Ah, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It's probably the most adapted out of all of Mr. Dahl's works, and certainly the Gene Wilder version is the most infamous - the Candyman can, after all. This latest adaptation was directed by Sam Mendes - yes, the guy who did the latest James Bond movie - to the tune of a cool £10 million. So, costing that much money, and having a great director behind it, it's surely bound to be a fantastic show... right?
Well... there's a lot of heart to it, that much I can say. The first act contains itself within two small sets mainly - with an added background addition of a large television. Yes, it really does make a lot more sense when you see the show. As such, you do get to feel the strong connection the Bucket Family have, and just how much finding a Golden Ticket would mean to dear little Charlie, who never really has anything new of his own, but spends his time daydreaming and inventing things that could help to better the life of his family. The mystery that is Mr. Wonka and his chocolate factory just builds, and builds, and when we finally - finally - get a glimpse of the man himself? It's time for the interval, and to stretch your legs. 0
Act Two is... when I became very aware that no matter how much money was poured into the sets, sadly the theatre was not the correct medium to get across the vastness of the chocolate factory. Oh, that's not to say that the performers were not fantastic - they really were, and I must get great credit to the current stage Willy Wonka, who gives a very bombastic performance. I was just aware, all through the second act, that really, it was only a little stage.
(It probably did not help that a bridal party sitting in front of us who had been perfectly quiet throughout the first act decided the second act was the perfect time to start speaking.)
The music was brilliant, the performances were brilliant, and the timing of the jokes got across just right. It just wasn't... It's hard to explain it any other way than the second act did not grab my attention the way the first act had. Maybe I need to see the show again. Without people gabbing away in front of me. That might help.
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