Charlie and the Chocolate Musical previews start
The delayed previews for the new musical in London Charlie and the Chocolate Factory finally kicked off at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on a rescheduled first performance on Wednesday 22nd May.
The show in London had technical difficulties with a missing part of technical stage equipment which forced the show’s producers to cancel the performances on the 17th and 18th May. With missing part found and re-installed the show was ready to go on and it didn’t disappoint.
The eagerly awaited adaptation Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical the first stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book of the same name is directed by award-winning director, Sam Mendes.
Douglas Hodge stars as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical in London
Tickets for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical have been selling fast, with many performances selling out, much on the back of the reputation of Sam Mendes. No-one had actually heard the music so it really was a question of the Emperor’s new clothes or were we about to witness the next great show in London?
Well the set is amazing, the costumes are spectacular and the music doesn’t disappoint. As you would expect from the composers of the hit musical Hairspray, Tony and Grammy award-winning songwriting team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have come up with some splendid songs.
There are some memorable numbers and a few catchy tunes including the Oompa Loompa theme, the music can best be described as theatrical with big show-stopping Broadway / West End style songs. Sam Mendes had wanted a completely new score so there is no room for the famous ‘Candyman’ song from the 1971 film, however, ‘In My Imagination’ is the one song from the original film which survives.
The cast are superb especially Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka, but it is the children who steal the show, with the cast of kids simply amazing and so enthusiastic.
There is no getting away from the fact that the scenery and staging are spectacular and simply wonderful, not since Miss Saigon has the stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane been used to such stunning effect. Sam Mendes deserves great credit for putting together such a fantastic show in London.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises to be a huge hit and from the first preview it is a 9 out of 10 show, so with the final finishing polish it should be a 10 out of 10, as the standing ovation it received proved fully justified.
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