author: Jake Schwartz
In theatre, there is a saying – “the show must go on.” And for Charlie & The Chocolate Factory at Stand Up For… Theatre, that became their reality. Nearly losing it all before the curtain even rose, the Fire Marshalls shut down the production from happening. Facing a challenge that would’ve melted even Willy Wonka’s resolve, Stand Up For… Theatre didn’t back down; and they are here for one weekend only!
Before I begin the review, it’s important for me to share that I was able to see the final dress rehearsal* of the show – so there were a few slight things still being tweaked while I was there. But in watching those tweaks happen, I paid attention to the cast – and saw genuine excitement and happiness. A joy to be involved, a pride in showing their work. You can tell the cast is having a ton of fun, and loves being there and doing the show. Which is a testament to the casting abilities demonstrated by director Ed Higgins. Higgins had his hands full with directing, set designing, set construction, and starring as Grandpa Joe. From a directing standpoint, the show is exactly what it needs to be. It’s a fun time, some solid humor, and a good sound. Set design wise, I thought the moving set pieces to be very eye-catching and visually appealing – especially that movable Wonka Cart, donated by Alec Graff.
There was a directorial choice that I am not sure how I feel about. For the Golden Ticket Winners that aren’t Charlie, their songs, interviews, and dances are pre-recorded and projected onto the back wall. While it looks nice, it definitely pulled me out of the show a bit. I also think the live performance of these songs adds a certain charm to the show, one that’s lost when it’s being displayed on a screen. I understand the vision, and I think the idea could work – I just think for me, it was not my favorite choice. This also created a challenge for the choreography (choreographed by Lilou Altman) in these numbers, particularly “The Queen of Pop”, where it was very cramped and too squished together. For a musical like Charlie & The Chocolate Factory where the sky’s the limit, I would’ve liked the choreography to vary a little bit more between songs and be a little less repetitive. It wasn’t bad at all, I just would’ve liked to see a little more.
Costuming by Grant Myers was wonderful, I have to highlight Mr. Beauregard’s Saturday Night Fever-esque outfit. Lighting and Sound by Andrew Vida and Charles Hirsch was solid and what it needed to be. I’d also like to shout out Stage Manager Kathy McCrory in this particular production. Stage Manager’s are the unsung heroes of theatre, and in a show like this with a million moving parts – McCrory more than deserves her flowers.
Performances were solid all-around through this show. You’re definitely going to want to keep your eyes on the actors in the background, and they are fully committed. Some personal favorites were the Teevee Family interactions with each other and some “special lemonade” (played by Elliot and Jessica Long), Mr. Beauregard (played by Gage Wright) really wanting to give someone a business card, and Audrey Blake as Veruca Salt intimidating the other competitors. Aaron Partin as Augustus Gloop is one of the funniest performances I’ve seen in a musical in a long time. While he definitely looks a good bit older than the other kids (and he is), Partin’s physical comedy and choices in their vocal inflection had me rolling. The final ensemble member I want to really shout out is Dustin Hayes as Grandpa George / Oompa Loompa. His commitment to his characters is genuinely hilarious. You could spend the entire show watching him in the background, and you would still be entertained.
As previously mentioned, alongside directing and set designing – Ed Higgins plays Grandpa Joe. Now I saw that he was doing all three of these roles, and it made me worry – but I can safely say Higgins played Grandpa Joe PERFECTLY. He captures the goofiness, the loving relationship with Charlie, the crazy old story telling – Higgins nails this character in a way only he can. Plus his hair fits the character perfectly, it’s glorious.
The show might be called Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but to the kids it’s all about Paul Norfolk as the famous Willy Wonka. I want to start by saying vocally, Norfolk is unmatched. He completely nails the vocal intricacies of the role and makes one of the hardest songs in the show, “Strike That! Reverse It!”, look easy! (Side note, that number was amazing. It felt like a fever dream in the best way possible.) However, I have to say that acting wise I was a little underwhelmed with Norfolk. Willy Wonka is supposed to be eccentric, enigmatic, charismatic, and magical – while Norfolk’s portrayal seemed relatively one note. I didn’t get the sense of importance that Willy Wonka should carry, and it led to some of the moments where he’s supposed to come across as eccentric or wild falling flat.
The only word I can use to describe Aidyn Mingo’s portrayal of Charlie Bucket is: perfect. Everything that Charlie Bucket should be, Mingo delivers that and then some. They’re likable, you root for them, they’re adorable in their interactions with people, and you want to see them succeed. Mingo’s enthusiasm and energy is infectious from the moment they show up on stage. Their chemistry with Higgins’ Grandpa Joe is unrivaled, I thought they might actually be related by the end of the show. From Charlie’s first song, you’ll be rooting for them and their happiness – which is the perfect way for a protagonist to be. My only complaint: Why does Mingo not have the last bow? They are the heart and soul of this show, and they should be very proud of themselves.
You got one weekend to see this show worth fighting for! Don’t miss Charlie & the Chocolate Factory at Stand Up For… Theatre!
Running Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes with one intermission
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.
*invited final dress was extended to reviewers owing to losing a full weekend of production and only having three performances open to the public.
Follow along with all the Wonkavision Golden Ticket interviews…
Chris Pence as the chief Oompa Loompa
Lucy Blumberg & Aaron Pinter as The Gloops
Gage Wright & Francesca DeBella as The Beauregardes
Audrey & Heather Blake as The Salts