Carlynton’ s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in December brought record audiences to four dynamic performances. The imaginative play appealed to young and old and a gifted cast brought scenes to life inside a most peculiar chocolate factory. From spoiled children with outrageous behavior to flamboyant Oompa Loompas and flying characters, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory did not disappoint.
The story line follows the lives of five golden ticket winners and their parents as they are led on tour through a mysterious chocolate factory. The business, owned by Willy Wonka, operates under the effort of short humans called Oompa Loompas. Four of the five ticket winners succumb to temptation during the tour. Augustus Gloop( Stuart Dougherty) falls into a river of chocolate, Violet Beauregarde( Alexis Dixon) expands into an oversized blueberry, Veruca Salt( Rachel Welsh) is tossed away as a bad egg, and Mike Teavee( Kurtus Mastandrea) is shrunk to a few inches in height and transported into space. Only the unassuming Charlie Bucket( Jaimee Cabili) is saved from disaster and wins the grand prize, becoming heir to the factory.
The show’ s success can be credited to Director Tonilyn Jackson whose critical eye shaped and guided the unique talent of the cast. Production Assistant Tracy Post organized all marketing and ticket sales for the play and oversaw the selling of advertisements for the program book. The beautiful scenery, with oversized candy creations and a twisting slide, was created under the direction and vision of Art Director Michelle Dzurenda. The lighting, sound, make up, costumes and choreography all contributed to a performance of pure imagination and wonder with a twisted moral tale of luck, gratitude and family values.
“ A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.” – Willy Wonka
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CARLYNTON SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Left page, clockwise from top right: 1 Cast as the spoiled and selfish Veruca Salt, sophomore Rachel Welsh offered a sassy introduction in the opening scene of the play, explaining why she, above all others, deserved a golden ticket; 2 The modest Bucket family gathered around the family bed to watch as Charlie Bucket, played by Jaimee Cabili, opened a chocolate bar in hopes of finding a golden ticket. Members of the Bucket family included Brandon King and Kayla Wilson( standing) as Mr. and Mrs. Bucket, Kyle Auth as Grandpa Joe, Hannah Clark as Grandma Josephine, Zavier Helbig as Grandpa George and Natalie Latta as Grandma Georgina; 3 Grandpa Joe( freshman Kyle Auth) and Charlie( freshman Jaimee Cabili) read the fine print on the back of a winning golden ticket before meeting other ticket winners outside the gate to the chocolate factory; 4 Lucky golden ticket winner Augustus Gloop and his mother Mrs. Gloop delighted in the prospect of touring a chocolate factory. Seniors Kassi Longstreth and Stuart Dougherty portrayed the roles with a zeal for chocolate; 5 Veruca Salt( Rachel Welsh) stomped, screamed and barely tolerated her father, Mr. Salt, played by sophomore Nathan Latta. The anguished Mr. Salt made every attempt to appease his sulking daughter as they prepared to meet Willy Wonka; 6 The five lucky golden ticket winners gathered before the gates of the Willy Wonka factory, each proclaiming an entitlement to the prize, save for the unpretentious Charlie Bucket, center; 7 Violet Beauregarde and mother, Mrs. Beauregarde, brag about their competitive spirit and chances of winning the grand prize. Violet, played by sophomore Alexis Dixon, boasts to her mother, junior Eliana Davis, that she has been chewing the same piece of gum for nearly a year; 8 Reporters from WCHS, Samantha Story and Terry Teller, followed the five lucky golden ticket winners on their journey of finding a golden ticket and during the tour of the candy factory. Seniors Kalista Heidkamp and Makayla Rittmeyer portrayed the inquisitive reporters, an adaptation to the narrative conceived by the show’ s director( Mrs. Jackson); 9 The bizarre Willy Wonka, played by junior John Cantwell, is perplexed by golden ticket winner Mike Teavee’ s fanatic devotion to gaming. Junior Kurtus Mastandrea perfected the role of Mike Teavee. His hovering and doting mother, Mrs. Teavee, played by senior Rachel Roach, nervously clung to her son’ s side during the factory tour. This page, clockwise from top: 10 Willy Wonka( John Cantwell) lured everyone into his chocolate fantasy world by cunningly pulling the strings to provide life lessons to all of the“ lucky” golden ticket winners; 11 The lovely Mrs. Beauregarde( Eliana Davis) is surrounded by the Oompa Loompa Squad as they prepare to style her hair. When the transformation was complete, Mrs. Beauregarde was shocked to discover her lovely locks were fashioned into a pink beehive of cotton candy; 12 Grandpa Joe( Kyle Auth) and Charlie( Jaimee Cabili) become airborne inside the chocolate factory after tasting a special tonic created by Willy Wonka. In other scenes, Willy Wonka also flew above the stage as he created mayhem inside the factory; 13 Wonka( John Cantwell) shares an intimate moment with good friend Mr. Slugsworth who secretly set a trap for the golden ticket winners that would ultimately unveil the truest heart of the five. Senior Zachary Smith depicted the role of the the assumed villain; 14 Headlining the performance as WCHS studio reporters were Diane Fine and David Darlington, played by sophomore Tara Wade and senior Tyler Smith. In Act Two, the duo packed up their belongings when fired from the job because they did more squabbling than reporting of the updates of happenings inside the chocolate factory.
Carlynton-Montour | Spring 2017 | icmags. com 37