A Delectably Delightful Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Marriott
In this fast-paced world of technology and endless attention-grabbing options, live theatre is the most beautiful gift to give a child. The magic of watching a story unfold through song and dance ignites endless endorphins for both young and young-at-heart. The Marriott Theatre, located in the northern Chicago suburb of Lincolnshire, offers an absolutely delightful youth series. Show after show, the Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences draws waves of giggles, wonder, and cheerful smiles. The current production, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is another delectable home run, directed and choreographed by Amber Mak.
Complete with a wildly talented cast of young actors in the iconic roles of golden ticket holders, the production is a perfectly bite-sized one hour show. The classic tale is infused with nuggets of current pop culture, including a revised Violet Beauregarde turned social media influencer, and a “skibidi” drop, which garnered plenty of laughter. Mak successfully interjects these modern day touches within the timeless framework of Willy Wonka’s world. In fact, there’s an impressive spectrum of distinct eras woven into this imaginative tapestry. The Beauregardes are firmly planted in the present, while Mike Teavee and his mother are unapologetically rooted in the early 90s. (Kudos to Costume Designer Theresa Ham and Wig/Hair Designer Miguel Armstrong for nailing the nostalgic look of the Teavees!) Maintaining a familiar mid-20th century thread are the Gloops, the Salts, and the Buckets. The time-warped families coexist effortlessly.
Paving the way to the doors of the mysterious candy factory is Wonka. Brilliantly played by George Keating—his Chicago resumé runs the gamut of professional institutions (Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, & Drury Lane, just to highlight a few)—whose animated vocal cadence is reminiscent of the vintage voice actors behind archetypal characters like Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. He brings a warmth and approachability to Wonka that works beautifully in the intimate setting of Marriott’s theatre-in-the-round. Had Keating leaned into some of the aggressive choices made by Gene Wilder in the beloved film, I fear it would not have translated well in this time and space. His take on Wonka is sweet, kind, and humbly hilarious.
Sharing the spotlight as co-lead is Charlie Bucket, impressively played by Kai Edgar, who previously held the role in the national tour. Edgar is a powerhouse talent, whose rich and mature vocals soar through every song. He embodies every ounce of tenderness and forbearance audiences expect of Charlie. His scenes with Grandpa Joe (Rick Hall) hold some of the show’s most heartwarming moments. The pair’s onstage relationship is absolutely charming.
The Marriott productions are consistently brimming with creativity, as the production staff is repeatedly tasked with creating visuals with a 360 degree sightline. The aisles, which cut straight through quadrants of the audience, are utilized well here. With the help of the patchwork-clad Oompa Loompas and some clever fabric choreography, we watched August Gloop flail through the Chocolate River and ultimately get swept away. The children were also enchanted by the abundance of bubbles floating above their heads in one of Wonka’s experimental candy rooms. However, Props Designer Wynn Lee could have explored more options for the introductory journey into Wonka’s factory. The construction of oversized candy via large onstage chests, choreographed into the song “Pure Imagination,” was clunky and distracting. It didn’t quite meet the expectations I’ve come to love and anticipate at Marriott productions. That being said, every child’s face was elated, watching the confections come together in real time. And truly, that’s the primary goal… captivate those young minds!
For any hesitant parents or caregivers concerned with theatre etiquette, bring your youngsters to this show with confidence! Audible reactions to the performance are encouraged, and the actors (each wonderfully professional) are wholly accustomed to the giddy agitation that accompanies young audiences. Immediately following the performance is a brief Q&A. The actors sit on the stage and take a few curious questions from the children in the audience. It’s a wonderful way for children to engage directly with the cast and the process of creating a theatrical production.
