Roald Dahl's fantastical story about a little boy's journey of discovery though a landscape of colourful confectionary has come home to it's authors birthplace in Cardiff, and as you'd expect, it's a treat for the senses.
Playing at the Wales Millennium Centre until May 20, the celebrated West End production follows the story of Charlie Bucket, from destitution to dreamland as the humble little boy stuns the eccentric chocolate maker Willy Wonka with his pure heart in a world full of greed and selfishness.
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Given the extraordinary creative mind of its author, there is some apprehension about how this tale can possibly be translated to the stage. Especially as most of us remember Gene Wilder's brilliant turn as Wonka and the incredible world he created in the 1971 film. But with extraordinarily clever staging and technology the factory floor is brought to life with sound and colour in this polished production.
The first half is a little slow paced at times, as we learn who has won the five golden tickets, but it comes to life as we enter Wonka's world.
A really quite impressive use of choreography and giant video screen animation sees us travel through the chocolate room, on a boat ride down the chocolate river and into the belly of the factory, where we witness the hilarious demise of the equally horrible Violet Beauregarde, Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop and Mike Teavee.
Gareth Snook is simply masterful in the role of ringmaster Willy Wonka. An absolute star turn. And Isaac Sugden is brilliant here as Charlie Bucket, effortlessly carrying the show on his young shoulders.
In fact the quality of the entire ensemble is wildly impressive, and more than makes up for the fact this musical sometimes lacks the punch in its songs that would make it an all time classic. It relies heavily on the 50-year-old "Pure Imagination" while new songs, written by the songwriters of Hairspray, simply don't hit in the same way.
Despite that this is a magical evening, full of childlike wonder, just as you'd hope. But don't take my word for it. The opinion that really matters is that of my five year-old daughter. And this is what she thought:
Cadi Morgan, 5, from Swansea
The show was amazing because the factory looked real but wasn't real. I liked Grandpa Joe, he was funny when he tried to get up from the bed and walk, but my favourite character was the girl who eats bubble gum. She was really good.
The children were all bad and Mike Teavee was really rude. Charlie got the factory at the end because he was the only good one.
Willy Wonka was really weird. The best bit was the chocolate garden with the fountain, that was really cool. The songs and dancing were all really good but I liked the song Pure Imagination best.
There were really funny bits. One girl got turned into a blueberry and they were bouncing her around. And another girl got shaken by a squirrel like a nut!
When Mike got shrunk down in the TV I could see an Oompa Loompa chasing him.
It was crazy when Charlie and Willy Wonka flew up in the sky at the end.
I would give this show one thousand plus one thousand stars out of five.
Charlie and the Cholate Factory- The Musical is at the Wales Millennium Centre until May 20, 2023. Book tickets here
