One of my favorite assignments is reviewing plays, and I always look forward to Chocachatti Elementary’s productions. I’m constantly blown away by the polished performances of even the youngest actors. Their latest show was “Willy Wonka,” a musical based on the classic Roald Dahl story, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Several times a year, the Specials teachers—Rhonda Bowers (Dance), Irmarie Kraft (Drama), and Nancy Kraus (Music)—work for weeks with the students preparing them for their performances. A new addition to the group this time was third-grade teacher Donna McCane, who, along with her crew, created the colorful stage set.
Fifth grader Hadley Baroudi starred as the titular character, Willy Wonka. Hadley is an experienced actor, having been in a number of plays at Chocachatti and several at Stage West. She loves acting and wants to make it a career. “I want this to be my future self,” she states.
The best part of the role is that “he [Willy Wonka] is funny and mysterious. At some points, I can be super serious, and at other points I’m funny. I do some improv lines and I make them really funny.”
On the other hand, it was somewhat challenging to portray a boy, and she had to speak in a deeper voice and develop male characteristics. “I’ve really tuned into my ‘inner Wonka,’” Hadley remarks.
Payton Egan, another fifth grader, plays one of the main characters, Charlie. She has also appeared in other Chocachatti productions. Like Hadley, she wants to pursue acting when she gets older. “I like how he’s poor and the kid that needs it [the winning ticket] the most, got it.”
Third grader Madison Sirvent portrays Veruca Salt, one of the children hoping to find the golden ticket. Veruca is a “spoiled brat,” as Madison puts it, and that’s her favorite aspect of the role. Her facial expressions are priceless, as she “hams it up” as the spoiled rich girl. “I had to do a British accent and I worked really hard on that,” says Madison.
The rest of the cast are great in both the small roles and the bigger parts. Fifth grader Aliyah Danet has two roles. She plays Grandma Georgina and a squirrel. Aliyah gets to sing, dance and say a few lines.
Especially entertaining is the dance she performs with Grandpa George, played by Karson Jimenez, as well as the dance performed by Grandma Josephine (Sophia Galindo) and Grandpa Joe (Clarence Clark). These were the “Peppermint Twist” and “Sugar, Sugar” ones that the Baby Boomers in the audience could relate to!
Lily White, a fifth grader, plays Augustus Gloop, the overweight boy who, because of his greed, falls into a river of chocolate. “I like that he’s funny to look at,” says Lily, but admits that memorizing the dances was “a little hard.”
Fourth grader Kinsley Gore has dual roles. She portrays Willy Wonka when he was younger and a Candy Kid. Kinsley states, “I liked studying the lines.” Spoken like a true actor!
Clarence Clark, a fifth grader, plays Grandpa Joe. He’s serious about theater and has been taking acting classes at Stage West. He likes performing a lot of different dances. “It’s overwhelming but in a good way,” Clarence remarks.
Mila Janowski Booker plays the mother of Violet Beauregarde (Mackenzie Herod), one of the other contestants for the Golden Ticket. After chewing a huge stick of blueberry-flavored gum, her daughter inflates into a giant human blueberry. She states that “my character fits me,” which is probably why learning the lines is one of her favorite aspects of the part.
The children who play the other contestants and their parents get into their roles, as well. Mr. Salt, played by Alex Vermette, portrays the hapless father of Veruca and can only grimace when Veruca throws one of her tantrums. Jeronimo Rodriguez Martinez plays Mike Teevee, the little boy who is addicted to television and his video game. He’s accompanied by his mother, played by Annabel Gray. And poor Mrs. Gloop, played by Mia Zarillo, is horrified when her son becomes a large chocolate blob.
Then there are Mr. and Mrs. Bucket, played by Joey Mangual and Francesca Rios. They display humility and hope when Charlie is in the running to inherit the chocolate factory by finding the golden ticket.
There’s a large supporting cast made up of Oompa Loompas, Candy Kids, TV reporters, giant squirrels, and Charlie’s grandparents.
Fifth grader Myra Piercy plays an Oompa Loompa. She acted in preschool and several plays at Chocachatti. Myra enjoyed her part because, “I think they’re funny and they’re awkward to be around. It was challenging because I had a lot of things I had to do on stage.”
Adalyn Danet, a third grader, portrayed one of the Candy Kids. Like most of the others, she’s had acting experience at Chocachatti. Although Adalyn has participated in many dance competitions, she found learning the dances to be challenging.
One actor who was not a student at Chocachatti was Christopher Kraft, the drama teacher’s son. Although he had only a small part as the original Candy Man, his clear voice singing “The Candy Man” (what else?), accompanied by young Willy (Kinsley Gore) and the Candy Kids, was a nice way to tie the past with the present.
Some of the students who were not on stage had an opportunity to perform important jobs backstage. Fifth grader Joseph Gosnell worked on the lights and helped make and repair some of the props. “My favorite part is being backstage and seeing the show from a different perspective,” Joseph stated.
Fourth grader Adaleigh Schlechter also helped make and repair some of the props and assisted with costume changes. “I like making the props and I like being able to say I was in the ‘Willy Wonka’ show,” she remarked.
It’s a testament to Ms. Kraft’s, Ms. Kraus’, and Ms. Bowers’ teaching abilities (and patience) that the entire performance was seamless.
