Review: 'Willy Wonka' by NewArts

NewArts
Rise Above. Go Beyond.

Bethel, CT - NewArts, the theatrical wing of the Newtown-based 1214 Foundation, has done it again with their ninth production, an excellent rendition of ‘Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka.’ I am proud to report that I have reviewed each and every one of their eight previous musicals, sometimes two for the shows with double casts and I always look forward to seeing the two summer shows that the students of Newtown put together with a team of dedicated Broadway professionals. ‘Willy Wonka’ is simply the latest in the long line of high-quality, heartwarming musicals that will appeal to all ages.

Michael Baroody MD, the founder of NewArts, writes that the not for profit “helps children discover their strengths, develop their confidence and regulate their emotions to rise above and go beyond even the most difficult life challenges." Now in its fifth season, director Michael Unger has seen confidence grow and friendships blossom, and he has often heard how the summers with NewArts have helped students throughout their school year; the director of every NewArts show calls all this irrefutable proof of the power and wisdom of their founder’s wisdom, a program which I hope will be able to continue for many years to come.

‘Willy Wonka,’ based upon the Mr. Dahl’s book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ features music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and was adapted for the stage by Mr. Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald.

Broadway’s Jim Stanek (‘Indiscretions,’ ‘Fun Home’) came to Newtown for two weeks of rehearsal with the young performers in order to play a role that has been a dream role for him since childhood, that of the inimitable Willy Wonka. The Equity actor’s take on Mr. Wonka was a fun one that really allowed his younger co-stars to shine. At one point on opening night, he seemed to be ad libbing just a bit with them as they struggled to put on coveralls; the students kept right up with him and the results were very funny.

The young people got to play a host of zany characters on a wonderfully colorful set and they clearly had worked very hard together to put together another large cast, family friendly musical. Jacob Shuman gave a heartfelt performance as Charlie Bucket and sang well. Liv Deschenes exuded sweetness as Candy Man with her large candy cart. Lauren Young and Lexi Bisset played neighborhood girls Jane and Matilda. Sophia Soriano was a lovely Mrs. Bucket and Mark Sadowski did well as her husband. Meghan Taylor and Lauren Jacobs were Charlie’s grandmothers and Joe Soriano played his hard of hearing Grandpa George.

Charlie Dunn held the microphone as tv host Phineous Trout (“Trout out!”) Marty Dunn was Golden Ticket winner Augustus Gloop and Sammy Vertucci (‘A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream’) did very well as his German mother. Devin Murphy played the loud and spoiled Veruca Salt with Catherine Carvell as her enabling mother. Ava Baroody pulled off the role of the gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde very well with Paige Armstrong as her Southern mom. Jackson Amos was a very convincing Mike Teavee, who has too much screen time, with Rebecca Markowsky as his mother carrying an overloaded purse.

The chorus members were adorable and “on” every time they entered the stage, often as Oompa Loompas. I was glad to see that they got to sing in five numbers bearing their name in the second act, but they were at their best for the cleverly staged “Flying” with large white balloons.

Kristina Sneshkoff, in her fifth season with NewArts, designed the whimsical costumes that nicely set the tone of the production; I loved the oompa loompa’s wigs. Production manager G. Benjamin Swope designed the lighting that highlighted the performers, and Brian Kelly did both the sound and video design. Choreography by Jennifer Paulson Lee added just the right touch of whimsy; Ms. Lee also co-directed this production with Mr. Unger.

From my front row seat on stage left, I was able to appreciate fully the loving and beautiful direction of Music Director J. Paul Bourque (NewArts ‘School of Rock’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz.’) While the musical score was recorded, this young man knew every lyric and easily cued the singers throughout the two acts. Who conducts with a squirrel puppet on his baton? This MD!

All roles, except for that of Grandpa Joe (played delightfully by Michael Spanedda,) were double cast this year for this mostly younger student production; the opening night performance featured the Loompa Cast. The Oompa cast includes Jimmy Hunter as Charlie, Alexandra Knaggs as Candy Man, Anna Stutman as Jane, Jennifer Socci as Matilda, Sophia Soriano as Mrs. Bucket, Cawley DeStephan as Grandma Josephina, Katie Murphy as Grandma Georgina, Tain Gregory (‘ROCKIN’) as Grandpa George, Jordan Gomes as Phineous, Jordan Millet as Augustus, Madison Benson as Mrs. Gloop, Hannah Loutensock as Veruca, Nicole Kolitsas as Ms. Salt, Avery Siburn as Violet, Sabrina Spraggins as Mrs. Beauregarde, Gabriel Boston-Friedman as Mike Teavee, and Catarina Da Rocha as Ms. Teavee.

After the curtain call, Mr. Stanek spoke briefly about how his time in Newtown has touched him to the depths of his soul and asked us to spread the word. He then took a seat in the audience (right next to me!) while the young performers sang the brand new NewArts anthem. Created by the children and Mr. Bourque, the song is entitled “Rise Above Go Beyond” and this was its second public performance. The work is a beautiful representation of the 1214 Foundation’s mission and it needs to be recorded in the near future. UPDATE: A video of the students singing the new anthem is now available for viewing on NewArts Facebook page. Please check it out.

All performances are presented at Walnut Hill Community Church and begin with a prayer. Go out and support the young performers from Newtown and beyond and appreciate all the hard work that has gone into this production. Because the professionals and a record number of volunteers work tirelessly on a complex jigsaw puzzle they call “two shows at a time,” up next will be ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ Aug. 11-13. Coming in December will be the return of Charles Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ adapted by David Thompson and directed by Michael Unger.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417