The imagination factory is in full production mode as the eccentric candyman Willy Wonka and his tireless troupe of Oompa Loompas set up shop at the Marina Bay Sands theatre from May 19 to June 14.
These whimsical characters from Roald Dahl’s classic 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will heal your inner child and hit pause on those pesky adulthood blues.
Seared into pop culture history with two iconic film adaptations, namely Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp’s ostentatious portrayal of the inventive chocolatier, Broadway’s musical take on the tale carries the weight of massive expectations.
Thankfully, the ensemble cast for the Singapore season delivers a high-energy, sugar-fuelled performance packed with more treats and thrills than a bar of Wonka’s Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight.
The story is primarily narrated through the perspective of Charlie Bucket, an underprivileged child who daydreams endlessly about fantastical confectionery creations.
After a series of heartbreaking near-misses, a karmic twist of fate grants Charlie one of the five coveted Golden Tickets. His prize? Entry into Wonka’s heavily fortified factory, which is a surreal wonderland enshrouded in mystery and not-so-sweet secrets.
Cohen Toukatly, 13, the actor who plays Charlie, anchors the show with an achingly tender portrayal of a boy who is too acutely aware of his socioeconomic reality yet never allows it to dim his sense of wonder.
“He’s my favourite character,” said 7-year-old Ved G, who is a fan of the book. “I like the way he sang alongside Mr Wonka in the last scene,” he added in reference to the musical number “Pure Imagination”.
Toukatly’s earnest performance juxtaposed with Daniel Plimpton’s electric rendition of Willy Wonka engenders a balance that is pure theatrical magic. The latter’s skilful execution of the practical effects throughout the musical also poses as a masterclass in veteran stagecraft.
Mdm Bidisha M, 44, was captivated by these effects and the spectacular sets that captured the spellbinding awe of Wonka’s factory. “I was surprised by the Oompa Loompas, and the expansion of Violet’s body,” she said.
To bring the pint-sized Oompa Loompas to life, the actors cleverly knelt on the stage while wearing black bodysuits that blended into the background, leaving only their vibrantly costumed torsos visible to cast a brilliant optical illusion.
Likewise, in the scene where the notorious character, Violet Beauregard, swallows an experimental chewing gum that tastes like a three-course dinner against Wonka’s wishes, she visibly expands into a bloated sphere on stage in real time.
The visceral nature of these effects pulls the audience deeper into the story, supported by a playful sound design, technicolour visuals, and most importantly, the cast’s camaraderie.
“The young actors are phenomenal. They’re also silly and goofy, and they just keep everything light and fun,” said actress Jorie Janeway, 42, who plays Mrs Gloop, the mother of Golden Ticket-winner Augustus, who eventually falls into a river of chocolate.
As they tour the factory, each character, except Charlie, succumbs to their own fatal flaw. A note of caution that certain scenes may be exaggerated given that children are inflated, atomised and, in some cases, even disassembled. Hence, the musical’s PG-13 rating.
“I wished the other children’s characters were also played by child actors to capture that sense of innocence and wonder,” said audience-member Radhika Kashyap, 33. “But given the shocking nature of some scenes, it makes sense that they are portrayed by adults”.
She was joined by her sister, Ms Aditi Kashyap, 35, who noted that the elaborate sets, flashy choreography, and bold costumes resembled the vibrant, festive scale of Indian cinema. “If you’re into that, you will enjoy this musical,” she added.
