Tammy Franklin — National Youth Theatre Review

Willy Wonka, Jr.

Performed April 22 - May 2, 2009. 



Audience of One, a relatively new faith-based youth theatre company in the Denver area, recently presented Willy Wonka Jr. The show is based on the 1970s-era movie and employs a cast of school children, grandparents, parents and Oompa Loompas.  Roald Dahl’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was the catalyst for the movie version. The story offers a poor young child, Charlie Bucket, whose father’s meager salary must support not only his wife, child and himself, but also four bedridden grandparents. Young Charlie dreams of visiting the local candy factory, which was shut down many years ago. A promotion from the candymaker starts the ball rolling to allow five lucky children to visit the factory.  Chaos ensues, five Golden Tickets are found inside the candyman’s “Wonka Bars,” and off the children go, each with a guest, to the mysterious factory. 

Audience of One is off to a bang-up start, with much support from the local community. Everything is in place for them to give children a wonderful experience in the world of theatre. 

Then there are the performances. Payton Cox as Willy Wonka has a fine singing voice and wowed with several different accents, from Old Scottish to Austrian bodybuilder. In an unusual move for this show, Lea Wright was cast as the Candy Man instead of having Mr. Wonka play that role. Lea also has a nice singing voice and added some very polished moments in the show. Harrison Bradley as Grandpa Joe gave a soft-spoken, well-done performance and was a favorite of this reviewer. Charlie is played here by a young lady, Hannah Tuggle, also a fine actress and singer.   The other children who tour the factory with Charlie are integral to the story and the show’s success.  Tanner Childs played Augustus Gloop, accompanied by his mother, Sami Vaughn. They are nicely paired for “I Eat More,” one of the show’s funnier moments.  Anna Melkonian plays Veruca Salt, the bratty and greedy daughter of Jared Nelson’s Mr. Salt.  Sarah McMillan shines as gum-chewing, southern-accented Violet Beauregarde with Meredith Ham as her mother. Kyle Tuggle is Mike Teavee, paired with his mother, Taylor Kinsman, who enjoys some very nice “mother moments.” Bailey DeBerry is Phineous Trout, who is the reporter who ties the whole promotions idea together.

It really seems that the children involved had a positive experience with being part of Willy Wonka Jr. Congratulations to Director Ralph Neumann, Music Director Kathy Ballenger and Choreographers Liane Adamo and Austin Lee on their production.