THEATRE REVIEW: Charlie And The Chocolate Factory: The Musical - Leeds Playhouse, Leeds.

A Musical of Roald Dahl's famous story first came to our attention way back in 1971, when Gene Wilder portrayed the titular, self-styled Willy Wonka on screen. The film's music and songs were written by British wonder-team-of-the-time, Leslie Briscusse and Anthony Newley, and the film was a huge hit.

Fast-forward to 2013 and the West End, when a competely new musical is mounted. This time with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, with the adaptation from the novel by David Grieg. This musical once again captured the imagination of its young target audience and the show ran for 4 years. Immediately after this a Broadway show was commissioned, a new director and new ideas were brought to the table, and this show ran only for 9 months before closing. 

This evening in Leeds, some 4 years' later, and Leeds Playhouse's own production of this timeless classic awaits; and this production is the Broadway version. I know this because two songs from the 1971 film ['Pure Imagination' and the Sammy Davis Jr hit, 'Candy Man'] have been included, and the child roles - with the exception of Charlie - are being played by adult actors. The two most significant changes made to the Broadway show from the West End.

The musical in this Leeds incarnation is most definitely a game of two halves. Act one is slow and formulaic. A strange metallic electrical rubbish heap set sits centre stage with more around a false prosc. arch. I feel it resembles the set for 'Cats' more than it does for anything I am about to see this evening. It's cold, mechanical, and simply does not represent the world of either Charlie Bucket or Willy Wonka. The first act starts very softly, with a downbeat solo song from our young protagonist (this evening played by the very capable Amelia Minto). We are in second gear at best, and we never change gear the whole act, as we switch between the Bucket's run-down squat to the four other ticket winners and their domains. There is some humour in this, but the laughs are not frequent and not heartfelt, whilst the monodimensional caricatures rely on cultural stereotyping bordering on racism. 

Fortunately the second act fares much better, and with a huge reliance on computer graphics and technology, we are easily whisked away into Wonka's crazy world of chocolate and candy madness. The tempo is upped, the pace is swifter, the songs more Musicalesque, and the wit sharper. Admittedly the Oompa Loompas did not in any way resemble either my own or my companion's understanding of what the Oompa Loompa's were... as here they were presented as mechanical grey robots which didn't either look or feel right; but in all other aspects, this was the chocolate factory we all know and love. The clever use of the computerised graphics made this almost cinematic. However, the problem endemic with this stage and set design for this production was that approximately one third of the audience would not be able to see some or perhaps most of the rear wall where the graphics were being projected onto the screen. Utilisng the forestage area all the audience has a fair and equal view, however, the Playhouse's stage is extremely deep and the further back one goes - perhaps due to the erecting of the false prosc. arches for this show, the less of the stage and those acting in the rear area one has if seated towards the sides of the auditorium. It was telling indeed that when the cast took their curtain call, those seated in the best seats - ie: those in the upper rows of the very centre of the auditorium, screamed and shouted giving a standing ovation, whilst those audience members on the outer reaches of the auditorium were much more restrained and conservative in their applauding.

All-in-all though, despite the musical failing to completely capture the imagination of it's target audience - the comments I heard both in the interval and on my way out from the youngsters seated near to me was that they enjoyed it, but not overmuch. It didn't sparkle and thrill in the way they (or indeed I) were hoping! - it was an entertaining evening performed by a talented ensemble cast.

Reviewers - Chris Benchley and Matthew Dougall
on - 25.11.22