With positive thinking…nothing is Oompossible.
By David Conard
The world has changed dramatically in the 34 years that have
past since Gene Wilder’s 1971 introduction of “Willie Wonka”, a quirky
mischievous chocolate magnate and the 2005 revival of the role by Johnny Depp
in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.
What has remained the same for those generations, is the
reaction of children and audiences when they are whisked away in their
imaginations to a magical land of Oompa Loompas, chocolate rivers and gum that
never loses it’s flavor.
The cast and crew of Perkiomen Valley Middle School East
created just such an experience for the hundreds of friends, families and fans
that packed the auditorium for each performance.
From a working Gob Stopper machine, more than 70 Oompa
Loompas to the nut-sorting conveyor, the breathtaking scenery and clever props
helped transport theatergoers to the world of Willy Wonka, played by 13
year-old Justin Sansone, and brought them along with him in his search for a
deserving child to inherit his chocolate empire.
Sansone was riveting as the man donning the purple jacket
and bowler hat, delivering the extensive dialog with the wit and timing of a
seasoned veteran. “I really love it,” said Sansone. “It is so much fun being
some one that is very different than you really are. It is just so much fun
being out there in front of all of people and seeing them smile.”
Charlie, the lucky young man who “happens to find the last
golden ticket on the last day of the contest” or better known to his friends in
Vikings nation as sixth –grader David Moran, sang and danced his way into the
hearts of onlookers as he showed that “thinking positive” no matter how tough
life gets, often leads to unexpected joy. “I am so excited to play Charlie,” said
Moran. “I love the singing the most, I was very nervous when I first got the
part but everybody has really been helpful and supported us all.”
As the five golden ticket winners Charlie, Veruca Salt
(Rachel Nielsen), Augustus Gloop (Bill Bianco), Mike TeeVee (Nate Morris) and
Violet Beauregard (Alexa Ross) wind their way down the path of misfortune in
the chocolate factory “specially designed to tempt them” it becomes evident
that even a good hearted deserving boy can make a mistake as Charlie sneaks a sip
of the fizzy pop and finds himself flying toward a huge fan along with his
Grandpa Joe (Peter Makoid). In the end Charlie admits his blunder and as a
reward for telling the truth (the moral of the story) he is chosen by Wonka to
be his successor.
“This experience has been great this year,” said Rachel
Nielsen, who is already looking forward to the drama productions at the high
school level next year”. “A lot of younger kids have some really good parts,
which is great. The crew and directors have been amazing to work with.”
It goes without saying that a show like “Willy Wonka” with a
cast of more than 150 middle school children, countless scene and lighting
changes, dozens of microphones to be checked and hundreds on yards of thread to
make and mend the incredible costumes, requires unbelievable effort from an
enormous army of parents and volunteers, but this group went above and beyond
and deserves a mountain of credit for such a first rate production.
“The highlights for me are the moments it comes down to,”
said director Kathy Gittelman. “These kids are really talented. There are just
moments, there’s a nice chord or they do the finale or golden ticket and you
see that they got it. That it gives me goose bumps. Without my husband David
and his support, I would be up that chocolate river over there with no boat.”
