WHAT: Willy Wonka
WHERE: Seacoast Repertory Theatre
BLURB: A Beloved Classic
HIGH POINT: The Sweet Homelife
First apologies to all the children who were and may be fascinated by this production - and many were - and the gentleman to the left that was fully engaged and laughed uproariously throughout the production.
But, though there are wondrous elements to Willy Wonka, it's loud - very loud.
Wonka is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's book Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. The musical's book is by Leslie Bricusse and Tim McDonald, with music and lyrics drawn from a later film version, written by Anthony Newley and Bricusse (and a few additions by the latter).
It's the story of Charlie Bucket, a child from a loving but destitute home, who wins one of five golden tickets, hidden within chocolate bars, distributed worldwide. The ticket allows the ticket holder to tour the famous Wonka Candy Factory, owned by the eccentric and enigmatic Willy Wonka.
What the winners don't know is Wonka has a hidden agenda.
Each of the five children - four horridly spoiled and the humble Charlie - are joined by an adult family member. The true nature of each child is exposed along the way through different circumstances.
It's likely you've seen or read some version of this tale, but to be fair, no spoilers here.
As for the production, it's not as satisfying as it could be.
The talent is there, and almost to a person they nail their roles. There's also some fun choices made by Directors Ben Hart and Brandon James, such as the three child performers as grandparents. Its lighting design by Zachary Ahmad-Kahloon, sound by Andrew Camera, the set by Hart and James, and costuming by James, all add to the hoped for magic. And the music directed by William Asher is rich and lovely.
The blocking and scene changes are effortless, yet, as a whole, the play doesn't read smooth and cohesive. The production feels too disparate.
Everything within Charlie's world, his home and street life, is clean sailing, though the sound balance is off, and loud.
When in the world of the ticket holders and later the factory everything seems frantic and incredibly loud, again due to sound balance, but also delivery.
Too often, even actors who perfectly animate their role yell their deliveries with consistency, diminishing the performance.
In the case of Michael Thompson as Willy Wonka, the performance is trumped by the choice of character, whether directors' or actor's selection. Wonka isn't mysterious, he's just obnoxious and loud. It feels as if he constantly yells leaving little room for finesse or a sense of real persona.
There are fine performances throughout, but the yelling and screaming, and loud sound system, weigh on them.
Comments