By Keolanani Kinghorn
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical, opened Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, UT., and if it is not on your list of shows to see this summer, you may want to rethink that decision. Tuacahn Center for the Arts pulls out all of the stops in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical, producing a red carpet where Willy Wonka enters. We see a myriad of magical stagecraft. For instance, imagine a flying glass elevator, fog machines, gorgeous bright fluorescents, and cotton-candy colors gracing the set against the natural red rock of Southern Utah. Add to that fireworks, a white limousine that drives up onstage, dancing squirrels, dancing Oopma Loopmas, actors dressed as flying marshmallow peeps that hilariously fly over the audience on cords, magic tricks onstage, even a running chocolate river that flows out of a giant boulder. Believe me when I say, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical has it all.
The story follows young Charlie Bucket (Charlie Stover) who lives hand-to-mouth with his mother (Ashley Moniz) and his four grandparents (Joel Briel, Randal Keith, Beatriz Melo, Tara Sweeney) in a less-than-ideal yet whimsical home. Despite his circumstances, Charlie can’t help but dream when he learns that Willy Wonka (Jonathan Wagner), the most famous candy maker in the world, is coming out of an early retirement and opening his factory gates to a few lucky children and their guardians. Those lucky children include Augustus Gloop (Jacob Tousley), Veruca Salt (Laurel Knell), Violet Beauregarde (Gabriella Scott), Mike Teavee (Mack Lawrence), and of course the beloved Charlie. Together these children go on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of “pure imagination” as they are introduced to Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, and more.
In a recent interview, Associate Artistic Producer Shari Jordan for Tuacahn Center for the Arts said, “This is not the Willy Wonka Junior that has played at high schools and community theaters over the last several years. This re-imagined musical features songs from the original film that audiences members know and love like, “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man,” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside new toe-tapping score by the songwriters from Hairspray. I found the pacing of the show excellent as it consistently keeps the audience wondering what will come next, which I think is a triumph for a story as well-known as this one.
Stover, who plays the title character, and (adorably) really is named Charlie, is probably the standout performer of the night for me. His singing is always on key and his dancing is so impressive for his age. The emotional arc of the story is heartbreaking because of the authenticity and heart that Stover brings to the character. I also loved the duets between him and Wonka, played by Jonathan Wagner. They have a great blend.
Wagner is an interesting Wonka, a character I never felt I fully figured out, However, I think that is the point of the character: he starts out as an ordinary candy man in disguise who seems normal enough, but within the walls of the chocolate factory, Wonka gradually becomes himself: a somewhat neurotic and seemingly sadistic man. As the children start to disappear, Charlie and Grandpa Joe (Joel Briel), who is delightful in this role, are shocked at Wonka’s lack of empathy. But little do they know that it is all a test: their reactions, their judgments, and how they respond to Wonka on their tour of the chocolate factory will determine whether Charlie has what it takes to become Wonka’s heir. At one point, one of the parents even says to Wonka, “My god, Wonka, you’re crazy.” And he replies without pause, “Thank you.”
One of my favorite scenes includes the first glimpse inside of Wonka’s factory in the second act when we see Wonka’s “living” creatures. Wow! The ensemble enter dressed as living and moving candy: a cotton candy tree, a licorice tree, etc. Imagine the board game “Candy Land.” All of that childlike dazzle is there, in every color of the rainbow. The costumes are breathtaking. Kudos to Costume Design by Ryan Moller and Hair/Wig/Make-Up Design by Kevin S. Foster II who really make this scene pop.
One of my favorite quotes from the show comes after Mike Teavee (Mack Lawrence) meets his temptation and is shrunk to barely six inches tall. Charlie asks Wonka “Will he (Mike) ever go back to normal?” Wonka replies, “No one ever goes back to normal after they go on TV.”
Other standouts are Veruca Salt (Laurel Knell) and her Russian father (James Channing) who enter with a stunning ballet and opera duet when they are introduced as golden ticket winners. This is equally funny and disturbing as Veruca dominates her father’s will. Channing and Knell work so well together, and besides Charlie, are my favorite characters as I watched their interaction.
Spoiler Alert: In the end, Wonka decides to make Charlie his heir, not because he is perfect, and not because he always listens, but because the candy maker and the young man are the same. “You can’t stop making something out of nothing, even when it’s against the rules.” Wonka says Charlie is odd, but odd is not a bad thing, that it is actually a “gift from God.”
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features music direction by Christopher Babbage, original music by Grammy Award®, Emmy Award ® and Tony Award® winner Shaiman, lyrics by Grammy® and Tony Award® winners Wittman and Shaiman, book by Artistic Director of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre David Greig, choreographed by Robbie Roby, with flying sequences choreographed by Paul Rubin, and directed by Michael Heitzman. This marvelous musical also includes additional songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 1971 Warner Bros. motion picture. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical is fun for the whole family and those of you who’ve read the book and/or seen the original movie will find little pockets of joy in this production that will surprise and delight you. And Tuacahn Center for the Arts does its usual fantastic job of bringing high-quality family friendly theater to happy audiences. Give yourself a sweet treat and see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical. Delicious!
Tuacahn Amphitheatre, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, Utah 84738
May 13- October 19, 2023, Showtimes vary
Contact: 435-652- 3300
Tickets: tickets start at $32 *Overflow seats for this show have an obstructed view.
Contact: 435-652- 3300
Days of Operation: Monday – Saturday Seasonal: Open year-round Box Office Hours: On Season: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Off Season: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Parking: Free self-parking or paid valet parking, (Wheelchair Accessible)
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical
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