Willy Wonka Opens April 18
“Willy Wonka, The Musical,” based on Roald Dahl’s popular children’s story “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” comes alive in Vienna for three weekends from mid-April to early May. The Vienna Theatre Company presents the family-friendly production at the Vienna Community Center. Of a cast of 20, eleven are residents of Vienna. Ten of the 11 are local children.
“We usually don’t do a show with a lot of kids in it,” said “Willy Wonka” director Jessie Roberts. “The kids have been fabulously fantastic, just wonderful to work with.”
Director Jessie Roberts described the plotline succinctly.
Willy Wonka, the king of candy, is ready to retire but he needs to find someone to take over his candy factory, Roberts said. He devises a contest in which five golden tickets are hidden among the millions of Wonka Bars that are sold all over the world. The five winners get a tour of his factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate. “What they don’t know is that they will be tested during the tour to see which of the children is the right one to take over the factory,” Roberts said. It isn’t that there are five great kids, either … one by one, the four “spoiled brats” disappear, as 11-year-old voice student Kaia Griggs of Vienna described it. One child – a “deserving” one named Charlie - remains and he becomes the owner, Kaia said. “I read the book and I really like the movie,” said Kaia, who said she is interested in musical theatre.
Emily Franks, Vienna, is a nursing research case manager who embraces theatre as her passion. “I love the community aspect of this,” said Franks. “To me, being an older person in a kids’ show is pretty exciting.”
Kyla Poe, a 12-year-old singer from Vienna, has performed in church productions and was drawn to “Willy Wonka” as an Oompa Loompa because she wanted to play a character to become someone other than her everyday-self. If you don’t know what an Oompa Loompa is, this production is an opportunity to become acquainted with one.
“I think the resolution sets a good example for the kids,” said Kyla. “I saw the movie and I thought it was good. I think it would be fun to see it in-person.”
Cast and crew from Vienna and Oakton include Melissa Handel, Tasha Poe, Kyla Poe, Amelia Lindsey, Alex Graur, Emily Franks, Larry Zimmerman and Kaia Griggs. Sedrick Moody of Aldie plays Willy Wonka and Adam LeKang of Chantilly plays Charlie Bucket.
Performances run on April 18, 19, 25 and 26, and on May 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. On April 27 and May 4, matinee performances start at 2 p.m. Tickets are priced at $14 per person and may be purchased at the front desk of the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street SE. For more information, go to http://viennatheatrecompany.org/.
— Donna Manz