If you're looking for the most scrumptious musical treat to take your family as the summer winds down, proceed down to the Lunt Fontanne on 46th and Broadway and treat yourself to the long-awaited stage adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where colorful pleasures await you.
If you haven't known the Ronald Dahl book or the 1971 or 2005 films of which they were both adapted from, here's the story in a nutshell. It's about Charlie Bucket (Ryan Faust, at the performance I attended), a young boy who have a big love of chocolate candy, especially Willy Wonka's. Soon, Wonka himself (Christian Borle, fresh off his more dramatic role in last year's Falsettos revival) announces a contest in which five lucky kids will be chosen to take a tour in his candy factory.
For that chance, Wonka puts in one golden ticket inside five of his chocolate bars. Among those who finds these tickets is a big Bavarian boy with a love for bratwurst, a naughty and greedy Russian girl, a California princess obsessed with being a celebrity and a young hacker with media and electronics on his mind. Of course, Charlie gets the final ticket and goes with his Grandpa Joe (John Rubinstein) to the factory experiencing things unlike anything he ever wondered in making chocolate and meeting Mr. Wonka in the flesh.
Veteran director Jack O'Brian gladly doesn't add too much sugar to the proceedings, which is more faithful in tone to the Dahl book and the Gene Wilder film version of it. He even didn't forget to put in the Oompa Loompas, too. Mark Thompson's colorful sets looks enchanting and the costumes (also by Thompson) look splendid. Hairspray vets Marc Shairman and Scott Wittman has created a nice enough score and they happily added the classic songs from the 71' film ("Pure Imagination", "I've Got a Golden Ticket", "The Candy Man") to please many of its fans.
Two-time Tony winner Borle is comically charming as Wonka (who wisely doesn't copies Wilder's performance, but fits very well into his shoes and hat). Faust is cheerfully adorable as the young candy lad (He alternates in the roles with two other kids). They're both nicely supported by Rubinstein (best known as the original "Pippin"), Emily Padgett (as Charlie's mom) and recent Emmy nominee Jackie Hoffman (FX's Feud) as Ms. Teavee, the mom to the techno-nerd.
Wonderfully sweet and loaded with pure stage magic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a jolly family entertainment that is sure to leave you with smiles galore. Just don't let your kid have too much candy before and/or after the show.
The Buzz on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:
Rating: *** (Very Good)
Bottom Line: Faithful in tone to Dahl's vision and the 1971 film, this is a whimsical and magical musical the whole family can enjoy.
Recommended Best for: Ages 6 and up. The second act may be a bit too dark (then again, so was the musical adaptation of Matilda). But it's still good family fun.
Playing at: The Lunt Fontanne Theatre on 205 West 46th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue). Scheduled for an open-ended run. For tickets, go to ticketmaster.com or call 877-250-2929.
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