‘Charlie & the Chocolate Factory’ a sweet trip

WAITING FOR THAT ELUSIVE GOLDEN TICKET: The company of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ Photo: Johan Persson

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl
Book by David Creig
Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Directed by Sam Mendes
Choreography by Peter Darling
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Catherine Street
London, United Kingdom
(0844 858 8877), www.charlieandthechocolatefactory.com

By Scott Harrah

There have been three major incarnations of Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel, a whimsical moral fable, from the delightful cult classic 1971 film adaptation with Gene Wilder to the digitally infused, Tim Burton 2005 remake with Johnny Depp, and now this West End musical The effectiveness of the musical-comedy interpretation of Charlie falls somewhere in the middle of the two films: It lacks the charm of the 1971 movie, but adds many colorful touches not seen in both Hollywood adaptations, namely some spectacular production numbers that depict, with high-tech wizardry and Scott Wittman and Mark Shaiman’s effusive songbook, the classic tale of a group of children touring Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate factory.

The show, which opened in summer 2013, has been playing for more than two years now in London at the gorgeous Drury Lane and is certainly a staple for foreign tourists. Act one is a bit too long for its own good, but the second act more than makes up for it with songs and scenes depicting the dark, twisted fates of Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Mike Teavee and Violet Beauregard (played here by a rotating cast of child actors).

The most glaring flaw in this otherwise spectacular stage adaptation of Charlie is the length of act one and the way in which the scene with Charlie’s poverty-stricken family, all sleeping in one giant quadruple bed and so poor they can only afford cabbage soup, seems to go on incessantly. Of course, Grandpa Joe (Barry James) is featured prominently here. Should the show move across the Atlantic to Broadway, director Sam Mendes must seriously consider doing some fine-tuning to act one.

Once the scenes with Charlie’s family finish, it’s all uphill for the rest of the show as we’re introduced to the iconic kids who’ve won golden tickets, from spoiled rich brat Veruca Salt and her number “When Veruca Says” to gum-chewing Violet Beauregard’s “The Double Bubble Duchess” and TV-obsessed Mike Teavee’s “It’s Teavee Time.”

As with the films, the true excitement doesn’t really start until we visit the Chocolate Factory and Willy Wonka himself (played with charming aplomb by Jonathan Slinger, who seems to be channeling Tim Curry). Visually, the show is gorgeous, from the winsomely disturbing Oompa-Loompas (represented by both real actors and various puppets) to the clever, high-tech sets by video and production designer Jon Driscoll, puppet and illusion designer Jamie Harrison and lighting designer Paul Pyant. The team brings us everything from the bowels of the factory to edible landscapes and various contraptions in Willy Wonka’s factory in glorious, garish, cartoonish proportions. Some of the later numbers, such as “Vidiots,” have the gleeful, streamlined futurism of a pop music video or live arena show.

No, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory isn’t as cerebral as that other Roald Dahl musical adaptation, Matilda, but it is still a lot of fun, particularly seeing the warped ways that Augustus Gloop, Veruca, Violet and Mike face grisly retribution for being annoying, self-centered children.

The only song from the original 1971 film adaptation is “Pure Imagination,” and Scott Wittman and Mark Shaiman’s otherwise original score is bouncy and consistently vibrant, even if it’s not always memorable. Overall, however, director Sam Mendes makes everything work with Technicolor precision. The story of Willy Wonka and Charlie is timeless, and there’s no word yet on whether this production will cross “the Pond,” so Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is certainly a sweet trip and a show musical theater fans should catch when visiting London this year.

I’VE GOT A GOLDEN TICKET: Oliver Finnegan as Charlie in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ Photo: Johan Persson

THE DAPPER MR. WONKA: Jonathan Slinger as Willy Wonka in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ Photo: Matt Crockett

LIFT TO THE TOP: Jonathan Slinger in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Photo: Matt Crockett

CHARLIE & THE BUCKET FAMILY: Charlie (Oliver Finnegan) and the Bucket Family in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ Photo: Johan Persson

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published July 2, 2015
Reviewed at performance on June 17, 2015 in London