Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl’s seminal story featuring mystery, magic, morality, and mountains of chocolate – forms the basis for the perfect family theatre offering, which is a reprisal of the 2013 musical. In James Brining’s new production, which is currently touring the UK, the rags-to-riches element of the tale is highlighted, opening in a grey, junk-filled world in which a rainbow-clad Charlie is the one pop of color. There is exultance in watching the denouement of the well-known plot play out: ghastly spoilt children meet their very sticky ends in the factory, while the kind-hearted and generous Charlie Bucket gets justly rewarded in the end.
This is an enormously enjoyable evening, with that familiar story working like clockwork. David Greig’s adaptation is neatly bifurcated by the interval: the first half focuses on the plight of the impoverished Charlie seeking a golden ticket, whilst the second act features the maverick Willy Wonka, robotic oompa loompas and some truly fantastical set pieces.
Charlie was played very touchingly by the utterly endearing Jessie-Lou Harvie (the production has two girls and two boys alternating in the role), who depicts a delightful relationship with the roguish grandpa Joe (a sparkly Michael D’Cruze).
This production, which is in the middle of an extensive tour of the UK, offers a lavish staging, and dazzling sets, with Simon Higlett’s initial set taking us from the etiolated world of grey poverty that the Bucket family inhabit – their cardboard shack is in a rubbish dump – into a somewhat sinister-looking fantastical steampunk factory which explodes with robotic dancing Oompa-Loompas (a smart staging choice, both creepy and witty) and Simon Wainwright’s snazzily bright digital projections
The musical retains the great Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse hit ‘Pure Imagination’ from the 1971 film, and is supplemented by some numbers written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The latter are perfect for lampooning obnoxious children from around the world, especially the yodeling, bratwurst-guzzling ‘Bavarian beefcake’, Augustus Gloop, and the prissy, pampered Veruca Salt, who is portrayed as a ballet-mad little madam. The increasingly desperate attempts of her father (played by Lewis Rae) to placate his indulged daughter is one of the comedic highlights of the show.The roster of horrors who win the golden tickets are characterized in the most delightfully grotesque and colorful ways, and are juxtaposed with the kind and humble Bucket family.
There are especially strong performances from Leonie Spilsbury who plays two very different mothers: the loving Mrs Bucket and a harassed, hand-wringing Mrs Teavee. Gareth Snook steals multiple scenes as Willy Wonka, playing the reclusive chocolate factory owner with just the right level of capriciousness and charisma to convey the slipperiness of this magnetic, frenzied genius.
This is a deliciously sweet confection and one that will no doubt delight the whole family.
At New Wimbledon Theatre until 1 July, then touring the UK until 4 February 2024.
Tickets: charlieandthechocolatefactory.co.uk
