Willy Wonka
at Riverside High School

Reviewed on May 6, 2017

Claire Poirier
Loudoun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

The sweet taste of chocolate melting on your tongue. The excitement that follows when something magical unfolds right before your eyes. Nothing fulfills the fantasies of a young child like a factory with filled to the brim with nothing but an endless supply of scrumptious sweets. Delve into your pure imagination in the whimsical ride that is Willy Wonka.

Willy Wonka is the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's famous children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The story follows young, boisterous, and sadly impoverished Charlie Bucket when he wins a once in a lifetime opportunity to tour the famous chocolate factory of the mysterious and kooky Willy Wonka. As Charlie and his other caricatured winners, brat Veruca Salt, television obsessed Skye Teavee, food fanatic Augustus Gloop, and gum snapping Violet Beauregard, delve into the wonders and dangers of the factory, until only one lucky child is left.

The harmonies of the cast melded together like the sweet notes inside of the perfect bar of chocolate. The characters of the ensemble kept their energy consisted through the high stakes show, and created a spectacle for the audience to marvel at throughout the piece. Their love for the show was spread throughout strong musical numbers like "Candyman" and "I Got a Golden Ticket."

Leading the cast through the twists and turns and into the shadows was the quirky concoction known as Willy Wonka (Noah Hamadé). Hamadé mastered Wonka's token crazy eyes, and brought a skilled juxtaposition of playfulness and insanity to the character than made him the center of attention whenever he was on stage. His voice captivated the audience in numbers like Pure Imagination, and brought hints of darkness into the show during There's No Knowing. His young protégé Charlie Bucket (Jackson Anderson) brought bursts of energy to the stage and convincingly emulated the joy and wonder that is seen in younger children like his character. Attached to Charlie's hip was good old Grandpa Joe (Evan Gardner), who impressively maintained the old-man character voice through the show's entirety, and was the perfect companion and best friend for Charlie throughout his whimsical journey.

Wonka's band of ticket winners shone as brightly as the golden tickets themselves. Augustus Gloop (Jack Gutierrez) brought hilarity to his character whenever he waddled into a scene, and his commitment to character with his physical comedy brought him to life. Veruca Salt (Megan Hoehn) belted a strong tune, and Violet Beauregard's (Julie Pesak) southern belle with anger issues brought sass and energy to the stage. Skye Teavee (Sophia Grado) was the epitome of a teenage technology addiction, with strong vocals to back her up. Together, the band of fantastically flawed children played their characters with the fervor and commitment that they deserved.

No show would be complete without notable technical elements that brought the show to light, particularly with the orchestra. The orchestra was a dynamic balance with the voices of the actors, and the melding of the instruments enhanced the songs and enveloped the audience in the sweet musical tones.

Nothing can compare to the wonder and creativity one can experience when looking at things as if through the eyes of a young child. The unusual and imaginative world of Willy Wonka left everyone who saw the show with a satisfied feeling, the kind of feeling you might have after eating the perfect piece of chocolate.

Aubrey Winger
Loudoun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Riverside High School's recent production of Willy Wonka was even sweeter than a bar of Whipple Scrumptious Fudge Mallow Delight. Overflowing with delectable acting, tantalizing vocals, and scrumptious tech, this show was certainly one of "pure imagination."

Willy Wonka first introduced the world to his chocolate factory in 1964 through Roald Dahl's classic novel. This story gathered more acclaim with the release of the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring the legendary Gene Wilder. In 2004, a reinvention of this scrumdidilyumptious storyline premiered as a musical. Employing the use of several classic songs from the film and plot elements from the book, Willy Wonka follows the story of an impoverished young boy named Charlie Bucket who, when discovering a golden ticket in a bar of chocolate, goes on a journey through a magical factory beyond his wildest dreams.

Noah Hamadé exceeded every expectation as the titular character of Wonka. From the moment he stepped on stage, peering out from underneath his trademark top hat, he enraptured the audience with his mischievous glances. His vocals were as smooth as a chocolate river in the song 'Pure Imagination'. As the children met their untimely ends, his dark and twisted personality shone through, giving his character dimension and hinting at the somber undertones of the piece.

Jackson Anderson was a bundle of infectious enthusiasm as Charlie Bucket. His adoration of confections and his constant positivity brought light to the poverty-stricken Bucket family. His relationship with his father Mr. Bucket (Jack Darnell) was accentuated by their impressive footwork and clear affection for one another in the song 'Think Positive'. The elderly Grandpa Joe (Evan Gardner) contrasted his delightfully gruff character voice with a youthful love of bubblies and burping.

Veruca Salt (Megan Hoehn) and Violet Beauregarde (Julie Pesak) were both boisterous and bratty, providing excellent contrast to the altruistic Charlie. Likewise, Skye Teavee's (Sophia Grado) harrowed face, flippant attitude, and technology obsession transformed her into a parent's nightmare, making it even more satisfying when she became miniaturized.

The incessant flirting of Ms. Teavee (Catie Randolph) with Willy Wonka established her priorities as a mother, providing a clear explanation as to why her child was so horrid. In fact, the parent child relationships among all the ticket-winners were incredibly clear and distinct, communicating the distinctly Dahl-esque message that parents should be held responsible for the personalities of their children.

Augustus Gloop (Jack Gutierrez) relished in his comic obesity as he waddled around the stage with a ridiculous smile on his face. His fabulous German accent was highlighted with every enthusiastic "ya" and ecstatic hand wave. His mother Mrs. Gloop, played by Jillian Donahue, complemented her son with her voluptuous figure and nurturing personality. Her melodic voice shone in the song "I Eat More," serenading Augustus as he gobbled down meal after meal.

The Oompa Loompa ensemble was decked out perfectly by the costume team in matching suspenders, shorts, and light up shoes. They performed every dance with precision, adding an element of malign creepiness to their refrains. On the other hand, the town ensemble brought happiness and harmonies to all their numbers in Act 1.

The props used, especially the puppet used to represent a shrunken Skye, matched the absurdity of the factory perfectly. The colorful frames in the factory set contained immense symbolism, dimming when each character gave into temptation.

Overflowing with scrumptious fantasy, Riverside's Willy Wonka is a golden ticket to a night of nonsensical fun for all ages.

Holly Ramia
Annandale High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

"Want to change the world? There's nothing to it." Riverside High School's whimsically wonderful performance of Willy Wonka proves that thinking positive can make your dreams come true, and perhaps even make a difference in the world.
Willy Wonka was adapted as a musical in 2004 by Roald Dahl by combining his novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 1971 movie adaptation of the novel, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Narrated by Willy Wonka himself, the first act follows the story of a boy named Charlie Bucket whose father has been unemployed, leaving his family poor. His only hope is when he finds a golden ticket, hidden within a chocolate bar, granting him a tour in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The second act portrays the tour, in which 5 other children from different parts of the world received their own golden tickets, all with their own distinct quirks.
Riverside's production of Willy Wonka was full of energy and life, the entire ensemble always having a sense of urgency and purpose. The choreography as a whole was simple, yet clean and concise, and worked well with the production's overall atmosphere.
Noah Hamadé as Willy Wonka opened the show with poise, his striding gait and crazed look in his eyes established from the very start. The quality of his voice was strong and fitting for his character, staying consistent throughout the entire production. Charlie Bucket, played by Jackson Anderson, was lively and bubbly throughout his performance, yet still had clear distinctions between trying to stay positive and losing hope. His physicality accurately portrayed the mannerisms of a young boy, teeming with energy.
Each child who received a golden ticket had distinct flare. Jack Gutierrez, who played Augustus Gloop, adorably portrayed the excitement of a chubby young boy from Germany who loves to eat, always leading with his belly. Skye Teavee, played by Sophia Grado, was the electronic-crazed gender-swap of Mike Teavee, who has learned all she can from what she watches on TV. Megan Hoehn embodied the spoiled nature of a young girl from the UK in her role as Veruca Salt, providing strong vocals in her solo "I Want It Now!". Lastly, Julie Pesak played Violet Beauregarde, solidly portraying the gum-smacking brat who ultimately turns into a blueberry. Each of the children's parents and guardians had their own flare as well, with notable performances from Mrs. Gloop (Jillian Donahue) with her precise German accent and stunning vocals, and Grandpa Joe (Evan Gardner) with his comic, yet heartwarming personality.
Costume design by CJ Spring and Arden DiManno was colorful and intriguing, making clear differentiations between youthful and older characters. Augustus Gloop's chubby belly, the Oompa Loompas' glowing sneakers and rainbow colored clothing, and Skye Teavee's glow in the dark flower icon were all eye-catching and memorable. Set design by Kayla Santos and Melissa Swanchara separated the dreary environment of the Bucket household from the glowing, and colorful environment of Wonka's factory.
Riverside High School's rendition of Willy Wonka left the audience with a smile on their face, a skip and their step, and hope in their hearts, enabling them to let their pure imagination set them free.

Anna Merrill
Teens and Theatre Company
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

Imagination can create the most whimsical of fantasies, or it can take you to the darkest of places. Roald Dahl was known for his talent to effectively do both with the same story, creating children's stories that appeared overly playful, but contained an innate darkness. Riverside High School paid tribute to Mr. Dahl last weekend with their clever rendition of "Willy Wonka".

"Willy Wonka" is based off of Dahl's 1964 novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", which was adapted into a movie starring Gene Wilder in 1971, and then again in 2005 starring Johnny Depp. "Willy Wonka" is the psychedelic story of the eponymous candy maker who is a revered genius, but who is mysterious and odd to the outside world. Wonka invites five lucky contest winners to tour his factory, four of whom are awful children. Although the world inside is colorful and sweet, there is a madness behind Wonka's methods. Each of the naughty children falls prey to a fate specifically designed by Wonka to tempt them. Like all of Roald Dahl's work, Willy Wonka is bitingly smart, wildly imagina--tive, and misleadingly dark--underneath the colorful whimsy lies a foreboding undercurrent.

Noah Hamadé, who played Mr. Wonka himself, portrayed these aspects spectacularly. He was charmingly funny, yet in his subtler moments, menacingly unhinged. Hamadé was hilarious and charming, but he used subtle facial and physical tics that betrayed the deranged darkness underneath that red velvet coat. Hamadé had a high, expressive singing voice that suited the character, and his sarcastic responses to the abhorrent children elicited some explosive laughs from the audience.

Hamadé's performance was perfectly accentuated by the supporting cast. Jackson Anderson (Charlie) gave us a hero to root for, capturing the youth and innocent morality of his character with skill and stamina. Jack Gutierrez (Augustus) was an audience favorite with his confident presence and hilariously strong German accent. Megan Hoehn (Veruca) stood out with one of the strongest singing voices in the cast, and Evan Gardner (Grandpa Joe) punctuated the show with well-timed moments of physical comedy.

The actors' performances were strengthened by the technical elements of the show. With the different fantastical locations inside of Wonka's factory, the set designers had a challenge, but they created a set that was exciting without being too busy. It had the right balance of bright primary colors and grounding neutral colors, which visualized the conflict between whimsy and darkness.

The high-energy orchestra underscored the show with musical precision and dynamic. The choreography, by Kara Palumbo, suited the music and story perfectly. The choreography for the Oompa Loompas- who were a strong ensemble -was the perfect combination of whimsical and creepy. Overall, the choreography was dynamic and entertaining without exceeding the strengths of the dancers.

There were some moments in the show that felt tonally off--some acting choices didn't quite mesh with the feel and flow of the story. Some actors' enthusiasm exceeded the abilities of the sound system, which cut out when actors hit a particularly high or loud note. Even with these minimal errors, the show was high-energy and entertaining.

Riverside High School did Mr. Dahl proud last weekend, capturing the simultaneous whimsy and pathos for which Dahl is so renowned. The actors' thoughtful and entertaining performances, paired with the ingenuity of the creative team, turned a well-loved story into a unique performance. Indeed, Roald Dahl would be proud to know that such creative students are still using his stories to bring alive the thrilling and mysteriously infinite depths of the imagination.