Tim Minchin’s Matilda has been an astounding hit the world over and I’m sure composer Mark Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman hoped for equal success with their long-awaited Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Roald Dahl’s “deliciously dark” tale follows the young Charlie Bucket whose chocolatey adventure certainly lends itself to the stage. An imaginative story of gleeful gluttony and exaggerated characters, this magical sugar-fuelled story cannot help but capture the minds of theatregoers young and old.

Housed in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, it is Mark Thompson’s elaborate set and costumes that remain in my mind after the final curtain. The chocolate garden with an army of live squirrels and a team of hilariously peculiar Oompa-Loompas is a sight to behold. I couldn’t help but think the production costs for this show must have been in the millions.

The cast rise to the challenge, and the five young children are particularly convincing. I was amazed by their confidence and conviction of character creating these roles on stage for the very first time.

My senses were so overwhelmed I almost forgot about the importance of a musical’s script and music. Aside from the familiar song ‘Imagination’, the other songs are catchy but not memorable, similar I guess to the film.

I am sure Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will satisfy the appetite of all children, and I cannot deny it truly is a spectacle. But for slightly older musical theatre fans the impressive visuals may highlight the weak score in comparison.

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