Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has been adapted many times for other media. One of the most recent adaptations is Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical. As I write, it is in the second day of a three-day run at the Fox Theatre. The show and the production are both delightful.

The musical premiered in London in 2013 and was reworked for Broadway in 2017. The current national tour (the second) is based on the Broadway staging.

The score has original songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman but also incorporates “The Candy Man,” “Pure Imagination,” and other songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from 1971 film adaptation starring Gene Wilder.

David Greig’s book is a shrewd updating of the original story. The first character to appear is the famous candy maker, Willy Wonka, who disguises himself as the owner of a candy shop. There he meets the title character, Charlie Bucket, who loves chocolate but can enjoy it only once a year on his birthday because his family lives in extreme poverty.

Wonka learns about Charlie’s decency and creativity before he visits the chocolate factory. I like the suggestion here that Charlie’s finding the final golden ticket may not be entirely due to chance.

The four other golden ticket holders are Augustus Gloop, a glutton; Violet Beauregarde, who is spoiled; Veruca Salt, a compulsive gum-chewer; and Mike Teavee, who is obsessed with contemporary screens as well as television. Their overindulgent parents are as repellant as their offspring.

The excellent cast on opening night included:

• Cody Garcia as a high-spirited Wonka who delights in his snarkiness
• William Goldsman as a lively, likeable Charlie
• Steve McCoy as Grandpa Joe
• Claire Leyden as Mrs. Bucket
• Nic Mains as Augustus Gloop
• Audrey Belle Adams as Mrs. Gloop
• Zakiya Baptiste as Violet Beauregarde
• Branden R. Mangan as Mr. Beauregarde
• Scott Fuss as Mr. Salt
• Angela Palladini as Veruca Salt
• Jacnier as Mike Teavee
• Katie Fay Francis as Mrs. Teavee

Kai Edgar and Coleman Simmons alternate with Goldsman, as Charlie.

The workers in Wonka’s factory, the Oompa-Loompas, are cleverly represented by puppets that incorporate the puppeteers’ faces. Puppet and illusion designs are by Basil Twist. Jeff Sugg’s projection design makes the chocolate factor a place of wonder.

Matt Lenz’s direction and Alison Solomon’s choreography of the current national tour are based the original direction and choreography by Jack O’Brien and Joshua Bergasse respectively. The original scenic and costume designs by Mark Thompson have been recreated for the tour by Christine Peters.  The tour features lighting by Japhy Weideman, sound by Andrew Keister, hair and wig design by Campbell Young Associates, orchestrations by Doug Besterman, and music supervison by Nate Patten.

The run at the Fox concludes on March 10.

—Gerry Kowarsky

Photo by Jeremy Daniel