Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Marie Coltman
20 February 2025
Poulner Players are now 50 years old and they are starting the year off with Roald Dahl's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory that's been adapted into a new musical. The story follows kind-hearted Charlie Bucket from a poor family who wins a golden ticket from a chocolate bar, alongside four other children, who all go on a journey through the wonderful world of Willy Wonka's factory.
This was also a new venue for the Players at the Waldorf School, Ringwood, which gave the show much more room and raised seating for the large audience. Director Becky North has a good cast for this production, with lots of attention to detail, the characters all stand out, they all have there own characteristics that brings their parts to life.
Musical Director Matt Timmins has also worked hard with the singing, and the small band make a great sound. Choreographer Llandyll Grove has some nice moments with the dancing and ensemble movements. Lighting and sound are good, the props are also great and very colourful. The grandparents bed was great. I really liked the clever use of the glass 'pipe' for Augustus Gloop to get stuck in with the see through glass areas in the set for him to be seen at times as he moved across the stage into the wings, very clever.
It's good to see both junior and adult cast working together and you could tell everyone was enjoying themselves which came across to the audience. Charlie Bucket was played by Ophelia Gregory, she had all charm needed to play the downtrodden boy wishing for the chance to find the golden ticket, sharing the role with Lucas Buttigieg whom I expect was equally as good. Grandpa Joe was played by Steven Reynolds who was just right in the role, he jumped out of bed to go with Charlie, he had some great lines. The other grandparents also played their parts just right - they were Annette Darling as Grandma Josephine, Peter Ansell as Grandpa George, and Sally Whyte as Grandma Georgina.
Courtney Buttigieg played Mrs Bucket - she was lovely in the role and I really liked her song "If Your Father Were Here'. There is a good mix of adult & children in the cast playing the different roles, which worked really well as everyone was fully engaged with their characters. Danielle Morris was great as Augustus Gloop complete with smiling face and full of energy, along with Angie Chappell as mum they made a good pair. Grace Iakimov as Veruca Salt was a perfect bratty girl demanding everything she wanted, and her poor dad Chris Meineck was just right running around after her as Mr Salt. Charlotte Wilcox played Violet Beauregarde, I loved the way her costume started to inflat into a blueberry, Stephanie Edwards was perfect as her mum. Tom Buxton played the TV obsessed Mike Teavee & Ann Clark as his mum worked really well together.
Richard McPherson shined & was a very strong Willy Wonka, he had some great lines and moments of comedy, and carried off all of the Wonka mannerisms and eccentricity. There is a truly magical moment when they are in the glass lift, towards the end, very clever. The rest of the cast took on the roles of the villagers and Ompa Lumpurs. Well done to everyone.
