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Willy Wonka Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley Adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse & Tim McDonald Based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Directed by Joe Leonardo Choreographer Stacey Flaster Music Director Linda Slein At Chicago Shakespeare Theater Navy Pier Chicago, IL Call 312-595-5600, tickets $18 for children 12 and younger, $23 for adults Wednesday & Thursday at 11 am Friday at 2 & 7 pm Saturday at 11 am, 2 &7 pm Sunday at 2 pm Running time is 70 minutes without intermission Through August 17, 2008 Thrilling spectacle makes “Willy Wonka” more than simply a children’s musical With amazing production values such as Diane Ferry Williams’ wonderful evocative lighting on Alan Edward Schwanke’s innovative set featuring the chocolate factory machines, Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “Willy Wonka” is a fabulous family musical. This show supersedes merely a children’s musical—with a couple mere songs and more in-depth characterizations, “Willy Wonka” could be a major Broadway musical. This show is that good! Director Joe Leonardo has solved the tone problems that Gene Wilder and Johnny Deep evoked in the 1971 and 2005 films. Wilder’s “odd, aloof chocolate maker, whose attitude toward children is ambiguous” and Depp’s Wonka is “more cynical, self-absorbing with a darker edge” by having Sean Fortunato play Wonka as a subdued, yet friendly and caring chocolate maker. This worked nicely since it moved back to what Roald Dahl intended Wonka to be.
From the opening number, “Pure Imagination,” we are swept into Wonka’s world of blissful confectionary treats. The show-stopping tune “The Candy Man” fully engages us into the fable.Chicago Shakespeare’s “Willy Wonks” is 70 minutes of theatrically amazing musical comedy. We follow the lovable Charlie Bucket (Patrick Andrews) as he shares his “Think Positive” attitude with his nurturing family. Despite being poor, the Bucket’s exude love and a loving nature. Charlie’s lone treat is Wonka’s chocolate. When Willy Wonka announces that there will be five winning tickets to be found in his chocolate candy, millions purchase the candy all wanting a ‘life-time supply of chocolate.’ We meet each winner: Veruca Salt (Jessie Mueller), Mike Teavee (Travis Turner), Augustus Gloop (George Andrew Wolff), Violet Beauregarde (Melenie Brezill) and Charlie Bucket completes the five winners. Willy Wonka uses the tour of his chocolate factory to temp each child into naughty conduct with consequences. Only the honest Charlie admits he violated the rules when he couldn’t resist his urge to fly. Patrick Andrews’s “Burping Song” while flying on a wire, was a hoot! Wonka’s testing of each child offers a fine morality lesson as Charlie Bucket emerges as the most honorable. His reward is fitting.
The terrific puppets (by Meredith Miller), the colorful costumes (by Alison Siple) add depth to the stellar production values to the bouncy, toe-tapping Bricusse & Newley score wonderfully sung by the cast. Sean Fortunato has found a laid-back style with enough charm to give Willy Wonka just the proper presence to be effective. The children love his Wonka—enough said. Patrick Andrews is wonderfully winning as Charlie Bucket—we cheer for him throughout. One can hope that Leonardo and the composers will expand their production to a full Broadway musical. They have the elements in place for a winner. Highly Recommended Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast Date Reviewed: July 12, 2008 |
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Site owned by Tom Williams 1-773-549-0227, tom99@chicagocritic.com Copyright, Chicago, IL 2006 |
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