A Sweet Time

 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

at

The Academy Theatre

        Growing up, I never read Roald Dahl’s book, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” I also avoided the film versions due to the fact that Gene Wilder’s then later, Johnny Depp’s characterizations of chocolate czar, Willie Wonka, frankly creeped me out. So, besides flipping past the movies on TV, entering Meadville’s Academy Theatre to see the theatrical version of “Charlie,” was a new experience.

        First off, this version is updated (an annoying punk here has a cell phone) and it’s set in America, so cheerio, Brits!

        But it still tells the story of Charlie (Juniper Marr), a good, inventive kid who lives with his very destitute family containing his mother and four bedridden grandparents. How poor are they? They don’t even have electricity! (Um, ever heard of welfare?) Anyhow, he begins visiting a chocolate shop run by a mysterious man who later turns out to be… (spoiler alert necessary?), Willie Wonka (Dan Winston)!

        Hoping to get some excitement generated about his mysterious candy factory, Wonka announces a tour for five lucky golden ticket winners who eventually turn out to be a Russian brat Veruca Salt (Grace Worley), “Queen of Pop” Violet Beauregarde (Elaina Graybill), snarky punk Mike Teavee (Adam Reagle), glutton Augustus Gloop (Jeb Bowser) and Charlie.

        Once inside, magical machinations occur. Oompa Loompas obey their not-so-saccharine boss, Wonka, as the tour proceeds and the ticket winners decline in number.

        Directed by Jess Sakal this two-act musical puts the show in high gear with such tunes as “When Veruca Says” “The Queen of Pop” and “Vidiots.” And of course, you can’t ignore “The Candy Man” sung by Wonka and the townsfolk (Though good, it still can’t beat Sammy Davis Jr.’s version for the original film which was playing in the back of my brain).

        Juniper Marr as Charlie gives us a gives the audience a cute underdog to root for against the many odds he faces in life. Dan Winston’s Wonka, provides us a magical-like puck who entrances us with words, songs and mysterious motives. Worley’s “Veruca” is a fireball of fury—if she doesn’t get what she wants; Reagle’s annoying punk kid, “Mike,” is the wild spawn of Hades; Bowser’s “Augustus” garners laughs as an eating machine in lederhosen and Graybill’s “Queen of Pop” role must’ve brought her own fan club to the show, as it erupted whenever she was featured.

        See “Charlie.”  It’s not just a “sweets” show. It’s a fun, sweet show. In a lot of ways.

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***Daphne Beaumont

        Charlie and the Chocolate Factory continues through December 22. For more information visit www.TheAcademyTheatre.org

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