Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
****
When it comes to chocolate you can never have too much, some of the classics are hard to beat and, for me, the darker the chocolate the better.
And so this new musical comes up with a perfect blend dishing out the new and old with big portions of innovation and a mischievous undercurrent.
This Leed's Playhouse production takes elements of the The West End and Broadway versions adding new songs to the melting pot alongside some of the favourites from the 1970s film version starring Gene Wilder.
Following Roald Dahl's classic we meet Charlie and her impoverished family who see treasure in trash but dream of greater things and join the rest of the world in a hunt for a golden ticket to enter reclusive chocolatier Willy Wonka's bewildering factory.
With similarities to Wilder, Gareth Snook provides a brilliantly crazed Wonka, if a little more devilish with his knowing asides with the audience.
Amelia Minto is a ray of sunshine as the honest and hopeful Charlie among the grey outset and the other children and Michael D'Cruze a lovable Grandpa Joe.
Introductions to the odious golden ticket holders of Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde and Mike Teavee provide plenty of humour and playfulness and the news team of Jerry (Ewan Gillies) and Cherry (Lucy Hutchison) made a great comedy pairing to set these pieces off.
Once inside the factory believing is seeing with sights coming to life before our eyes to dazzling effect. And robotic Oompa Loompa's didn't maybe have the mystery - but certainly added to the sinister feeling of Wonka's headquarters.
My youngsters loved the effects of how the four brats get their comeuppance with the puppetry of mini Mike Teavee being small, just like his stature, but an especially big hit.
The visuals with huge video screen technology are quite staggering, taking us on roller coasters and elevators through Wonka's factory and beyond. They are impressive but at times overpowering and the physical onstage visual effects were just as memorable and appealing, although as a whole the two worked together to fuel this fantastical journey.
My only real issue was with many fast paced musical numbers, at times, I completely lost what was being sang. That said nothing can deny this show certainly powers the imagination and wills us to keep dreaming big.
A scrumptiously dark and delightful recipe for a family night out.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is on at Plymouth's Theatre Royal until Sunday, June 18.
Abi Parkes