First performed at Leeds Playhouse in November 2022 ahead of this tour, this is a reworking of the original production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 2013, and while it still has much of the original in this version, there are a few surprising changes and a few more obvious ones for a vigorous tour. So, the question is, should you seek out that golden theatre ticket to see the show?
Well, it isn't much of a spoiler to say that of course Charlie manages to find a Golden Ticket, as do four other typically repulsive children from the Dahl world. Charlie is the only kid that you would want to know in real life and in the hands of the performer for the night Noah Walton, he is endlessly charming and endearing. During this tour, the role of Charlie is being performed by four young stars, two boys and two girls, and if they are all as good as Walton, audiences are in for a treat. It is an extremely confident performance of a character that is rarely off-stage, Walton has fabulous character and a delightful singing voice for a performer so young.
All of the actors playing the grandparents and Charlie's mother Mrs Bucket, with the exception of Joe, double in the roles as the parents of the nauseating children, and this works extremely well. All are noticeably different in their performances, but despite their valiant efforts, it is the kids you remember, for all the horrid reasons.
While Charlie is played by four young performers across the tour, the other four children are performed by adult actors across the run for practical reasons and while they do feel so much older than little Charlie, their characterisations are as excellent as you would expect. Kazmin Borrer is perfectly needy and demanding as you would hope as Veruca Salt, complete with a horrid piercing voice. Marisha Morgan occasionally interrupts her chewing to be very annoyingly energetic as Violet Beauregarde. Teddy Hinde, is, and you might detect a pattern here, very annoying as Mike Teavee. Finally, and perhaps my favourite is Robin Simões da Silva, who, while he is perhaps too slim for how we would remember the character, is great fun as Augustus Gloop. Each of the kids gets their own brilliant introduction through song and dance, and Gloop, the first of them is without question the best, and ironic that when they get their comeuppance later in the factory, he sadly peters out with the least exciting exit.
All of the news reports announcing the ticket finds are brilliantly introduced by Lucy Hutchison as roving reporting Cherry and newsreader Jerry as Ewan Gillies. Both are excellent, but in the minor role, Gillies is truly superb, making everything he possibly can from the character.
So, what of Willy Wonka himself. Well, in the role Gareth Snook, a veteran of the stage, clearly makes the role his own and handles both the songs and put-downs and nonchalant sarcasm brilliantly. However, at times, it does feel like a performance that swings dramatically about in style and delivery. In a way, this could be very deliberate, Wonka, after all, is a character renowned for his unpredictability, however, Snook, is sometimes just too unpredictable.
The factory does become a little bit of a disappointment because for very practical terms, it relies very heavily on video projection rather than sets. It is safe to say though, it is an exceptionally good video design from Simon Wainwright, but it is only that. For the first ten minutes of the second act, it relies purely on this and while it does improve dramatically, it feels at this point underwhelming. It doesn't help if you are in front rows either as you cannot see the projection on the stage floor, so, this is one to sit further back, or up higher in the circle to get the full benefit. The demise of the children though is excellent and worth just discovering rather than reading in some review. Suffice it to say, they are very cleverly done and often really really funny.
A slightly alarming difference for those remembering the story will be surprised to find that the Oompa Loompas have changed somewhat from how you remember them. No longer little people, these have now become robots, and while maybe it is practical for the production, it is, no question a disappointment.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical is great fun, there is no denying that, and without question, you will be entertained, and while the production has its obvious issues, nothing detracts from the huge fun it brings to the stage and the audience.
A tasty little production of a true classic children's tale.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
