Wonka Wows and Woos

Willy Wonka wows and woos in vintage 1950s style at fun, slick, Friends’ School production of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Golden tickets dangled from FSL trees as the jazzy vivacity of the Wonka Band (directed by Mrs Niamh Blakeman) thrilled the audience on two glorious autumnal evenings.

Enter Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Gallery here!

The Limited Edition ‘Wonka Bar’ programme tantalised with an array of sugary promises from the ‘lickable wallpaper’ to ‘Hot Ice Cream for Cold Days’.

Mrs Ciara Lowe’s scrumdidliumptious showstopper did not disappoint. The ‘Golden Ticket’ solo was beautifully executed by the show’s eponymous hero, Charlie. Year 9 pupil, Zach Hall’s performance was gleeful, flawless and glorious at every turn. Spectators from all ages and stages had their hearts stolen and their dreams sugar-coated by Chris Kane’s (Y11) soulful, sublime rendition of the iconic solo, ‘Pure Imagination’. He captured the joy, beauty, eccentricity and energy of Willy Wonka with every step, look and word.

The giggle inducing plop of Augustus Gloop into the chocolate river delighted the happy crowd. Elsewhere, the show delivered one of its giant slapstick moment of magic and farce when the scene stealinginly sassy Violet Beauregarde, Nicole Buckingham (Y11) turned blue, blew up and rolled off stage as a humongous blueberry. Veruca Salt (Pippa Dugan Y11) proved more than a match for her unfortunate parents before all three disappeared down the garbage shoot, causing more hilarity and hooting. The deliciously irritating Mike Teavee (Jack Netherton Y10) soon met his fate as Wonka shrunk him to the tiny dimensions of Toy Story’s ‘Woody’. The clever use of exquisite and evocative cinematography added greatly to the narrative structure of the production.

The Oompa Loompas (championed by Mr Peter Briggs) were charming, joyful and sweet. Their dance routines and songs scattered pastel colours, blingy initials and harmony about the hall like fairy dust.

The use of samba drums has become synonymous with Friends’ events – they played their part in dramatizing this joyous, rousing display of FSL talent.

The casting, costumes and set were pure retro, technicolour, candycane cute. The styling and presence of all the actors was very fifties and very fabulous.

There are too many ‘ingredients’ to acknowledge here – you can read all about it in one of those limited Edition programmes, if you are lucky enough to have one. Tickets for the play were sold out in record time – as Friends’ Junior Production has become the only show in town.