West Chester East High School

The hunt for a golden ticket, chocolate rivers, delicious candy, and a chocolate factory! The Academy of the New Church brought to the stage a play version of everyone’s favorite story: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Richard R. George as adapted from the classic tale by Roald Dahl.

 

The lovable childhood favorite unfurled on the stage as Willy Wonka, the owner of a mysterious chocolate factory closed to the public, announced that five children were to be allowed into the chocolate factory. The search was on as the world tore open every chocolate bar they could get their hands on in an attempt to find the coveted golden ticket. Bratty Veruca Salt, gum chewing Violet Beauregarde, chocolate loving Agustus Gloop, technology obsessed Mike Teavee, and humble Charlie Bucket were the five children admitted to the factory for the adventure of their lives.

 

Strong characters and the excellent technical work successfully drew the audience into the story and drove the play. The originally written lyrics for the Oompa Loompas were an extra treat for the viewers.

 

The spoiled rotten antics of Veruca Salt (Marybeth Bond) were certainly entertaining. Each squeal for her daddy to buy her something new only increased the humor of this lovably awful character. Willy Wonka (Connor Dunlap) shone throughout the show as he only got more and more into his character. From his deranged laugh while disguised as an old man to his hilarious interactions with each horrible child, this character was truly impressive.

 

The candy kids swarming around the candy stand composed a solid ensemble and were enjoyable to watch as they exchanged jokes and taunts. The Oompa Loompas were portrayed in a very unique way and their zany costumes, makeup, and actions immediately interested the audience. Even Charlie’s grandparents were entertaining to watch as all four of them lay in the one bed, bantered about the old days, and obsessed over Charlie. While there were some problems with the microphones and the cast occasionally did not work together, the show as a whole was definitely worth seeing.

 

The technical aspects of this play were amazing. The makeup was very well done, especially with the task of transforming high school students into senior citizens. Though sometimes backstage noise was a little distracting, the scene changes were impressively quick. The sets in this show were truly fantastic. From contraptions with spinning objects to an actual chocolate waterfall, the sets enchanted the audience.

 

The Academy of the New Church’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a fun adventure into everyone’s favorite chocolate factory.

 

 

 

by Katie P. of West Chester East High School

West Chester East High School

Full of singing Oompa Loompas, a beautiful chocolate river, and an eccentric chocolatier, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a delightful production presented by the Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools.

 

First written in 1964 by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory spawned a sequel and two movies. The adaptation for the stage, presented by the Academy of the New Church, details the adventures of Charlie, a poor boy who has lived nearby the chocolate factory all his life, and the eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. The audience watched as five children each found a golden ticket that invited them to an unprecedented tour of Wonka’s factory and then proceeded to disappoint Wonka with their individual faults. At the end, Charlie was the only child of the group remaining and was awarded Wonka’s factory.

 

Driven by wonderful set pieces and original lyrics by students for the Oompa Loompas to sing, the production was enjoyable and worth seeing.

 

Connor Dunlap stood out in the role of Willy Wonka. His dynamic presence on the stage never overshadowed his fellow cast members, instead adding to the rest of the production as a whole. Marybeth Bond who played Veruca Salt, a young spoiled girl, delighted as well. She played the character consistently throughout the production, creating a memorable character that amused audience members.

 

Cailin Elphick stole the show as Mrs. Beauregarde, the has-been beauty pageant mother of the gum-chewing Violet.  With effortlessness, Elphick played the role of this attention-seeking mother believably. Her daughter was also played effectively by Grace Cowley.

 

Impressive set pieces were present throughout the production, bright pieces that fit in within the kooky factory. In addition, these pieces were moved quickly and efficiently by the production’s stage crew. The sound was very good if a bit quiet at times. The colorful costumes were eye-catching; especially the student-created Oompa Loompa costumes.

 

This production of a children’s classic was creative and showed notable effort. It was a well produced, enjoyable show.

 

 

by Karalyn B. of West Chester East High School

Villa Maria Academy

Chocolate rivers, Oompa loompas, and a world famous chocolate factory all are intertwined in the sweet story of a little boy named Charlie Bucket whose luck seems to finally be looking up.  The Academy of the New Church paid tribute to chocolate lovers everywhere in their production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

 

The tale begins with Charlie, a boy whose family lives in the shadow of the famous Wonka Chocolate Factory and barely has enough food to feed themselves. When the mysterious Willy Wonka announces that five children will be able to tour his factory if they find a hidden golden in one of  his chocolate bars, the world becomes crazed with Wonka fever. Charlie is the last child to find a ticket and along with his grandfather and five other lucky winners they plunge into the magic of  Willy Wonka’s factory.

 

The colorful cast of characters brought an array of personalities to the stage. Each individual worked well to bring their character out, yet the strong traits sometimes overpowered one another.  Overall the cast was energized and showed an understanding of their purpose in the show.

 

Connor Dunlap, in the role of Willy Wonka, was dazzling as the famous chocolatier. His delivery of witty remarks at the foolish children and their parents brought out the social problems in parenting. His stage presence illuminated the other cast members and demonstrated the complex character of Wonka.

 

As one of the lucky winners, Luke David played the part of Mike Teavee, an insomniac and television addict. David energetically spitted out pop culture references and trivia facts to add hilarity to the show. Other characteristics that added to the show were the Oompa loompas. Their creative songs revealed the truth about each ungrateful child and helped transition the scenes well.

 

The lighting was impeccable, excluding a minor mishap in the very beginning of the show, and helped enhance each scene. The sets were very well-crafted and they helped transport you into the world of Willy Wonka. The sets included the chocolate factory that had a working chocolate waterfall and the dilapidated home of the Bicket family. Though the moving of sets could have been a tad less distracting, the stage crew was skilled in changing the sets quickly and efficiently.

 

The delightful story of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” performed by the Academy of the New Church, was a truly mouth-watering story that had one savoring the tale until the closing curtain.

 

 

 

by Siobhan M. of Villa Maria Academy

Villa Maria Academy

“Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination.” Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools brought that world of pure imagination to life in their stirring performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a play adapted from the 1964 Roald Dahl children’s book.

 

The story opens with the announcement that the ingenious, eccentric recluse, Willy Wonka, has placed five golden tickets in his chocolate bars; the winners of which will receive a lifetime supply of chocolate and a tour of the factory. On their journey through the factory, each child, accompanied by a guardian to keep them out of trouble, is faced with a test: Augustus Gloop, an oversized glutton; Veruca Salt, a spoiled brat; Violet Beauregarde, a disrespectful, competitive gum-chewer; Mike Teavee, an overly stimulated insomniac; and young Charlie Bucket, a boy from humble means with a love for Wonka chocolate.

 

Willy Wonka (Connor Dunlap) first made an interesting appearance as a disguised old man who befriends Charlie (Richard Glenn). Dunlap demonstrated his wide-ranging acting ability in first creating the peculiar older man and then shifting to a bizarre, witty, riveting Wonka. As Charlie, Glenn brought a sense of innocence to his character and charmed with his authentic, honest character.

 

Mike Teavee (Luke David) entertained with his understated humor and quirky mannerisms, especially in his assumed “fake sports commentator” status and dialogue with the equally amusing Mrs. Teavee (Leanna Zecher). Agustus Gloop (Luke Synnestvedt) humorously played up the part of an ever-eating child, a role that included an impeccable German accent.

 

An animated ensemble of Oompaloompas nicely complemented the cast with their creative, original songs.

 

The brilliant set pieces set the scenes fantastically, especially the factory rooms: the Invention Room, the Television Room, and the Chocolate Room, complete with a running chocolate waterfall. The stage crew executed all cues extremely well and kept a quick pace throughout the show, a remarkable feat for a show with many large scene changes. The makeup and costuming were outstanding and significantly contributed to the feel of the show.

 

The world of Willy Wonka and his Chocolate Factory was truly brought to life with a lively ensemble cast, breathtaking sets, and creative costumes and lighting.

 

Academy of the New Church’s take on the well-loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a heart-warming, delightful, ‘golden’ performance that inspired some "pure imagination" of its own.

 

 

by Maddy E. of Villa Maria Academy

Villa Maria Academy

Open your mind and enter the world of “pure imagination” with the cast and crew of The Academy of the New Church in their production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  The show, running until December 4, 2011 is full of colorful costumes, creative sets, and you are guaranteed a good performance.

 

Many people know a version of the original story, written by Roald Dahl. The Academy of the New Church puts their own fun twist on the show combining the two movies and the original book, along with their own creative additions.

 

Connor Dunlap does a wonderful job as Willy Wonka, himself.  He truly brings the character to life as he brings the audience on a tour along with the five golden ticket winners through his mysterious and exciting chocolate factory.

 

The sets were very well done and several of the scenes inside the factory had very elaborate and well designed sets including a flowing chocolate river.  Also well designed were the costumes, including the crew’s own creation, the “oompa loompas”. It was evident that students put a lot of time and effort into these designs.

 

The show is wonderful for families and great for children. The oompa loompas sing songs with lyrics created by cast members, themselves. Other characters such as Mike Teavee (Luke David) Augusts Gloop (Luke Synnestvedt) and Sugarush (Annika Synnestvedt) really added to the show with great performances. They were each excellently cast.

 

Overall the show was terrific, complete with incredible lighting, an extremely efficient stage crew and very nice sound quality. The show was enjoyed by all who attended. Several times throughout the play had the audience laughing and it was clear that everyone enjoyed their tour of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

 

 

by Courteney O. of Villa Maria Academy

Villa Maria Academy

The common cliché “… like a kid in a candy store” has never been more relevant to a show than it is for The Academy of the New Church’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A box of Gobstoppers couldn’t compare to the variety in this show. While following a boy, sweet as Pixy Stix, and a man, crazy as Kazoozles, the audience was left feeling like “a kid in a candy store,” after seeing this production of Charlie and Chocolate Factory.

 

The children’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was first published in 1964. Its author, Roald Dahl used his experience with chocolate companies and his imagination (not unlike his nutty character, Willy Wonka) to captivate children from all around the world. The book has certainly left its mark with two films and a line of candies based on the book’s imagery. The story follows Charlie Bucket, a poor young boy who joins four spoiled, antagonistic children on the experience of a lifetime—a tour through Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

 

The production was anchored by its balance between all elements of theatre that continued throughout the entire show. The actors and their characters portrayed the same excitement as the colorful sets and costumes.

 

The title character, Charlie (Richard Glenn), was clearly a caring, cheery boy despite his ripped and ragged appearance. The kooky chocolatier, Willy Wonka (Connor Dunlap), definitely lived up to his silly, bright purple costume. Dunlap never let his energy slip and continuously stepped up his enthusiasm.

 

The rest of the cast had an array of colors and personalities. Mrs. Beauregarde (Cailin Elphick) demanded attention as a has-been, southern belle beauty queen. The Oompa Loompas together with colorful costumes (Shannah Conroy), zany makeup (Emily Green), and original song lyrics (Shannah Conroy and Rachael Rose) truly made this production unique.

 

The technical elements of the show were beyond comparison. The stage crew went practically undetected throughout the entire show and there was never one problem with sound. The sets reflected Willy Wonka’s vibrant imagination, complete with a chocolate waterfall!

 

The Academy of the New Church’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was truly unique and original. Both the cast and the crew did a brilliant job of telling Charlie’s story and making the audience feel like “kids in a candy store.”

 

by Carly A. of Villa Maria Academy

Villa Maria Academy

Come travel to a paradise full of sweets and surprises! The Academy of the New Church performed in a charming rendition of the best-selling book and renowned movie.

 

Roald Dahl published Charlie & the Chocolate Factory in 1967. It became an instant classic that continues to be read by children around the world. In 1971, the literary work became a motion picture as Gene Wilder starred as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Tim Burton created his own Wonka world in 2005 when Johnny Depp became Willy Wonka and Freddie Highmore starred as Charlie.

 

Richard Glenn was the heart of the performance as Charlie Bucket. Glenn was terribly sweet and had just enough child-like innocence.  Connor Dunlap brought his own twist to Willy Wonka. He was loud, eccentric, and had one-liners that had the audience laughing out loud.  Dunlap stole the show with a wonderful quirky charm!

 

Luke Synnestvedt was a crowd favorite as Augustus Gloop. Pulling Mrs. Gloop mother across the factory as she tried to restrain Augustus with a human leash was among the comical highlights of the show. Another standout was Mrs. Beauregarde who was played by Cailin Elphick. Mrs. Beauregarde was a southern belle who was trying to relive her glory days vicariously through her gum-chomping daughter Violet.  Luke David quizzed the audience on their pop-culture knowledge throughout his performance as Mike Teavee. He constantly made references to movies, television shows, and the latest Internet fads that kept the audience laughing.

 

A new character added to the play was Mrs. Sugarush. Annika Synnestvedt portrayed the kind candy seller and made a heart-warming impression. Haley Brock brought on the laughs as Matilda Eveshim, the news reporter who followed the golden ticket craze with satirical play on the serious newscaster.

 

The Academy of the New Church awed the crowd with a magnificent factory set complete with a chocolate waterfall! The stage crew always kept the show moving and made difficult scene changes with ease. Shannah Conroy and Rachel Rose displayed their creativity by writing new Oompa Loompa songs that were sung to modern classics. The majority of the costumes were designed and made by students. They looked wonderfully unique for each character.

 

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory at Academy of the New Church was a crowd pleaser that was sweeter than any chocolate bar!

 

 

by Allie S. of Villa Maria Academy

Souderton Area High School

Every child’s dream is a life-time supply of chocolate. The Academy of the New Church’s recent adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory didn’t offer that, but did give the entire audience an enjoyable and magical time to feel like a kid again.

 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was originally a children’s book written in 1964. Since, it has been adapted into two very opposite movies. The story follows the adventure of a young boy named Charlie, who finds a golden ticket that grants him a trip into the Wonka chocolate factory and, of course, a life-time supply of chocolate!

 

The cast and crew at The Academy of the New Church riskily decided to combine the new modern take with the timeless original version of the two movies; they were also conscious of the original book. This risk made the show inventive, new, and very enjoyable although at some points contradicting itself with time periods. The fun and light-hearted energy from the entire cast left everyone humming at the end.

 

Willy Wonka played by Connor Dunlap proved a very energetic and witty character. He kept attention with every word he annunciated in a very “Wonka-esce” form.  Richard Glenn’s Charlie Bucket proved a good companion to Wonka.

 

The very stout Augustus Gloop, played by Luke Synnestvedt, added a dash of laughter whenever on stage. He and Cailin Elphick, playing Mrs. Beauregarde, used both strong body language and comic timing to add enjoyment to the show. Her “charming” daughter Violet, played by Grace Cowley, was completely committed to the show; through all her actions and body language, she was the epitome of an annoyed daughter. The newscaster Matilda Eveshim, played by Haley Brock, was a small, but memorable piece to the whole puzzle. The Oompa Loompas were quite a unique group. Headed by Shannah Conroy and Rachael Rose, they completely re-wrote lyrics to familiar songs. This unique aspect added a fresh look to the old show, but a stronger execution could have made it more enjoyable.

 

The set was one of highest points of the show. The stagecraft class delivered a bright and whimsical backdrop to an abundance of different settings. The stage crew was very efficient, quick, and invisible; everything a good crew should be. The costumes were also very fitting for each character and added to the performance without being too over-powering.

 

All in all, The Academy of the New Church offered their audience a fun, magical look into a timeless tale. Their innovative and new choices gave the show an extra notch and a great opportunity for the cast and crew to truly shine.

 

 

by Nicole P. of Souderton Area High School

Souderton Area High School

Everyone in the audience won a golden ticket to see the sights of Willy Wonka’s world, a vibrant candy factory with chocolate and goodies galore. This rich chocolaty tale, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was recently performed by the highly spirited students at the Academy of the New Church.

 

Roald Dahl’s classic brings confectionary dreams to life as Charlie Buckett, a poor modest city boy, and four other flamboyant children and their parents win the chance to tour the awe-inspiring factory of the famous and somewhat wacky Willy Wonka.  One by one, Charlie’s peers accidentally disappear throughout the factory as they display their various personality faults —leaving only humble Charlie to win the ultimate prize.

 

The Academy of the New Church’s production was executed with a sense of childhood wonder. Although slow to start, excitement built as the humorous personalities came together at Wonka’s factory for an unforgettable experience.  Each cast member brought a unique characteristic to the stage, keeping each moment of the light-hearted story fun and fantasy-filled.

 

Willy Wonka, played by Connor Dunlap, took the stage with a vengeance and captured his audience with his colorful costume and personality, personifying this magical candy maker to a tee.  Topped off with his iconic purple hat, Dunlap graced the stage with a sense of familiarity as he dealt with the eccentric crowd touring his chocolate factory.

 

Overall, this interpretation of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was true to form.  All the gluttonous kids were spot on, although sometimes becoming a little too overbearing; overshadowing other characters.  Luke David interpreted Mike Teavee fabulously in a modern and easily relatable way as he spewed various elements of “pop culture,” his only education.  In addition, Haley Brock made her role memorable as the accurate nighttime newscaster, Matilda Eveshim, as she realistically announced the sugar-coated daily news.  Although these modern touches made one question the actual time period, they added a comical and new spin to the tale.

 

The set was beautifully decorated, complete with a chocolate waterfall, adding another fantastical feeling to the play.  The stage crew was barely noticeable, with quick set changes in a pitch black theatre.  The costumes were a highlight of this play. The oompa loompas were decked out in glowing green suits with pointed purple hair, true to their quirky character.  Although some of their songs were a tad slow, pacing-wise, the comical costumes made it worthwhile.

 

The Academy of the New Church’s production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” successfully carried the audience down the twisting and turning Chocolate River of their own magical candy-coated dreams of childhood.

 

 

by Alison V. of Souderton Area High School

Lindenwold High School

The rich, indulging smell of chocolate, magical “eat-able” creations designed for perfection, and the wacky antics from the mysterious Oompa Loompa’s are some of the intriguing sights and sounds that one may witness and imagine while viewing The Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

 

The story was written by Roald Dahl in 1964, where he recollected upon his childhood, in which he witnessed rival candy companies attempting to find out the secrets of one another, and potentially ruin others success. In the novel, we learn of Willy Wonka, a creative yet unusual candy maker, and his idea of finding a naturally good hearted person to give his factory to. Charlie Bucket, one of five golden ticket winners, manages to make his way through obstacles thrown at him and comes out to be victorious.

 

 

Overall, The Academy of the New Church did a delightful job in recreating this production. Effective elements gave the audience a clear picture of the World of Wonka. Although there were some lags between lines in the first act, the cast demonstrated positive energy the whole time. Connor Dunlap (Willy Wonka) brought endearing charm to his character while remaining humble toward cast members, and the boyish simplicity of Richard Glenn’s role (Charlie Bucket) was a nice element to the production.

 

Performances that stood out were by Luke David (Mike Teavee) as he presented an electronic-obsessed, insomnia sufferer. He maintained comedic quirkiness as well as good chemistry with his counterpart, Leanna Zecher, who played his mother. In addition, Marybeth Bond (Veruca Salt), added feistiness to the show with her smart remarks and sassy attitude.

 

Featured actress, Haley Brock (Matilda Eveshim), the anchor, added a fun touch to the cast, as well as featured actor Clay Cronlund (Grandpa George) who had comedic appeal. The ensemble, Oompa Loompa’s, were a nice touch to the atmosphere of the production.

 

On the technical edge, stage crew was extremely effective with a disciplined sense of how to run things on and off stage. The make-up and costumes also added an effective touch. Although the clothes seemed to have mixed time periods, it added extra color to the stage, and the makeup aged the characters to perfection.

 

Overall, The Academy of the New Church school’s production was respectable and captured the essence of the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

 

by Victoria C. of Lindenwold High School