Grand Theatre, Blackpool – until 1 September 2024
Reviewed by Debra Skelton
5*****
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has arrived in Blackpool and can be seen at The Grand Theatre Blackpool until Sunday 01st September.
This production by ENSEMBLE Theatre Blackpool and presented by arrangement with Musical Theatre International is a feel-good adaptation of this classical movie and is a show that has something for everyone bringing nostalgia to the older generation and excitement to the young.
It is based on the novel by Roald Dahl with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman with songs from the motion picture by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley including ‘Candy Man’ and ‘Pure Imagination’.
The story is about Charlie Bucket who dreams about chocolate and visiting Willy Wonka’s world-famous Chocolate Factory based in his hometown. He lives in poverty with his mother and grandparent’s and only gets the chance to have a bar of Wonka chocolate on his birthday each year. He does play games with his bedridden Grandpa Joe around the chocolate factory as Joe did once work there.
Willy Wonka who has been hidden behind his closed factory doors for years when suddenly he decides to hide five Golden Tickets in his Wonka Bars with the finders of these tickets being given a chance to tour the factory.
Charlie desperately wants to win one of these tickets and is disheartened every time a golden ticket is found (the first four tickets are found by gluttonous Augustus Gloop, spoiled Veruca Salt, compulsive gum-chewer Violet Beauregarde, and television addict Mike Teavee) until the Wonka bar he buys after finding some money in the snow contains the final golden ticket.
As Charlie will need to be accompanied by an adult and his mother needs to work, his Grandpa Joe suddenly regains his mobility and volunteers to accompany Charlie to the factory.
Wonka welcomes the children and parents inside his factory, a wonderland of confectionery creations that defy logic and warns them not to give in to their impulses as there will be consequences. Unfortunately, only Charlie pays heed to this with the other children being ejected from the tour in darkly comical ways. Augustus is sucked up a pipe after falling into the Chocolate River, Violet decides to chew an experimental stick of three-course dinner gum and swells into a giant blueberry figure after ending with a blueberry pie flavour, Veruca falls down a garbage chute after trying to capture one of the nut-testing squirrels, and after misusing the Television Chocolate device despite Wonka’s warnings, Mike is shrunk down to the size of a chocolate bar much to his mother’s delight.
During the tour the children meet a race of impish humanoids called the Oompa-Loompas who help Wonka run his factory and cannot help themselves by singing about the children’s misbehaviour each time disaster strikes.
As Charlie is the only remaining child, he thinks that he has won a years supply of candy but in fact the whole reason for opening the factory was for Wonka to find a worthy heir for his business with which he offers this to Charlie with him passing all the tests.
The show ends with them riding in his glass elevator where Wonka informs Charlie that he has already moved his family into the factory to live.
For me it was lovely to see a production by a locally based theatre company with exceptional talent by all the characters young and old.
This production would not be a success if I did not also point out the creative and adaptable set, lighting, sound and authentic costumes.
The final thing to say is do not miss this show as you will be disappointed.