July 10, 2026
Willy Wonka (Michael Dalke) was a master chocolatier who was well--known for producing the best chocolate bars in the world. One day, Wonka felt that he was getting old, and needed to find someone to take over his factory. He would like his heir to be someone like him, someone who loved chocolate and had the imagination to create with chocolate. To find someone, Wonka decided to open a chocolate shop in town, but he did not reveal his real identity.
Charlie Bucket (Oliver Wong) as a kid who lived with mother (Karylle Tatlonghari) and his four bedridden grandparents Joe (Michael Biren), Josephine (Mykall Philipps), George (Brett Cole Young)and Georgina (Emma Casertano). Chalie loved chocolate, but they were so poor, he was only able to eat a chocolate bar once a year on his birthday. He idolizes Willy Wonka, and longed to win one of five Golden Tickets in order to be able to take a tour inside his factory.
This story was first published in 1964 as a novel for children by Roald Dahl. Like most of his other books, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" also had elements of dark comedy and even the macabre that distinguish his work. While Charlie's poverty and kind heart was treated with sentimentality, the other kids who won the Golden Ticket represented cardinal bad behavior common among kids, and were punished accordingly in dark scenarios.
The first film adaptation "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (Mel Stuart, 1971) starred Gene Wilder, with a screenplay by Dahl himself. It was not a box-office success, but eventually became a cult favorite. A second film version released in 2005 under the original title was directed by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp. A third film, "Wonka" (2023, Paul King) starred Timothy Chalamet and gave Wonka a more fleshed-out backstory.
A musical version, with book was by playwright David Greig and original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, first opened in the West End in 2012. The touring production brought by GMG to Manila was the 2017 reworked Broadway version, that incorporated popular songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 1971 film. Local actress Karylle was cast as Charlie's long-suffering mother Mrs. Bucket.
As expected, the audience reacted warmly to the classic songs "The Candyman" and "Pure Imagination." "Oompa Loompa" was as irresistible an earworm as ever, to accompany the innovative puppetry technique used for them. Among the original songs, "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" and "Vidiots" were the catchiest, while Mrs. Bucket's "If Your Father Were Here" and Wonka's valedictory "The View From Here" were effectively sentimental.
The show is definitely rated PG, as it dealt with excessively entitled brats and how they were punished, quite disturbing for very young viewers. What happens to Augustus Gloop (Sam Nackman), Violet Beauregard (Giselle Watts) and Mike Teavee (DJ Plunkett) can still somehow be considered funny. However, I felt they went a bit too far for Veruca Salt (Allison Gann). Her fate at the hands the giant squirrels was very shocking and downright scary.
Of all the actors, it was the youngest cast member -- 10 year-old Oliver Wong as Charlie -- who really captured everyone's heart with his spirited acting and winsome smile. The way he delivered his lines was clear and delightful. The way he sang his solo songs like the adulatory "Willy Wonka! Willy Wonka!" and the wistful "Letter from Charlie Bucket" was soaring and endearing. Cohen Toukatly alternates in the role of Charlie.
The colorful projection backdrops brought the audience into Wonka's magical factory in 3D visual illusions. There were a number of simple magic tricks included in the narrative to keep the kids fascinated. There were some mature jokes to keep the adults entertained, especially in the character of beer-guzzling, pill-popping Mrs. Teavee (Kelly Brandenburg). In fact, a sip of her "lemonade" made Willy Wonka belt out a song with a surprise twist!
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"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: A New Musical" runs at the Theater in Solaire from July 8 to 26, 2026.
Tickets available on Ticketworld (LINK). Ticket prices for weekday shows (Tuesday to Thursday) range from P6877 (Orchestra Center, Premiere Gold Center), P5078 (Orchestra Sides Front, Premiere Gold Sides), P3703 (Orchestra Sides Back), P3174 (Balcony Center and Sides Front), P2645 (Balcony Center and Sides Back), P1587 (Balcony Center and Sides from Row SS back). For weekend shows (Fridays to Sundays), ticket prices range from P7406, P5819, P4232, P3491, P2962, and P2116.
The director of this touring production is Matt Lenz, with choreographer Alison Solomon, and musical directors Nate Patten and Greg Jarrett. The creative, design, and production team includes Mark Thompson (set and costume design), Christine Peters (tour scenic design), Jeff Sugg (projections), Rory Beaton (lighting), Mike Thacker for Orbital Sound (sound design), Basil Twist (puppet design), and Tim Clothier (illusions).
