Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 

Young Chocolate-Years

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 

by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman, based on Roald Dahl

Step on Stage at the Hampton Hill Theatre until 11^th January

Review by Steve Mackrell

Here is a show brimming with confident young people displaying a range of talents far beyond their years.  This is Step on Stage’s latest musical production at Hampton Hill Theatre, with a cast of over thirty children, based on Roald Dahl’s classic story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

It is a story with plentiful opportunities for the young actors to flesh out some interesting and curious characters, such as the eccentric chocolate maker Willy Wonka, and the awfully arrogant little madam, Veruca Salt.  Without doubt, all the young actors involved seized this opportunity with relish, to showcase their talents to a larger audience with their energetic skills of acting, singing and dancing.  Clearly, with an audience comprised mostly of enthusiastic siblings, parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncles and the like, the reception was guaranteed to be ecstatic but, that aside, this production more than held its own, even to the neutrals in the audience.

A large part of this success was due to the experienced crew, who clearly knew their theatrical ropes, and the lighting, sound and stage management were faultless.  Director Emma Tinniswood, the driving force behind Step on Stage, maintained a seemingly nonstop frenzy of music and movement.  Ashley Johnson, as Assistant Director and Choreographer, created many vibrant and dynamic dance sequences such as the pink ladies, the Oompah Loompas and the clever “nutcracker sweet” where the formal ballet transformed into a Cossack dance.   

But to complete the success of any show, the production needs the injection of energy and enthusiasm, as provided by this young troupe of actors and dancers, who ignited the story from the very beginning, lighting up the stage with the rousing opening number The Candy Man.

In terms of acting, the cement that keeps this production together, and maintains audience interest, are the characters of Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket and here, both actors excelled.  Playing the character, which film buffs would recognise as the Gene Wilder or the Johnny Depp role, Willy Wonka, was 17-year-old Jasper Simmons.  His was a powerful performance in which the actor explored the eccentricity of this larger-than-life character of chocolatier, inventor and magician.  His interpretation made this extravagant character believable, and his mannerisms, expressions and quick-moving supple actions created a powerful and charismatic master of ceremonies. 

Opposite him, and very much his equal, as the modest, unassuming and selfless Charlie Bucket, was 10-year-old William McCauley-Tinniswood.  This was an assured performance, played seemingly effortlessly, with well observed mannerisms and expressive facial reactions, crowned by a fine singing voice.

One of the potential pitfalls in directing young casts is the actors can be mismatched physicality.  Then there is the problem of balance given the wide gulf in acting skills between say, as in this case, a 10-year-old and a 17-year-old.  Suffice to say, in this production, the balance between the two main protagonists, and their interactions, worked extremely well and was particularly notable in their duets. 

A further pitfall in directing a young cast can be distinguishing whether the actor is playing an adult part or simply acting as a child.  In this production, the problem is compounded given there are five adult-child combinations – the five children with a golden ticket – each accompanied by their “adult” guardian.  Fortunately, any problems in distinguishing between the adult and the child characters simply evaporated with a bucketful of very clever performances. 

Perhaps the most memorable of the five golden ticket winners is the deliciously selfish and arrogant Veruca Salt, played with great gusto and enthusiasm by Annabel Hodges (11) clad in a vivid pink tutu and looked over adoringly by her mother Mrs Salt, played by Jessika Penny (15).  Their song and dance number was excellently timed with a very professional approach.  There was also much amusing interaction between the Bavarian beef-eating boy Augustus, played by Jago Liebrand (12), and his mother Mrs Gloop played by Ayah Mahmoud (14).  Playing the self-centred Californian gum-chewing champion Violet, was an energetic Hannah Mahmoud (12) with her mother Mrs Beauregarde played by Zoe Chaytow (16).  Violet’s dance sequences as the Queen of Pop were outstanding and, especially funny and athletic, was her dance in her billowing “fat suit”.  Another well matched combination was Olyver Brewer (12), playing the media-mad Mike Teavee, with Scarlett Powell (16) as his concerned mother. 

With regard to Charlie’s family, Jess Jenner (17) gave a fine performance as Mrs Bucket, displaying a strong singing voice, while Charlie’s Grandpa Joe, played by Ivor Duke (13), conveyed the sincerity of his character with great conviction.  He was also restrained in depicting an “older” person and thankfully didn’t over-act by exaggerated human frailties such as bad backs or wobbly walking.  Praise also for Lewis Higgs (10) and Ione Al-Rufaei (11), who excelled in their cameo roles as TV presenters, played with an over-enthusiastic realism.  Finally, an exceptionally well-drilled ensemble of Oompa Loompas, clad in their white shorts, socks, shoes and braces, with pink or green tops, filled the stage with fun, movement and colour.

This Step on Stage production worked with two alternating casts, which gave the opportunity for some cast members to switch roles, although the main principals – Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, Mrs Bucket and Augustus Gloop – remained the same throughout.  This method of rotation clearly gives maximum opportunity for the performers without compromising the production values and, in this review, Cast One were the performers.

This was an excellent production, with some stand-out performances, and showcased the talents of many local children.  Indeed, a world of pure imagination served up by Step on Stage and perhaps an introduction to some stars of tomorrow.

Steve Mackrell, January 2025

Photography by Max Lekker and SoS