Willy Wonka—Eastside Theater Company—Gresham, OR

                   Sugar High

    This classic children’s tale by Roland Dahl is adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald, with music and lyrics by Bricusse and Anthony Newley, directed by Liz Bertsch, choreographed by Sarah Rose and musical direction by Josh Johnson.  It is playing at the Springwater Church of the Nazarene, 3445 SE Hillyard Rd. in Gresham and runs through March 8^th.  For more information, go to their site at www.eastsidetheater.com

    This is based on Dahl’s book and on the very good film, with Gene Wilder as Willy (ignore the awful Tim Burton translation).  It is a darker story of Youth (as were most of the original fairy tales), as they were meant to teach children lessons in behavior, that if we were not good, something bad would happen to us.  But most have been Disneyfied now for easy consumption.  This cautionary tale still retains some of the original darkness, with a media freak, a glutton, a spoiled whinner and a self-centered brat taking the stage.  And, yes, a hero, too, who proves that compassion and honestly are still the best policies (a lesson world governments need to learn).

    Charlie (Noah Feldmann-Parks) comes from a poor but loving family.  But Charlie is determined to better their situation by winning one of five golden tickets hidden in Wonka Chocolate bars and winning a year’s supply of free chocolate (not really a great message today with our overweight population problem), plus a tour of the mysterious factory in which they are made.  The first four are quickly found by a snooty little girl who always gets her own way, Veruca (Bethany Bjorklund); an equally obnoxious, gum-chewing brat, Violet (Amanda Bjorklund); a glutinous boy, who lives to eat, Augustus (Lucas Buren); and a TV/digital freak, Mike (Ezra Johnson).

    So, Willy Wonka (Simeon Johnson) has his work cut out for him when he leads them on a tour of his factory, run by his workers, the squirrels and Oompa Loompas.  Needless to say, they all get their respective just deserves in the end.  Don’t want to ruin it for you, so will have to leave it at that.  You’ll have to see for yourselves how it all comes out.

    The marvelous songs are still there, including Pure Imagination and The Candyman, both sung by the amazing Johnson, who plays Willy.  They all have their moments to shine with solos, especially the little dynamo, Bjorklund as Veruca, and Buren, as Augustus, with his I Eat More rendition.  Featured players, Anderson Green as Charlie’s father and Ethan Golden as Grandpa Joe, do nice turns in character roles.  And Feldmann-Parks as Charlie is a dream, in both his vocals and acting.  He has a career ahead of him in this field, if he so desires.  And Johnson, as Willy, is a marvel!  I can’t say enough good things about him.  He is so perfect as the character, that you want to join him in his world.

    The choreography by Rose, having to deal with so many bodies, in so many dances, is a miracle, as she does wonders with these young folks.  Johnson keeps the music from overpowering the actors and does well with a difficult score and dealing with young people following it.  Bertsch has done an outstanding job of making the impossible, possible!

    I highly recommend this production.  Trust me, It’s well worth your time to make the trip to see these amazing young folks wow you…and they will!  If you do see it, please tell them Dennis sent you.

--DJS