This production had dual casts in principal roles. In the interest of fairness, we reviewed both casts. David Smith reviewed the Fudgemallow Cast 1 and Terry Mountstephen reviewed the Gobstopper Cast 2.
Fudgemallow Cast 1
A most important measure of the success of a production is a thoroughly engaged audience. This production excelled in that regard. The Norwood Concert Hall was well packed with enthusiastic and attentive folk, with the younger cohort whooping their approval after each song and scene. They had good reason to do so.
Directors Georgia Brass and Jayden Ayling, along with MD Samantha Keough took on a fair challenge with this musical. While the basic narrative is well known from the Roald Dahl novel and subsequent movies, the story has a number of sidesteps and byways along the way. The production team and cast did well to maintain the pace and focus through all that.
In a way, this is a morality tale. Through a widespread competition, five children win a visit to Willy Wonka’s fabled chocolate factory. The children, accompanied by a parent or family member, travel through the factory and their personalities and behaviour determine their fate. The bad are punished, often gruesomely, and the good are rewarded. Charlie and his Grandpa Joe are decidedly good. Not only that, they are poor. The noble, deserving poor: a time-honoured literary theme.
Emma Palumbo handled the huge role of Willy Wonka with calm confidence. She sang well and gave the character a nicely enigmatic tone. She related well to Charlie especially well and handled the interaction with all other characters with skill and conviction. In large part Wonka determines the mood and pace of the narrative and Palumbo succeeded in both.
Claire Saint was a very appealing Charlie. She convinced us from the outset of Charlie’s decency and sense of fair play, by good use of her voice and physical use of the space. Tom Tirrell was a bombastic and likeable Grandpa Joe. He was engagingly funny when necessary, and genuinely protective of Charlie’s interests when that was called for.
Among the evenly balanced supporting cast were several noteworthy performances. Tilka Wheal was gentle, mature and self-possessed as Charlie’s mother, Mrs Bucket, Amelia Boys was delightfully irritating as the self-absorbed Veruca Salt, while Heidi Price as Mrs Gloop looked and sounded as if she had been directly transported from an early 20th century German tourism campaign: the tuneful yodeling was a delight. Jenna Saint played Mrs Teavee, the flamboyant lush, with flair, and as her son Mike, Aled Yeoh had a consistency and easy physicality which, along with a clear sense of tone and timing, made a very convincing performance.
The various ensembles added very well to the story and the movement, joy and purpose of the big songs.
That said, there were times when it was difficult to hear the performers’ articulation. The volume was fine, even when delivered over the recorded underscore, but it’s a big, tall venue and the sound system often caused the dialogue to reverberate somewhat.
There were many scenes, a large cast, and lots of costume changes. The costumes were well designed and well suited to the various moods of the musical. Credit, there, to the costume coordinator Emily Jaensch and her assistants. The sets were simple and mostly came on and off stage with smooth efficiency. All the action was played against the often moving images projected onto the rear of the stage.
The company did well with this demanding undertaking. Much credit to the production team and cast.
Gobstopper Cast 2
Gobstopper Cast 2 of “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” delivered a vibrant and engaging performance, with standout vocals, strong character portrayals, and outstanding execution of choreography. Many of the voices in this production belied the young age of the performers.
The show began with Willy Wonka (Steph Andrejewskis) in front of the curtain and a vibrant opening from both the junior and senior ensembles, initially behind the curtain. Amelia Lees as Charlie stood out with her rendition of “Willy Wonka! Willy Wonka!”, showcasing an accomplished vocal range and seamless handling of challenging notes. Amelia’s performance continued in that vein throughout the show, consistently delivering powerful vocals and emotional depth, capturing the essence of Charlie with every scene. Her final duet with Steph Andrejewskis (Wonka) was a memorable moment, with both voices blending beautifully and delivering a touching conclusion to the performance.
Our initial introduction to the grandparents (Thomas Wake-Dyster, Olive Kennedy, Tabitha Victor and Eleanor Knott) was solid. The same can be said for Heidi Allen as Mrs. Bucket, who had a lovely voice. Her heartfelt delivery of “If Your Father Were Here” was particularly moving, beautifully capturing the emotion of the moment. The scene was further elevated by the ghostly presence of Mr. Bucket, with well-executed choreography and lighting adding to the poignancy.
Grandpa Joe, played by Thomas Wake-Dyster, continued to impress throughout the show, with his performance in “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket” being a particular highlight. His movements, singing, and acting were full of energy and charm, and he maintained that level of engagement and warmth in every scene.
Scarlett Briggs (Mrs Gloop) and Mia Brown (Augustus Gloop) delivered a confident performance in “More of Him to Love”, handling the yodelling well. Their vocals were expressive, and they captured the humour of the moment effectively. Clare Wilks as Violet Beauregarde delivered a strong performance, showcasing both impressive vocals and vibrant movement. She was well-supported by the Gum Chomping Divas (Olive Abarno, Grace Burns, and Caterina Landi). Lucy Parkes convincingly portrayed Mrs Beauregarde, fully embracing the role of the over-the-top stage mum, proudly taking pictures and cheering her daughter on. Their dynamic as a team was excellent. “Queen of Pop” was a standout number, incorporating both ensembles effectively. The junior dancers in the background complemented the polished choreography of the senior ensemble and the Divas, enhancing the overall spectacle.
Veruca (performed by Emma Sayers) was fantastic – the quintessential spoiled child who always gets what she wants. Her Russian accent was well-executed, adding to the character’s flair, and her chemistry with Mr Salt (Jack Wake-Dyster) was spot on, with her father perfectly embodying the cowering, indulgent parent. Mia Kratounis as Mrs Teavee and Bennett Blaine as Mike Teavee showcased exceptional characterisation and vocal delivery, maintaining consistency throughout the show. For me, these two were standouts – not just for their performances in key moments, but for their unwavering commitment to their characters. No matter what else was happening on stage or where the spotlight was, whenever I looked at them, they were fully engaged and in character, making them a joy to watch.
For all those I’ve mentioned by name, there were many others whose performances also made this show memorable. Congratulations to everyone involved for their hard work and dedication, which truly brought this production to life.
