Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Huddersfield Light Opera’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was an absolute joy to experience and far surpassed all expectations. From the opening moments it captured the imagination and wonder of Roald Dahl’s much loved story and delivered a production bursting with colour heart and theatrical magic. It was polished inventive and thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is based on the 1964 book by Roald Dahl and is written by David Greig with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. On a personal note this is one of my favourite films of all time particularly the Gene Wilder version so I arrived with a huge sense of excitement and nostalgia and I am delighted to say those cherished childhood memories were honoured in the most delightful way.

One of the great strengths of this production was the outstanding cast who brought these iconic characters to life with boundless energy charm and warmth. A hugely talented company combined flawless performances with clever stage magic to create a truly magical evening of theatre.

Charlie Bucket was portrayed with sincerity heart and emotional depth by a remarkable young performer. Max Buddy Moorhouse completely captivated the audience with his honest and touching portrayal of this kind hearted hero. His relationships with his family and the other Golden Ticket winners felt genuine and moving making Charlie wonderfully relatable. His singing was beautiful and confident and he anchored the production with real maturity and skill. Keep your eye firmly on this young performer as his future is incredibly bright. I was also reliably informed that the alternate Charlie played by Charlie Sproson was equally impressive and I can only regret not being able to see his performance.

Willy Wonka requires a performer brimming with charisma eccentricity and impeccable comic timing and Tom Widdop delivered exactly that and more. His Wonka was playful mysterious and wonderfully unpredictable. From his dramatic entrance to his perfectly delivered lines he held the audience spellbound throughout. Crucially the direction allowed Tom to create his own version of Wonka rather than imitating previous performances and the result was fresh engaging and utterly compelling.

Grandpa Joe was played with tremendous warmth and humour by Craig Squance. In a story that explores weighty themes of greed poverty and karma Craig skilfully balanced heartfelt moments with superb physical comedy and razor sharp timing ensuring the production never lost its joy.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is unusual in that several children win Golden Tickets but most of them are delightfully unlikable and each was portrayed with delicious character detail.

Veruca Salt was gloriously awful in the best possible way thanks to a brilliant performance by Imani Collier who perfectly captured the spoilt entitled nature of the character. Tom Waltham as Mr Salt was a masterclass in staying completely in character at all times even when attention was elsewhere on stage which elevated every scene he appeared in.

Augustus Gloop was played with great comic flair by Jonny Kain who handled the role with charm and sensitivity ensuring the character remained funny without tipping into offence. Amy Blackburn as Mrs Gloop lit up the stage whenever she appeared bringing energy warmth and wonderfully funny physical comedy.

Violet Beauregarde and her equally competitive father were played by Isabelle Barker and Chris Comber in a pairing that crackled with chemistry. Isabelle brought remarkable energy and humour as Violet while Chris offered a cool contrasting presence which worked perfectly. Together they were a fantastic double act.

Mike Teavee and his 1950s mother Mrs Teavee complete with secret lemonade, were portrayed with humour and commitment by Luke Wood and Kim Booth. Luke captured teenage attitude to perfection while Kim revealed surprising emotional depth beneath the comedy creating a touching and very funny dynamic.

Holly Comber-Moccia gave a lovely performance as Charlies hardworking and devoted mother showing warmth tenderness and a believable bond with her son that grounded the story beautifully.

Colin Harris as Jerry and Gemma Armitage as Cherry were a perfectly matched duo as the television reporters following the Golden Tickets story. Their chemistry was infectious and they were an absolute pleasure to watch.

Mrs Green was brought memorably to life by Helen Woodhead who managed to steal every scene she appeared in. Whether radiating joy or delivering deadpan disdain she demonstrated just how impactful a smaller role can be. How much for a cabbage?

The remaining grandparents Grandpa George played by Colin Roberts Grandma Josephine played by Sharon Whitehead and Grandma Georgina played by Louisa LeFerve completed the bedridden household ensemble with warmth individuality and charm. These characters are crucial especially in the opening act and they did not disappoint. Special mention must also go to Pam Strickland deputised for Grandma Josephine in the final performances.

The Oompa Loompas and ensemble were an absolute highlight of the show. Fifteen immensely talented performers delivered wonderfully synchronised routines full of fun energy and precision. Huge congratulations to Christian Mair-McCrorie, Ted Vincent, Ethan Comber-Moccia, Emily OSullivan, Aisling Martinicca, Emma Sykes, Katie McKay, Dan Fallows, Sam Lockwood, Steve Crowther, Adam Peel, Caz Brough, Mya Brough, Michelle Crossley and Jo Brown.

It was very clear from the programme that this production was the result of a huge amount of dedication teamwork and passion. While it is impossible to name everyone involved, a few deserve special praise.

The choreography by Zoe Cook and Pam Strickland was inventive contemporary and consistently exciting. Each routine felt fresh purposeful and beautifully executed bringing out the very best in the performers with tight energetic movement throughout.

Musical direction was in the extremely capable hands of Scott Kitchen who led a superbly balanced twelve piece orchestra alongside outstanding vocal performances. The musical quality throughout the show was exceptional.

The staging and sound design were deceptively simple and all the more effective for it. The set provided by Scenic Projects Ltd was visually stunning and the video wall backdrop added a professional polish and cinematic flair. Magical details such as shooting stars and paper airplanes perfectly timed with the story and the deeply moving moment when Charlies father appeared as a memory elevated the production emotionally. Jon Hudson delivered flawless sound throughout while the stage crew handled scene changes seamlessly ensuring the story never lost momentum.

Costumes supplied by Charades were vibrant bold and perfectly suited to each character adding another layer of visual delight.

Under the direction of Chris Brearley, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was nothing short of a triumph. The production was slick beautifully paced and rich in emotional depth that could easily be overlooked in a show of this style. Chris skilfully guided cast and audience alike through a truly spectacular theatrical experience.

Overall this production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was enchanting joyful and deeply satisfying capturing the very spirit of Roald Dahl’s timeless story. With its exceptional cast stunning visuals and infectious energy it was truly unmissable.

My warmest thanks go to the society for such a generous welcome and kindness. I very much look forward to seeing you all again soon.

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