hinde (Mike Teevee). Rounding off the principals we had Victoria Nicol (Mrs Pratchett), Ty-Reece Stewart (Jerry) and Lucy Hutchinson (Cherry).

Numbers and dances I liked especially were Pure Imagination, Strike That! Reverse It, Veruca’s Nutcracker Suite, and The View from Here. It was all spectacular with energetic dance and good choreography from Emily Jane Boyle. Simon Higlett’s set was also impressive, as was musical direction by David Shrubsole. The director of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was James Brinning. The production was adapted by David Greig with musical composition from Mark Shaiman and lyrics, Scott Wittman.

This is a spectacular show and as long as you do not expect a carbon copy of a 50-year-old film, you will be transported indeed, to a world of pure imagination.

Cheers

Antony N Britt

* Photos blatantly taken from social media.