20 September – 8 October
This is an extremely professional production with a large cast, excellent music, and a superb band.
Such was the power of a magical effect in the second act that it produced tears in the young girl behind me. She had to be comforted by her mother because she was so alarmed by the transformation of Violet Beauregard into a vast blueberry – one of several clever theatrical tricks. Willy Wonka was suitably and deliciously unconcerned at his dastardly deeds – we were in the thick of a Roald Dahl story. Wonka has some brilliant throw away one-liners which delighted the audience and were well delivered.
The set is imaginative. In the first moments a great pile of rubbish cleverly moves aside to reveal first a shop and later the cosy strange hovel in which the Bucket family live. In the second half, inside the Chocolate Factory, the stage changes to a brighter set of colours with fantastical back projections that create Willy Wonka’s magic. The production makes full use of the large stage, the orchestra pit, and the modern technology of the Hippodrome.
The cast are skillful and energetic with stand out performances from Gareth Snook as Willy Wonka, Michael D’Cruze as Grandpa Joe and Leonie Spilsbury as Mrs Bucket and Mrs Teavee. The musical score was well known by the audience and was excellently performed. There are some clever spoofs of, for example, Bavarian yodelling and dancing, as well as cool songs almost verging on jazz. The five golden ticket children have great cameos to show off their various talents (special mention to Kazmin Borrer who played Veruca Salt). The ensemble dancers and singers backing them were spirited and great use was made of their different shapes and sizes.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory is one of my least favourite Roald Dahl stories. Everyone gets his or her just deserts, but of course only in fantasy land. It is moralistic and also, I found, racist with its portrayal of stereotypes. So even in this excellent production the show is going to lack some heart, and the actors were fighting this all the way through. In addition, it seemed to me that the voices were over mic’d which also inhibited any emotional depth. The excessive volume didn’t help Gareth Snook in his first reveal song where it became a bit one dimensional, but it worked well in the slow ballads and with the TV presenters who have to be at full volume.
At the end of the performance there was a well-earned standing ovation for what had been top-notch entertainment with superb staging and costumes. I wish I had taken my granddaughter!
★★★★☆ Keith Erskine, 22 September 2023
