Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) opens its 85th Season by making us feel likes kids again as Roald Dahl’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory comes to life. Play until August 15th at Malkin Bowl, the Candy Man really can make the world go ’round in this fun frolic through our imaginations.
Directed by Peter Jorgensen, with choreography by Keri Minty, and Sean Bayntun, returning as Music Director, for the third year in a row, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory is adapted from Roald Dahl’s 1964 book with follows the young, impoverished but delightfully optimistic Charlie Bucket (Henry Sudds). Living hand to mouth with his mother (Imelda Gaborno) and bed-bound grandparents – Sophie O’Brien, Bernardo Arana, Twyla Raffé-Devine and Richard Newman.
When the reclusive Willy Wonka (Peter Ricardo) opens the doors to his mysterious chocolate factory Charlie and four other, exasperating Golden Ticket winners; Angus Silva as Augustus Gloop, Elle Hanson as Violet Beauregarde, and Callum Templeton as Mike Teavee and Mana Nakamura as Veruca Salt, set forth on adventure of a lifetime. Accompanying them for adult supervision are Charlie’s tall tale telling Grandpa Joe (Richard Newman) as well as overly devoted parents, Mrs. Gloop (Claire Stewart), Mr. Beauregarde (David Johnston), Mrs. Teavee (Jennie Grenelle) and Mr. Salt (Lynnéa Bartel Nickel).
In the second act as we’re taken further into the wonderous Wonka factory we meet more of the amazing ensemble; Adela Drabek, Julia Halabourda, Ema Lake, Audrey Lau, Jasmine Lemieux, Pietro Lepore, Skylar Li, Jocelyn Mah, Max McLarnon, Ryder MacInnes, Sophia Naumov, Celina Rodriguez and Vienna Vasquez. As the Oompa Loompas and a scurry of squirrels the young actors bring so much joy and effervescence to the show you could feel the audience enlivened, likely lead by their many proud parents. They had good reason to be proud as they skillfully carried out the Minty’s choreography with precision of a Busby Berkeley line-up.
Costume Design by Christine Reimer and Set Design by Brian Ball photo: Emily Cooper
Brian Ball’s set design is simple and effective in allowing the audience to fill in the world of Pure Imagination themselves with the assistance of Robert Sondergaard’s lighting and Brad Danyluk’s sound design. Costume Designer Christine Reimer brings each family their own distinct style to reflect their personalities, while the kaleidoscope colours of the Oompa Loompas will brighten everyone’s day. In Wonka, Reimer’s costume and Ricardo’s performance adds a dose of The Greatest Showman – PT Barnum – to balance the eccentricities of the chocolate genius, while from the threadbare Charlie, Sudds’ wide-eyed wonder will make everyone a chocolate lover and seeking their own Whipple-Scrumptious Fudge-Mallow Delight Wonka Bar!
Get your own Golden Ticket to Roald Dahl’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory as it continues at Theatre Under The Stars playing in repertoire with Legally Blonde until August 15, 2025 at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. Find more details, showtimes and tickets at tuts.ca