Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is the most recent production of Adelaide Theatre Academy, a branch of the acclaimed theatre school Theatre Bugs. While some of their yearly productions are cast only from within the current Theatre Bugs classes, Adelaide Theatre Academy’s annual Fringe musical is cast by open audition, giving a broad range of children the opportunity to get involved.
For those not in the know, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory the musical is based on the original book by Roald Dahl and the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder. While the score does include a few songs from the movie, including the timeless Pure Imagination, most of the score includes new original songs, enhancing the story and the larger-than-life characters.
As is always a solid choice in a youth musical, the set is simple and mostly static. Act 1 utilises unobtrusive projected backgrounds, and Charlie’s cramped home on one side of the stage and the candy store on the other. Act 2 is necessarily more complex as Wonka takes the golden ticket winners through the tour of the factory. Crew members (also children/teens) move these set pieces on and off with minimal fuss.
The cast overall do a great job, especially in vocals, which was strong and well-drilled by music director Sammi Keough. All the leads sound fabulous, and there are some excellent harmonic moments from the grandparents and the ensemble as well. Direction and choreography by Georgia Brass and Jayden Ayling was well-drilled and performed with confidence, though the staging does at times result in masking of leads or significant plot moments (such as Augustus Gloop falling into the river, which couldn’t be seen from where I was sitting due to a large desk and quite a few cast members between me and the action).
Amelia Lees as Charlie Bucket shows the sweetness and idealism of the character beautifully. She has an angelic voice that shines in numbers such as A Letter From Charlie Bucket. Her performance would have benefited from a greater range of facial expressions, and I would have loved to see a much bigger reaction from her when she finds her golden ticket.
Steph Andrejewskis, as Willy Wonka, also has a phenomenal voice that tackles the (usually male) role with a mix belt that any wannabe music theatre star would envy. While I would also have liked to see a much bigger and more eccentric character in her acting choices, she commands the stage in her choreography.
Stealing the show in every scene were the other golden ticket winners: Mia Brown as Augustus Gloop, Emma Sayers as Veruca Salt, Clare Wilks as Violet Beauregarde, and Bennett Blaine as Mike Teavee. Each of these brought out these distinctive characters with a relish that made the audience love to hate them. Combine that with great vocals and marvellous physicality – from Augustus’ rolling gait and Veruca’s ballerina poise, to Violet’s sass and Mike’s sullen slouch – and these young actors truly shone. They were supported by strong performances by Scarlett Briggs, Jack Wake-Dyster, Lucy Parkes and Mia Kratounis as the spoiled children’s parents.
Thomas Wake-Dyster as Grandpa Joe kept up a convincing hobble, and performed an impressive soft-shoe (literally) in slippers. The remaining grandparents, performed by Olive Kennedy, Eleanor Nott and Tabitha Victory, perform as a tight unit, bouncing off each other with solid comedic timing.
A special mention must go to Heidi Allen as Mrs Bucket. She brought the perfect level of tired warmth to the role, with a voice to match, and her lyrical dance with the ghost of Mr Bucket (uncredited) was a spine-tingling moment.
Lana Sloan revelled in the role of the vegetable seller, Mrs Green. Though it’s a small role, she gave it everything, and she stole the show every time she was on stage.
A final mention must go to the hard working and very talented ensemble. They bring every scene to life with their characterisation, strong vocals, and tight choreography.
Once again, Theatre Bugs and Adelaide Theatre Academy has shown why they are a leader in youth theatre education.