Berkshire on Stage

As a millennial, I grew up on the works of Roald Dahl. His books occupied a permanent place on my bookshelf, but none more so than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I read it countless times, captivated by Dahl’s peculiar blend of whimsy, satire, and just the right amount of darkness. While the various film adaptations have each found their own audience, I’ve always preferred the Wonka who lives on the page: brilliant, unpredictable, delightfully absurd, and just eccentric enough that you’re never quite sure whether to laugh at him or be slightly intimidated by him. That wonderfully off-kilter characterization is what first made me fall in love with the story.

Playhouse Stage Company‘s production understands that version of Willy Wonka. Rather than softening his eccentricities, it embraces the delightful oddness that defines Dahl’s original creation. Wonka (Steve Raymond) remains mysterious, mischievous, and occasionally bewildering, yet beneath all of the theatricality lies a man capable of genuine compassion. The production never loses sight of the fact that Charlie Bucket (alternating performances by Logan Leach and Kinsley Tortora) is the emotional center of the story, and by allowing Wonka’s humanity to gradually emerge through his growing respect and affection for Charlie, the musical gives real emotional weight to their relationship. It is that balance between the bizarre and the heartfelt that makes this adaptation so successful.

One of the production’s greatest strengths is its understanding that Dahl’s story has always been more than a whimsical children’s adventure. Beneath the chocolate rivers, everlasting gobstoppers, and fizzy lifting drinks lies a timeless story about kindness, humility, and hope. Charlie’s unwavering optimism isn’t portrayed as naïveté, but as quiet resilience. In a world populated by selfish children and distracted adults, Charlie’s goodness becomes her greatest strength, making her eventual triumph feel deeply earned.

For those unfamiliar (it must be believed to be seen), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory follows young Charlie Bucket, a kind-hearted child whose family struggles to make ends meet but never loses sight of what truly matters. When the reclusive candy maker Willy Wonka announces that five lucky children who discover Golden Tickets hidden inside chocolate bars will win a tour of his mysterious factory, Charlie unexpectedly finds herself among them. Joining her are four less-than-admirable children (each accompanied by equally indulgent parents) whose shortcomings become cautionary tales as they journey deeper into Wonka’s extraordinary world.

The Bucket family provides the show’s emotional anchor, reminding audiences that Charlie’s greatest fortune has never been a Golden Ticket but the love that surrounds her at home. The grandparents (Emma Therlot, Abbie Anderson, Andrew Calvacca), despite their circumstances, bring warmth and humor, creating a family dynamic that feels both heartfelt and authentic.

Grandpa Joe (David Baecker), in particular, becomes Charlie’s perfect companion through the factory. A child at heart (and former Wonka employee) whose wonder is every bit as infectious as Charlie’s own. Their shared excitement transforms the tour into something more than a sightseeing expedition. It becomes an adventure viewed through two generations discovering magic together. Their relationship grounds the production emotionally and provides some of its most genuinely touching moments.

Of course, Charlie’s fellow ticket holders are every bit as memorable. Augustus Gloop (Luke Buff) and his ever-dotting mother (Ellen Cribbs) are especially delightful, embracing the larger- than-life comedy that Dahl intended. Their scenes are wonderfully over-the-top without becoming cartoonish, making Augustus’s insatiable appetite and his mother’s unwavering encouragement feel as funny as they are ridiculous. The remaining children and their parents each embody their own exaggerated flaws, creating an entertaining parade of personalities whose inevitable comeuppances are met with laughter and applause. Collectively, they serve as perfect foils to Charlie’s quiet goodness, reinforcing the story’s timeless moral without ever feeling heavy-handed.

I will admit to one reservation, though it has less to do with Playhouse Stage’s production than with the American version of the musical itself. Having had the privilege of seeing the original London production, I found myself missing one particular storytelling choice. There, Wonka remains an unseen, almost mythical presence throughout the first act. Like the characters themselves, the audience spends much of the evening imagining the man behind the factory gates, making his eventual entrance feel both inevitable and magical. The Broadway adaptation instead introduces Wonka at the very beginning. While this certainly clarifies the narrative, it also diminishes some of the anticipation surrounding one of literature’s most fascinating eccentrics. For a character whose mystique is such an essential part of his appeal, I found myself wishing the American production had trusted audiences to wait just a little longer before revealing its biggest surprise.

Thankfully, once the factory doors finally open, any lingering reservations disappear as the production becomes an absolute feast for the imagination. The creative team deserves tremendous praise for transforming the stage into Wonka’s fantastical world (Benny Pitt). Rather than relying solely on spectacle, the production ensures that every scenic transition and technical effect serves the storytelling. The result is a world that feels both magical and surprisingly tangible.

The ensemble deserves enormous credit for maintaining the show’s infectious energy from beginning to end. They effortlessly populate Dahl’s eccentric universe, shifting seamlessly between townspeople, factory workers, squirrels, inventors, and countless whimsical inhabitants of Wonka’s world. Even in moments when the principals command the spotlight, the ensemble remains fully engaged, creating a richly detailed world that rewards the audience no matter where they choose to look.

Particular praise must be given to the production’s interpretation of the Oompa Loompas. They are among the story’s most iconic characters, yet also among its most difficult to stage effectively. This production finds a wonderfully inventive solution, using clever visual design and costuming (Danica Martino) to create Oompa Loompas that feel both playful and, in their best moments, a bit sinister. Each appearance was met with audible delight from the audience, and their familiar moral lessons landed with wit, humor, and just enough mischief to remind us why these characters have remained so memorable.

Perhaps what impressed me most was how sincerely this production embraces the heart of Dahl’s novel. For all its eccentricity and spectacle, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remains a story about recognizing goodness when it appears in unexpected places. Wonka’s growing admiration for Charlie never feels sentimental. It feels like someone who has spent a lifetime surrounded by greed finally encountering genuine selflessness. That emotional thread grounds the production, giving the candy-coated adventure a surprising amount of warmth.

For those of us who grew up devouring Roald Dahl’s books, Playhouse Stage Company has created something genuinely special. It captures the peculiar absurdity, sharp wit, and boundless imagination that made Charlie and the Chocolate Factory such an enduring classic while never losing sight of the humanity at its center. Whether you’re revisiting a childhood favorite or introducing the story to a new generation, this production offers an evening filled with laughter, wonder, and just enough theatrical magic to make you believe, if only for a couple of hours, that there really could be a chocolate factory where anything is possible.

Playhouse Stage Company presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Book by David Greig, Music by Marc Shaiman, Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Songs from the Motion Picture by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Directed by Chuck Kraus, Musical Direction by Jake Goodman, Choreographed by Ashley-Simone Kirchner, Stage Managed by Macayla Roberts, Scenic Design by Benny Pitt, Costume Design by Danica Martino, Lighting Design by David Heguy, Sound Design by Joey O’Neill, Production Management by Emma Cunningham and Properties Design by Gabby Mason.

Featuring Steve Raymond as Willy Wonka, Logan Leach or Kinsley Tortora as Charlie Bucket, Isabel Chistonl as Mrs. Green, David Baecker as Grandpa Joe, Carolyn Dunbar as Mrs. Bucket, Emma Therlot as Grandma Josephine, Andrew Calvacca as Grandpa George, Abbie Anderson as Grandma Georgina, Hayden Chennette as Jerry Jubilee, Elizabeth Bazinet as Cherry Sundae, Luke Buff as Augustus Gloop, Ellen Cribbs as Mrs. Gloop, Ciara Scannell as Veruca Salt, Josh Romeo as Mr. Salt, Ella Galdamez as Violet Beauregarde, Lancelot Douglas as Mr. Beauregarde, Aaron Wood as Mike Teavee, Luca Verner as Mrs. Teavee, and Beatriz Arevalo, Isabel Chistoni, Carlos De La Cruz, Josh DeMarco, Aidan Echeandia, and Kara Jean Spindle as Oompa Loompas, Townsfolk, Gum Chompin Divas, Reporters, Squirrels and more.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory runs June 26 to July 18. Performances are at the Cohoes Music Hall, 58 Remsen Street, Cohoes, New York. Tickets and additional information are available through Playhouse Stage Company. https://www.playhousestage.org/