Writer: Roald Dahl
Book: David Greig
Lyrics: Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Director: James Brining
A world of pure imagination comes to the Liverpool Empire Theatre this week in the form of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical. Based on Roald Dahl’s famous novel this reinvented version of the show draws together elements of both the West End and Broadway versions and also the 1970s film adaptation starring Gene Wilder.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -The Musical tells the story of the loveable Charlie Bucket (Harmony Raine Riley) a child from a poor family who lives, in what can only be described as a shack, with her mother and four grandparents. Please note that the role of Charlie is shared between four young actors, two male and two female so you may get a version of the show that you aren’t expecting! Charlie’s diet consists of nothing other than cabbage soup, except on her birthday when she receives her favourite bar of Wonka’s chocolate. In a rags to riches miracle, Charlie ends up with a life changing Golden Ticket, allowing her and one guardian entry into Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory and ultimately changes the course of her life.
This reinvented version of the show is definitely a tale of two halves. Act one is pretty dull overall and seemed rather lengthy considering not a lot happens. The set is pretty basic, mainly consisting of a rubbish tip that Charlie spends a lot of time at and the Bucket’s house. There is no real movement on the stage aside from the coming and going of the two news presenters Jerry (Morgan Scott) and Sherry (Lydia Bradd). Scott and Bradd bring some comedy elements to what is a very lackluster act when they interview the golden ticket winners.
Things do pick up in Act Two once the factory doors are opened and we finally meet Mr Willy Wonka (Gareth Snook). Snook gave a performance that seemed a lot like that of Johnny Depp in the 2005 film version. He was quirky, wacky and seemed unhinged, which is what you expect of the character. When Wonka calls out his Oompa Loompas that is when the stage comes to life and they give the show a much needed lift, although if you are expecting small people with an orange complexion you will be disappointed as these Oompa Loompas are more like robots of varying sizes.
There are some stand out moments in Act Two most notably the squirrel scene when Veruca Salt (Kazmin Borrer) finally gets her comeuppance for being a spoilt brat. The squirrel brings a great deal of amusement to the audience and the staging of this scene is particularly good. This can also be said of the tv room when Mike Teevee (Jonathan Macdonald) decides to enter one of Wonkas crazy creations and becomes doll size! The scene that gets the biggest audience reaction however is the oversizing of Violet Beauregarde(Marisha Morgan) and there are lots of laughs from the younger audience members as “violet” is bounced around the stage!
While the second act is much better than the first, the show overall was lacking. The use of BSL isn’t necessary and doesn’t contribute to the story in any way. While it is great that cast members can use sign language we were never made aware that a particular character was deaf or hard of hearing so it made no sense for them to use sign. The use of special effects on a screen which projected on to the stage to create the different rooms in the factory did look good, but the stage still felt empty and a lack of props contributed greatly to this!
A reinvention gone a bit too far – unfortunately it doesn’t come close to being ”Almost Nearly Perfect”.
Runs until Sunday 26th November 2024
