Enter a world of “pure imagination” with Broadway in Cincinnati’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory from now until Nov. 4th at the Aronoff Center. Roald Dahl’s whimsical and dark tale is your family’s “golden ticket” for extreme entertainment with dazzling costumes, colorful sets and mischievous characters.
The story begins as Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, announces to the world he is opening his candy factory’s gates to a few lucky golden ticket winners. This is unlike any other candy factory… for it holds mystery and unexplained marvels. And Charlie Bucket, along with four other troublesome children, embarks on a journey beyond their sweetest dreams. They will experience the world of Wonka with crazy confections, incredible inventions and of course…Oompa-Loompas that completely stole the show! (But don’t let me forget about the dancing squirrels!!!) And the story continues to amaze with lots of thrills, twists and turns… and that’s just the chocolate waterfall.
My family loved this Broadway spectacle. From the moment the score began and the curtains rose, we experienced the eccentric mind of Wonka. This was beyond any Charlie & The Chocolate Factory movie production we had seen. The stage was alive with mesmerizing color and energy, plus so many laugh-out-loud moments.
The cast was incredible and “wowed” the audience. Charlie’s love, kindness and imagination throughout the entire production made us believe in his devotion to family and chocolate. And the spoiled-rotten, ruling-breaking golden ticket winners were destined for calamity with some jaw-dropping endings. Then there’s Willy Wonka… pure comedic genius. (This was my favorite Willy Wonka….sorry Gene and Johnny.)
Plus, there’s toe-tapping, dancing-in-your-seat music. Besides songs from the original film, including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” the new score from the songwriters of Hairspray will have you downloading the Broadway soundtrack for your ride home.
Needless to say, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory is now a family favorite. With so much stage activity, we never wanted the scenes to end. This wonderful classic and delicious tale brings back so many fun childhood memories that I get to share with the next generation.
I recommend Charlie & The Chocolate Factory for children 8 and over. It has a run time of two hours and thirty minutes with one intermission. Just the perfect amount of time to enjoy chocolates or a beverage from the lobby.
There are still plenty of sweet seats available! Don’t miss out on your golden ticket to see this theatrical masterpiece in Cincinnati. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Broadway in Cincinnati.