The original, 2013 Sam Mendes-directed production of this musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a huge success, running at the vast Theatre Royal Drury Lane for longer than The Producers or Frozen. It wasn’t super memorable, though, which is probably why we’re getting an all-new revival just ten years later. Directed by Nikolai Foster, it will debut at his theatre, Leicester musical powerhouse the Curve. But upon its London transfer it’ll be augmented by the presence of cuddly musical theatre legend Michael Ball in the lead role of capricious confectionary magnate Willy Wonka, whose presence pretty much guarantees this limited Coliseum run will be a hit.
With a book bt David Grieg, the musical is a mix of direct adaptation of the Roald Dahl source material and adaptation of the 1971 Mel Stuart film. It contain’s the film’s beloved songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley – including, of course, ‘Pure Imagination’ – plus new ones from Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. The need to a balance all this plus a massive visual spectacle perhaps meant Mendes never really found the heart of the story of sweet young chocolate lover Charlie and his odyssey into Wonka’s bizarre, dangerous factory. This will probably be a fractionally stripped down production: which might actually help it. Certainly Ball’s loveable presence should cut through the spectacle.
