The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal | Theatre review
26 June 2013
Eleanor MacFarlane
Avatar
Eleanor MacFarlane
26 June 2013

There can scarcely be anyone anticipating this production who has not already seen the two film versions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with Gene Wilder as an airily odd Willy Wonka in 1971, and the more traumatised character Johnny Depp gave the role in 2005. Repeated often on TV, both versions have now become children’s’ classics, the story and songs from each seared into the national consciousness. There is something about the naughtiness of Roald Dahl’s writing, the acid retribution where bad eggs always get their comeuppance, which appeals to that childish sense of fairness in all of us.

The story starts off unfair: young Charlie Bucket is in a poor but loving family, unable even to have a birthday bar of chocolate. In the midst of a craze to find a winning golden ticket to the Wonka Chocolate Factory tour, his hopes are dashed, but his good attitude wins through.

With such anticipation and expectation, the big question is whether the stage version will disappoint. Will it stand up to the films, will it add anything, take too much away, be spectacular enough? How will they deal with the Oompa Loompas? Part of the pleasure of the show is discovering how these issues are resolved, and so, without giving too much away, yes, it is spectacular, with fabulous sets which both fulfil preconceptions and add new touches.

Douglas Hodge plays Willy Wonka as a magical showman, with colourful charisma and a decent voice. Nigel Planer as Grandpa Joe has amiable stage presence, and the entire cast perform with zest as if their life depended on it. Director Sam Mendes uses his movie experience with an overview which ties up loose ends, making Charlie’s inventiveness the quality Wonka sees in him as the right heir to his empire. Many small and large theatrical touches have impact, from a wish upon a star, to the Great Glass Elevator, which makes its impressive appearance near the end. Sweet-producing robots, hilarious Oompa Loompas, great new songs and funny scripting enhance the ingenious staging.

The test of such a show must surely be the reaction of the children in the audience. Not one child seemed to lose attention from the stage all night – a truly enjoyable experience right to the last magical moment.

★★★★★

Eleanor MacFarlane

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane from 26th June 2013. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – an Introduction here:

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Swimming Home: An immersive online experience

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

Live Lab at The Yard Theatre: An interview with associate director Cheryl Gallagher

Mersa Auda
Read More

We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online

★★★★★
Samuel Nicholls
Read More

We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks

Mersa Auda
Read More

Public Domain at Southwark Playhouse

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Unlimited Festival at the Southbank Centre: Centre stage for diversity

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

RSC Next Generation: Young Bloods proves Shakespeare is timeless

Brooke Snowe
Read More

An interview with Ifrah Ismael: Tales from the Front Line and other stories

Selina Begum
Read More

A Livestream with David Bedella at Crazy Coqs Online

★★★★★
Regan Harle
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Eleanor MacFarlane

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

★★★★★
BUY TICKETS

Links & directions

FacebookWebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks
    Theatre
  • Start the year right with these eco-friendly vegan and vegetarian food deliveries
    Food & Drinks
  • Hello Cosmos – Dream Harder
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Assassins: Exclusive new clip
    Cinema
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Uncategorised
  • Schemers
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Away: An interview with animator Gints Zilbalodis
    Interviews
  • The Queen of Black Magic
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Uncategorised
  • Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • WandaVision: Marvel’s charming sitcom proves an astounding success
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life at Tate Britain | Exhibition review
Ten albums you cannot miss this month – June 2013