Augustus-flavored-chocolate-covered-Gloop. Or taffy-coated. Or sugar-drenched. Take your pick from which version you know best. Now you’re going to get an in-depth version with this one-on-one interview with Augustus and Mrs. Gloop— right here in the Wonkavision interview series on TheatreBloom!

Well hello, Gloops! Thank you for joining us! If you can tell us your name and which one of you is playing which, that would be a great start!

Lucy Blumberg: I’m Lucy and I’m playing Mrs. Gloop.

Aaron Partin: I’m Aaron and I play Augustus.

What made you want to come out and be a part of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory here at Stand Up For Theatre?

Lucy: This is a great group to work with. Fun and inclusive and it’s a fun show.

Aaron: Pretty much the same. I was here last year in their Charlie Brown production. I’d been wanting to go out for Charlie & The Chocolate Factory for a bit. So when I saw it go up, I was like “ooh! I want to go out!”

When you came out to audition for the show, did you see yourself landing in the Gloop family?

Lucy: I was open to anything, really. I didn’t know if Ed was going to cast children in the children’s roles so I wanted to see how that would play out.

Aaron: Pretty similar. I did want to go out for a couple roles and Augustus wasn’t immediately on my mind, but looking back I think it makes sense and he’s a really fun role.

What is your working familiarity with the Willy Wonka world? Which, if any, of the movies have you seen, did you read the book?

Lucy: I first saw the movie with Gene Wilder. I loved that as a kid. I think when I was in third grade I read the book and I loved it. I really enjoyed the other adaptations but definitely the Gene Wilder movie holds a special place in my heart.

Aaron: I did not grow up with the Gene Wilder movie but I remember watching the Johnny Depp one a lot. I really liked it. I liked how kooky he made Willy Wonka and the story of it all. I have gone back and watched the Gene Wilder one. I like their contrasts and the differences that they bring in the same story is really cool.

What is your favorite type of candy in the whole wide world?

Lucy: Probably Twizzlers. The cherry-pull-aparts.

Aaron: I like a lot of candies but I definitely have to say my go-to out of everything is probably a Reese’s. I love a Reese’s. A good old fashioned regular Reese’s is my choice.

What’s your favorite chocolate bar?

Lucy: I like Hershey’s because they make a vegan version. They use oat milk!

Aaron: My favorite bar is definitely a Crunch Bar. I love crispy rice and chocolate. It’s so good.

If you could put any flavor into a candy bar, what flavor would you put in a candy bar?

Aaron: I mean what hasn’t been put in a candy bar at this point?

Lucy: Probably cherry-flavor.

I can see it now. Lucy’s Famous Twizzler-Bars. With gooey cherry center and they pull apart with chocolate ribbons and everything!

Aaron: I do like a good toffee in a chocolate bar. It’s really good.

What has been your favorite part of being part of this production so far?

Lucy: It was really fun because we worked with film for the ‘interviews’ when they interview the children? I had never worked with film before. I’ve worked on the stage but obviously it’s a different medium. It’s fun to venture out and try new things.

Aaron: My favorite part is working with a really big range of actors. I’ve done stuff in high school and college of course, but those tend to be similar groups of actors. I’ve never had a community theatre show where I’ve worked with this huge range of kids all the way as young as elementary school and then as old as— well, wherever.

As old as Ed.

Aaron: Sure. I like the diversity. And just seeing everyone work together so well has been really cool.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve found with this show so far?

Lucy: Probably my German accent. I’ve been trying to learn a little bit of the language so I can do it justice, but…we’ll see how it goes!

Aaron: My biggest challenge, I think, is keeping the accent. I can get it when I’m speaking but it’s hard when I’m singing. I will fall out of it a lot when I’m singing.

What is the song that is bringing you the most joy in this show?

Lucy: “Queen of Pop” is fun.

Aaron: I really like “It Must Be Believed to be Seen.” It was the first song I heard out of this show and I like the levels that it plays with it. And also the harmonies in that song are incredible.

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 perfectly okay?

Lucy: As much as I like licorice, I don’t like black licorice.

Aaron: I’m going to be controversial to my Mummy here and say I don’t like Twizzlers. As long as I’ve been alive, I’ve never liked them.

I think for me it was Necco Wafers. They taste like chalk. And my sister loved them growing up. Why do you want people to come out and see Charlie & The Chocolate Factory?

Lucy: I would say come see it because it will be entertaining, it will be exciting, and full of surprises.

Aaron: We put a lot of work into this and it’s turning out to be such a good show. It’s incredible to be a part of and to watch, especially because I leave early, I get to watch everything else. Everyone makes this so fun in their own way and I think the audience is really going to enjoy that.

If you could write your own golden ticket and be anybody in the show regardless of age, gender, singing capability, who would you be?

Lucy: Probably Veruca Salt because of the confidence that she has!

Aaron: I would want to be Willy Wonka just because there’s so much you can do with him. He’s the driving force of the show.

What is the one food that chocolate does not belong on?

Lucy: I don’t know. I don’t eat fish. So probably I would say fish.

Aaron: First thing that came to mind was pizza. I just don’t think they go together.

Now I want to go home and put chocolate on my fish and on my pizza. Perhaps a chocolate fish pizza! If you could have candy give you a magic power, like the Fizzy Lifting Drinks, what magical power would you be getting from your candy?

Lucy: To shapeshift.

Aaron: I was going to say that too. I would love the ability to just be able to turn into anything.

What is your favorite flavor of candy?

Lucy: I tend to gravitate towards the fruity flavors in general.

Aaron: Probably strawberry, I’m pretty big on strawberry-flavored stuff.

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?

Lucy: I feel like ‘Fun’ is the word I’ve used most when talking about this show, it’s just been so fun. Fun.

Aaron: Delicious.

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory plays through June 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th 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.

Follow along with all the Wonkavision Golden Ticket interviews…

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