Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the mysterious missing part
The show must go on is the old adage. But not in the case of the new West End musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London.
Rival chocolatier, Arthur Slugworth, has reportedly thrown a literal spanner in the works. The arch nemesis of Willy Wonka has apparently stolen a vital part of the machinery that is crucial to the stage engineering. Either that or those cheeky Oompa Loompas are delaying proceedings by hiding the mysterious missing part so as they can enjoy another day of rest before the show in London gets underway.
The first two preview performances on Friday 17th May and Saturday 18th May have been cancelled as the show’s producers seek high and low for the missing part, which they have promised will be returned in time for the shows scheduled for next week upon payment of ten delicious Wonka bars and an elusive golden ticket.
With tickets for the show already in hot demand the unlucky customers due to attend this Friday and Saturday will hopefully be accommodated on alternative dates. To avoid standing on each other shoulders or forming a human pyramid, the producers have sensibly scheduled an additional preview on Wednesday 22nd May at 7.30pm and another extra performance to be scheduled during a forthcoming holiday period.
Holders of tickets for the cancelled performances can rearrange their visit to Theatre Royal Drury Lane by contacting the agency where they originally purchased their tickets. All efforts will be made to swap tickets to an alternative date.
Could the elusive missing part from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory be that wonderous Great Glass Elevator?
Ryan Petersen (no relation to the pilot of Buddy Holly’s ill-fated plane crash), spokesman for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, said “The whole production team is frustrated by this unforeseen delay in what has otherwise been a very smooth and exciting rehearsal period. We’re sorry to inconvenience people who have booked for these first previews but are putting on an extra performance next Wednesday evening which will become our first public preview.”
If you have any information concerning the mysterious missing part please contact Shows in London on 0871 976 976 7, all information received will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Previews for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory now start on the 22nd May, with the opening gala night still scheduled for the 25th June 2013 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
The show in London stars Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka and Nigel Planer as Grandpa Joe.
Book tickets for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory West End show.
