Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Redcliffe Musical Theatre has taken this opportunity to give so many young performers a chance to appear on the big stage, as there are fifty-two performers in this musical. It is always more challenging when the storyline and main characters are so well known by the audience as they are in this case.

Charlie Bucket is a young lad who loves his chocolate but loves his Grandpa Joe even more. What is at stake is to buy a chocolate bar and win one of five lucky tickets to own the chocolate factory that Willy Wonka is to give away after testing and challenging each of those ticket holders in turn. Charlie finally got a ticket to be one of those five.  This process was propelled along by good singing and dancing from various characters. The selections made by Wonka with comedy and horror and death.  Wonder who won the factory?

With the help of a large production team, director Madeleine Johns  has presented  a well balanced, entertaining  night of music, singing, humour and intrigue. She was fortunate to have such a good, large stage on which to work her wonders. The cast, over all, was good and well balanced but at time it was hard to hear some of the soloists with the backing music too loud. Mind you I don’t think the acoustics in the auditorium are that great, going on past experience as well.

Charlie Bucket was played by Auden Ryan and he was generally very successful in this very major role. His voice projection could be improved but a great performance overall. He was helped particularly by Terry Skinner as Grandpa Joe, who also gave his grandson confidence.  Outstanding was Anthony Van Stam as the mastermind Willy Wonka and he had that character down to a fine art, from great friendly Willie to nasty killing Wonka.

Congratulations to Redcliffe Musical and particularly Madeleine Johns, director. So many young performers on stage showing such talent that theatre in the area is safe. Go see the future as in this good production.

William Davies