It's the Golden Ticket

The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical, currently on at Drury Lane Royal Theatre, is one of most utterly incredible things you might ever see in your life. The technology and intellect that goes behind creating such wonderful sets, costumes and props is something which surely is revolutionary for musical, and is so splendidly funny that it is a fitting tribute to Roald Dahl.

If I were going to compare it to the film versions, it would be the original. Alex Jennings' version of Willy Wonka is perhaps more akin to that of Gene Wilder, but of course it has it's darker and lighter moments, just like both. However, unlike the two films, it holds a close resemblance to the story of the book, whilst still adapting it for the modern era.

The first half is focused entirely on Charlie and the other Buckets, only visiting inside and out their 'home'. They deal with poverty, joblessness,  and of course old age, as his family come to terms of not being able to buy chocolate in order to fulfil Charlie's desire of winning a golden ticket. Throughout, we watch news reports which show other children winning the tickets, while Charlie chalks up the remaining number. This is done brilliantly well, with a giant television appearing onstage, in which the news report is acted out live. They could have cheated and pre-recorded it, but they didn't; and that's what makes it amazing.

We only briefly meet Willy Wonka in the first half, but it was in the second when the splendour really started. It started with Wonka ascending from the orchestra pit, and featured the Chocolate Room, complete with Augustus Gloop being sucked through various pipes. Violet inflates into a massive blueberry, Veruca meets animatronics squirrels, before being pushed down the garbage chute by Oompa Loompas riding giant squirrels, and Mike Teavee actually becomes miniaturised. It ends with Charlie and Wonka flying above the audience in the Great Glass Elevator.

The Oompa Loompas are also amazing. Of course, there are limits to what they can do in a theatre, but the way they get around the issue of normal-sized people playing small people, is clever. For example, they appear to dance on stilts and on the shoulder's of other Oompa Loompas. However, they don't play a huge role like they do in the film versions, and that's a slight disappointment.

Other treats that can be found in the show, include emotionally-manic robots in the Inventing Room, complete with loud bangs which make the young audience jump, jogs down endless corridors, and great characters. All the other children have been modernised to fit into modern society; something which actually makes them more detestable. For example, Violet is a child celebrity, and Mike has an unhealthy obsession with television and computers, who should probably be diagnosed with ADHD.

Of course, Willy Wonka is the character which does ultimately steal the show, with his outlandish outfit that is an almost exact likeness of Quentin Blake's drawings; except opting for a tie, over a bowtie. He has the wit, sarcasm, dark humour and outlandishness which one expects from Wonka, whichever adaptation it is. And as I said earlier, it is nice to have a reimagining of Gene Wilder's iconic Wonka. After all, the Tim Burton version was ultimately ruined by his version of Wonka with a back story.

All the child actors did a brilliant job, but the one who took on the role of Charlie did an amazing job. He pulled on our heartstrings the whole time, with you always feeling sympathy for him. He is honest, loving and sincere throughout, and you just want to get up and give him a big hug.

So, if you get the chance to see it; take it. It is funny throughout, and it has been brilliantly directed by Sam Mendes. It may not have the best performers, but it is a visual joy, which will have you sitting, jaw open, whilst marvelling at all the technical treats it has to offer. It would be impossible for you to go home disappointed.