“We have so much time and so little to do!” said no theatre company ever. Strike that. Reverse it! And the time is here! The irony that Roald Dahl’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory showcases what happens when the baddies get what’s comin’ to ‘em is lost on NOBODY here. (#IYKYK) And when the universe hands you a Golden Ticket (you can get yours at the door this weekend!) you take it and run straight to the DOODLEHatch for Stand Up For…Theatre’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. But not before reading these ‘cautionary’ interviews with some of the fine upstanding members of the production’s actors.
Thanks for giving us some of your rehearsal time here, why don’t you give us a quick ‘who you are and who you play’ for this?
Chris Pence: I’m Chris Pence and I’m playing an Oompa Loompa.
I love it already. What was the yen to want to come out and be a part of this show?
Chris: We all remember the Gene Wilder version, that was the one I grew up with. Of course everybody else remembers the Jonny Depp version and the most recent— Timothée Chalamet version.
You know, I still haven’t seen that one, I think it’s an ‘origins’ story type retelling.
Chris: Yeah, and I haven’t seen it either. But pretty much everybody knows this story— one version or another. When we were doing the DOODLEHatch Festival over the weekend, I was handing out tickets, and a lot of the kids— even though they were only seven or eight years old— they knew the story. Or were at least excited about it. One kid told me they’d seen all three movies, they had the book, and they couldn’t wait to see the musical.
I love hearing that. And you’ve read the book, Chris?
Chris: I’ve read both of them. I love them. There was also one kid, who when I told him that there would be a girl turning into a blueberry, that kid was excited as could be that there was going to be a little girl turning into a blueberry! If that doesn’t sell tickets, I don’t know what does!
I mean that would be a reason for me to go to a musical. You ended up here, and Ed (Director Ed Higgins) said, “One of the tallest people in my cast…I think I’ll make you an Oompa Loompa.” Is that how that works?
Chris: Yeah, sort of. I wanted Wonka. I also wanted Grandpa Joe and things didn’t quite work out that way but this is character acting and I enjoy it. You’ll notice in the musical numbers that there’s one Oompa Loompa who speaks out, or there’s that one Oompa Loompa that is the center of attention. I was given that because I’m a character actor. Having done The Crows in Wizard of Oz and stuff like that, I can bring a lot of character to a tiny character. I’m basically like the leader of the Oompas.
Very cool. What has been the most fun about this rehearsal process so far?
Chris: Working with the cast. It’s such a great cast of people. It’s so much fun. The kids are great. The first time Veruca (Audrey Blake) walked in she scared the living crap out of me, she’s so good at playing that role. Plus getting to see old friends— having worked with Lucy (in the role of Mrs. Gloop, Lucy Blumberg) before and getting to work with her again, getting to work with Gage (in the role of Mr. Beauregarde, Gage Wright) again— this is the first show we’ve done together in I can’t even tell you how long. I think it was that first Rocky Horror. It’s just been really great.
Awesome! What is the song that really just makes it for you in this show?
Chris: They give the Oompas a little bit of a different spin with the music. Now we have bits of that classic song that everybody remembers but each kid has their own musical style and the Oompas run with that. Personally, even though it’s about 50-words-a-second, my favorite is “Vidiots.” Which is Mike Teevee’s song and talks about the addiction to screens and phones and all that. It’s basically saying you need to get your kid off of all that and put a bookshelf up.
Could not agree more. What is your favorite candy?
Chris: That one’s hard. Anyone that fits in my mouth, basically. If I had to choose? Probably Reese’s.
Okay. What is your favorite chocolate bar?
Chris: Mm. I’ll go with Three Musketeers.
What has been the most challenging thing you’ve had to deal with in this rehearsal process so far?
Chris: Again, going back to those Oompa songs. Learning all those new songs is a lot. And a lot of those songs are very quick. And they kind of— like with the older songs— we kind of say the same things only a little different, three or four times. So working out those lyrics and which ones go where has been tough.
What is the worst candy in the whole wide world and if you never had to put it in your mouth again you’d be a-okay with that?
Chris: Do you remember those— I don’t know what they were called— but they were always in black and orange wrappers and the old people always gave them out to you. They were like bad toffee. They were terrible. I hate those things.
Favorite candy flavor? Think Jellybeans or taffy and stuff like that.
Chris: Depends on how I’m feeling. I like fruity stuff. I like minty stuff.
I love minty taffy. I actually sent one of the adults from Children’s Playhouse of Maryland to find me some mint taffy…still waiting on that to happen!
Chris: Oh my!
Why do you want people to come out and see Charlie & The Chocolate Factory at The DOODLEHatch with Stand Up For…Theatre?
Chris: This version is a little bit darker. It’s not quite as dark as they played it on Broadway. We’re making a few changes, we’re not actually going full-on ‘Jigsaw’ against the kids. But we want to share this experience with kids and adults. Let them see a different version of Wonka, a newer, updated version. Everybody still remembers certain numbers like “Candyman” or “Pure Imagination” but this production also lets you see a newer side of it. A more updated and in some ways, kind of inclusive, version. Like in this version, Veruca is Russian. I thought that was a really interesting change. Violet is a Pop-star. No pun intended.
Oh my God. FUNNY! Now what’s it like getting to be an Oompa Loompa?
Chris: It’s a lot of hard work. Making all the fudge and all the candy. It’s very busy. And of course dealing with all the kids is always fun.
Just like with those Fizzy-lifting drinks, how they end up levitating Charlie & Grandpa Joe in…one of the versions…if you could get a superpower or a magic effect from a candy, what would be happening for you?
Chris: I think I would choose flying. Get me from one place to another, getting to see the world from a different point of view. Parallel to what we’re trying to do with the show.
I love that. What is the one food that chocolate does not belong on?
Chris: Well I can’t say bacon. Because chocolate covered bacon is amazing. Um, we’ll go for the classic— we’ll say pizza.
If you had to sum up your experience working on Charlie & The Chocolate Factory here at Stand Up For…Theatre using just one word, which word would you use?
Chris: Scrumdiddlyumptious!
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory plays through June 13th, 14th, and 15th 2025 with Stand Up For…Theatre at DoodleHATCH— 8775 Cloudleap Court in Columbia, MD. Tickets are only available for purchase at the door— cash, card, checks all accepted.
