Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Sydney stage show will feature only one child
IT should be child’s play, but the producers of a new $10 million stage production of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory have decided otherwise.
Confidential
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IT should be child’s play, but the producers of a new $10 million stage production of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory have decided otherwise.
Unlike the much-adored 1971 film and somewhat less-loved 2005 remake, as well as the original 2013 West End version of the musical, they’re casting adults in the roles of all the child characters except for Charlie.
And while that means expensive child employment requirements for chaperones and multiple actors for the same characters can be avoided, it has also left the parents of young performers less than impressed.
“Of course I can understand that some parents are disappointed that their kids don’t get a chance for these character roles,” producer Craig Donnell told The Saturday Telegraph.
“But it is a creative decision — you are seeing the humour and storytelling come to the fore in the hands of more experienced actors.”
The Sydney production is based on the Broadway show, which cast young adults in the roles of Charlie’s pals Veruca Salt, Mike Teevee, Augustus Gloop and Violet Beauregarde.
Both the Johnny Depp movie in 2005 and the West End musical of 2013 cast 12-year-olds in the roles.
“When we went to New York to see the production we were quite nervous about how it would unfold,” Mr Donnell said of his trip to see the show with co-producer John Frost.
“But as soon as the curtain touched the stage in the interval there was an immediate hubbub of joy.”
Yesterday a long line of young hopefuls lined up at the Seymour Theatre to try out for the part of Charlie.
“They have to be able to sing, dance and act. It is a very big part,” Mr Donnell said.
The four successful actors will go into workshops almost immediately to prepare for the opening at the Capitol Theatre in January.
Among those trying out for the part of Charlie yesterday was Andrea Lassandro, 10, from Botany.
“It would be my dream to be Charlie in a musical on a stage in front of hundreds of people,” he said.
“My dad’s a musician and has given me tips.”
Richard Hudson, 9, from Sydney’s north shore, had a week’s singing lessons with singer and coach Erana Clark in preparation for his audition.
“I committed and it just happened — I was quite good,” he said of his audition.
Nervous Liam Barnsley, 9, said he longed to be Charlie because “he looks a lot like me and has gold hair like me too.”
“I like to perform, it’s in my blood,” he added.