NEYT creates Willy Wonka’s ‘world of pure imagination’
Reformer StaffBy JON POTTER
BRATTLEBORO -- If happiness were counted in calories, the New England Youth Theatre is about to wreck your diet.
For its annual holiday show, NEYT is serving up a classic story that most people know from two film versions that are as different from each other as Swiss chocolate and Swedish Fish. In the hands of more than four dozen actors and crew members, NEYT serves a "Willy Wonka" that is pure guilty pleasure.
"It’s not a bitter pill. It’s not a healthy meal. It’s a sugar candy treat," said Rebecca Waxman, director of "Willy Wonka," which opens tonight at NEYT and runs through Dec. 20.
She may be right. NEYT has captured all the magic of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story and served it up in a colorful, musical production that feels like a giant bag of M&Ms spilled for all to enjoy. But there is substance to the meal. These are not empty calories.
For those of who don’t know the book or the two films -- the 1971 one starring Gene Wilder or the darker version from 2006 starring Johnny Depp -- "Willy Wonka" introduces us to an eccentric candy maker and five lucky finders of golden tickets who are given a tour of his magical factory. Four of the children are horrid, and one is Charlie Bucket, a poor boy who is good and kind -- and is ultimately rewarded beyond his wildest dreams.
It is exactly the kind of story that fits NEYT Founder Stephen Stearns’ chief requirement
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for a holiday season show -- it has to have a miracle. This is the ultimate triumph of good over evil -- or maybe more accurately, a triumph of goodness over the kind of annoying and fatally flawed people we all bump up against regularly. It’s a simple enough storyline that emerges clearly when silhouetted against Dahl’s wildly creative background -- a "World of Pure Imagination," as the opening song says.
"It’s a really interesting story. It’s so predictable, and yet it’s so unpredictable," said cast member Rhys Glennon, 9, who is one of two boys sharing the role of Charlie Bucket. "It’s a really fun play. There’s a lot of funny parts and a couple of scary parts and a lot of miscellaneous parts."
That pretty much sums it up. But to see it all -- the funny, the scary, the miscellaneous -- is to behold the colorful fruits of a monumental and joyfully Herculean effort. It is no mean feat to build a candy factory complete with a chocolate river, inventing room, Wonkavator and the many other fantastical elements Dahl’s story demands -- and to do it within the limitations of time, space and wallet that are part of the deal.
"It’s like Jenga," said Waxman as she toured backstage Monday afternoon, admiring the efficiently configured set pieces. Remove one stick and the whole thing ... well, you get the picture.
"It’s just fun. It’s got whimsy. It’s got technical surprises. It’s got color," she said.
Yes, lots and lots of color. At a time of year when darkness reigns and the world outside is entirely too monochromatic, enter NEYT to dump jelly beans onto our dismal porridge.
"I really wanted to keep the art direction and the costumes in the ‘70s. It’s super-groovy," said Waxman. "We’ve got these Seussian costumes and totally trippy imagery."
Give credit for the costumes to Sandy Klein and her crew, who dug through storage closets and old clothing racks for a veritable Love Boatload of groovy garb. They even hit the sewing machines hard to make the costumes for the Oompa Loompas from the scratch. But the results are worth it -- the Oompa Loompas, colorfully arrayed in fluffy suits of yellow, orange, blue, pink and purple look like a crayon box come to life, and they act like they’re out to capture your hearts.
Klein was much in demand Tuesday afternoon, as the cast of 38, ages 6-18, donned full costumes for the first dress rehearsal. An adjustment here, a measurement there, a missing hat over there ... it all added up to a busy day for Klein and crew.
On the tech side, Rick Barron, Jerry Stockman, Bob Covey and many younger crew members have risen to some formidable challenges. Can you imagine having to create Augustus Gloop’s rocket ride up the factory pipe? Or the scary boat ride? Or Violet’s transformation into a blueberry? They had to -- and did.
"I really trust my colleagues," said Waxman.
The costumes and the tech are two of many examples of the collaborative side of a huge undertaking like "Willy Wonka." Among those called lending a hand are local singer Kristen Carmichael-Bowers, who served as vocal coach; Eric Bass of Sandglass Theater, who helped with puppets; and Elsie Smith of New England Center for Circus Arts, who coached the actors in the Fizzy Lifting scene.
Deniz Cordell has lent his ample creative touches to the music and has assembled and coached a band for the show that will help the singers through such familiar songs as "The Candy Man," "I Want It Now!" "Pure Imagination" -- and some songs you’ve never heard before.
The musical will be interpreted in American Sign Language at the Dec. 17 performance.
"The structure, grammar and syntax of the (ASL) utilizes facial expression, body position and a host of other linguistic features to convey the information. There’s a lot more to ASL than hand movements alone," said interpreter Elizabeth Bjerke, who was on hand for Tuesday’s dress rehearsal, watching intently.
Also, assisted listening devices for patrons who are hard of hearing are available for all shows on a first-come, first-served basis. Inquire at the box office or front of house staff. In addition, this production marks the first time a member of NEYT’s Theatre Adventure Program has been cast in an NEYT holiday show.
"It’s a real model of collaboration," said Waxman.
Count the NEYT cast members as full partners in the collaborative spirit. "Willy Wonka" is distinct among NEYT’s holiday shows in that much of the heavy theatrical lifting is being done by younger cast members. The senior cast members are still present and lending their talents in meaningful ways -- as Charlie’s parents and grandparents and as the parents of the golden ticket winners -- but some of the main roles are filled by younger cast members.
"There’s a lot of mentoring going on," said Waxman.
Sometimes just within one family. Rhys Glennon, aka Charlie Bucket, happens to share a dinner table with brother Clark, who fills another important role.
"My brother is Willy Wonka. It’s pretty fun," said Rhys.
Bringing Willy Wonka to life is no easy feat. He’s a richly drawn but ambivalent character, neither wholly good nor evil -- an ambiguity which plays an important role in the magic of the story and is crucial for keeping the focus on the triumph of Charlie’s inherent goodness. Things would be far less magical if an omnipotent Wonka simply waved his hand and made Charlie’s dreams come true.
"I read the book as a kid, and I really took a liking to Willy Wonka because of how childishly curious he was," said Clark Glennon, who admires both film versions and is particularly drawn to Wilder’s performance. "You can tell he’s up to something, but you don’t know what it might be."
"Clark is being so inventive and brave," said Waxman. "For me, that’s the big word here. I talk to the kids about jumping in and being brave. Š Veruca is getting brattier and brattier."
Ah yes, Veruca. Playing everyone’s favorite spoiled brat did not come easily at first for Kristina Meima, 13, who will be the first to tell you she was cast against type. So what did she do to become Veruca?
"Learn how to scream. Learn how to be really really mean and bratty," said Meima. "It’s a lot of fun. It’s kind of put a new face on me."
Even if she is eventually served her just desserts.
"The good kid actually kind of wins this one. If you’re bratty, you lose," said Meima. "The poor kid becomes rich and has a great life."
To let everyone tap into that Charlie Bucket feeling, NEYT has been selling chocolate bars -- five of which contain golden tickets for fabulous prizes -- as a fundraiser. Those chocolate bars are $2.50 are still available at NEYT, Fleming Oil, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, Vermont Artisan Designs and Vermont Country Deli in Brattleboro, at Putney Books in Putney, at the Dummerston School and in Walpole, N.H., at Ruggles & Hunt. There are still four golden tickets to be found.
Tickets to "Willy Wonka" are a little easier to come by than golden tickets -- but they are getting scarcer by the minute.
Evening shows at 7 p.m. are on Dec. 10-13 and 17-20. Matinees will be at 2 p.m. on Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20. Tickets are $11.50 for students and seniors and $13.50 for adults. For details or to purchase tickets, visit www.neyt.org, call 802-246-NEYT or come in person to the theater at 100 Flat St. This show is sponsored by Fleming Oil Co., Inc. and Brattleboro Savings and Loan.
Jon Potter can be reached at 802-254-2311, ext. 149 or jpotter@reformer