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Kids bring energy, imagination to Willie Wonka JR.

May 9, 2014 by Methow Valley News

Charlie (Myles Davis, right) can hardly believe it when Wonka (Morgan Tate, right) reveals his plan to retire. Photo by Darla Hussey
Charlie (Myles Davis, right) can hardly believe it when Wonka (Morgan Tate, left) reveals his plan to retire. See gallery below for more photos.
 Photo by Darla Hussey

By Marcy Stamper

The Merc Playhouse has whipped up a gooey confection, Willie Wonka JR., for its spring musical, with the entire 32-member cast between the ages of 8 and 18, and many of the props created by young people.

“The kids have been rolling through their imaginations, bringing all this to life,” said director Missi Smith. Willie Wonka JR., which opens Friday (May 9), is Smith’s directorial debut at The Merc, although she has choreographed many shows at the theater, appeared on stage, and directed plays for the Methow Valley Theater. The show is also the Merc’s first children’s musical production.

The script combines the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl and two movie versions, and includes many musical numbers from the films. It follows five children (each of whom found a winning gold ticket inside a candy bar) on a tour of Willie Wonka’s candy factory. Four of the five are spoiled brats; Charlie (played by Myles Davis, in his first role at the Merc) is a hard-working boy from a poor family who tours the factory with his grandfather (played by 9-year-old Nicholas White).

Along the way, some of the children can’t contain their appetites and ignore Wonka’s rules, landing in some amusing predicaments (and in some sugary vats and other sticky messes).

With the elaborate sets and props that move on and off the stage—everything from a chocolate-smelting pot to a fizzy floatation drink to a TV that swallows one of the kids—Smith said assembling the show had been almost like choreography. “It’s motion-heavy,” she said.

The cast studied the book and both movies and drew on the elements they liked best to animate their roles, said Smith. They also devised an ingenious and charming back-story for the 21 Oompa-Loompas, the legion of workers at Wonka’s factory, she said.

Many of the actors are on stage for the first time, but some are veterans of both acting and directing at the theater, including Morgan Tate, who plays Wonka. All the adult roles—various sets of parents and grandparents, some of whom join the candy-factory tour—are played by kids.

The production draws on the talents of many youths and adults around the community. The Liberty Bell High School welding class helped construct the television, the construction-tech class built movable set pieces, and the art class built the candy boat. Community members constructed the candy man’s cart and chocolate-smelting pot. “They also painted a colorful, crazy Wonka-world backdrop,” said Jane Hubrig, the Merc’s managing director.

High school senior Dana Anderson is handling costumes as her senior project. Other young people are doing lights and sound for the show.

In addition to the regular performances, the cast will present selections from the play for elementary school students in two special performances at The Merc.

This will be the last chance to see the show on stage before a production is staged on Broadway next year and rental rights are suspended, said Smith.

Willie Wonka JR. runs from May 9 through 18, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for those 18 and under. A pay-what-you-can performance will be held on Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m.

G A L L E R Y

 

 

Prior to beginning rehearsal, director Missi Smith leads the cast through a series of warm-up exercises. Photo by Darla Hussey
The Oompa Loompas look to Wonka (Morgan Tate) for direction. Photo by Darla Hussey
Morgan Tate plays Willie Wonka. Photo by Darla Hussey
Wonka and the Oompa Loompas perform one of many musical numbers. Photo by Darla Hussey
Wonka (Morgan Tate) goes incognito as the candy man. Photo by Darla Hussey
Wonka (Morgan Tate) goes incognito as the candy man. Photo by Darla Hussey
The Bucket family faces a series of difficulties. Photo by Darla Hussey
All golden ticket developments are reported by the media. Photo by Darla Hussey
Charlie (Myles Davis) encourages his father to think positive. Photo by Darla Hussey
Charlie (Myles Davis) encourages his father to think positive. Photo by Darla Hussey
Violet cannot resist gum. Photo by Darla Hussey
Mike T.V. is enthralled by the technological aspects. Photo by Darla Hussey
Charlie’s grandpa (Nicholas White) helps Charlie (Myles Davis) unwrap his second attempt at finding a golden ticket. Photo by Darla Hussey
Wonka (Morgan Tate, right) goes to great lengths to make sure Charlie (Myles Davis) gets just the right Wonka bar. Photo by Darla Hussey
Charlie (Myles Davis) reacts with disbelief when he finally finds his golden ticket. Photo by Darla Hussey
Sound and light support is also being handled by local youngsters. Photo by Darla Hussey
The Oompa Loompas and Wonka (Morgan Tate) perform several musical numbers. Photo by Darla Hussey
As the play proceeds, the children begin to question Willy Wonka’s (Morgan Tate) mental state. Photo by Darla Hussey
Willy Wonka is played by Morgan Tate. Photo by Darla Hussey
There are 21 Oompa Loompas in the production. Photo by Darla Hussey
The many props and backdrops were created by young people as well. Photo by Darla Hussey
The props are primarily created by young people. Photo by Darla Hussey
The Oompa Loompas and the children who didn’t pass Wonka’s test perform entertaining — and educational — musical numbers together. Photo by Darla Hussey
Charlie (Myles Davis, right) can hardly believe it when Wonka (Morgan Tate, right) reveals his plan to retire. Photo by Darla Hussey
The golden tickets are key to Wonka’s plot to retire. Photo by Darla Hussey
The ensemble cast performs several musical numbers. Photo by Darla Hussey
In the end, Wonka (Morgan Tate) rewards Charlie’s (Myles Davis) good choices and ethical behavior by giving him the factory. Charlie’s grandfather (Nicholas White) and the Oompa-Loompas look on. Photo by Darla Hussey
The Oompa-Loompas are relieved to remove the wigs after the production is over. Photo by Darla Hussey
Director Missi Smith, left, listens closely to the young actors’ feedback after rehearsal. Photo by Darla Hussey

Filed Under: ARTS, PHOTOS Tagged With: children's theater, Drama, Merc Playhouse

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