Paramount Theater, a gem in the town of Aurora, was the place of gathering to witness an exquisite performance of an all time classic musical, which derives from the penmanship of author Roald Dahl’s children’s novel.
Often performed on Broadway and stages across the country “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory at the stunning auditorium by the Fox River in Illinois was a treat for the senses.
Paramount Broadway shows often spoiled the audiences with exuberant talent extravaganza, delivering on each production a memorable artistic experience.
The playhouse box office was expectedly crowded for a fair weather Saturday evening. Theatergoers were eager to find their way to their seats ready and enjoy the mystic of the eccentric Willy Wonka at the helm of his peculiar chocolate factory with the company of the unlikely golden ticket winner the kind-hearted Charlie Bucket, the demanding Veruca, the greedy Augustus, the selfish Violet and technology obsessed Mike.
It all began with a majestic velvet purple curtain where templates of chocolate bars were reflected, followed by Mr. Wonka himself dressed for the part and invited the audience to enter his world of wonder. To my surprise Stephen Schellhardt’s physical resemblance to Gene Wilder the original Wonka from the motion picture was uncanny which for me added a special flair to the musical.
From that moment on spectators were captivated by the powerhouse voices of the entire cast, the vibrant colorful outfits, humorous dialogues, amusing and energetic dance numbers and the foreshadowing of the unfortunate tragic end of some for some characters which unravel a valuable life lesson while encapsulating the power of the the imagination. The music score catchy and inviting have as one of the highlights the performances of the Oompa-Loompas people of below average height that work at the chocolate factory while quasi emulating a greek chorus that augur what the immediate future will look like for some of the younger characters as a consequence of their lack of empathy, restrain, and obedience.
The majestic stage and ingenious gadgets encapsulate the inventiveness of the artistic director and the technology crew giving Charlie & The Chocolate Factory a visual prowess pivotal for the staging of the musical.
A solid, brilliance from A to Z which earned the production seven nominations for the Lawrence Olivier Awards for Best New Musical.
An electrifying show that will please audiences of all ages.
