In one week’s time, the high school gym will be transformed into a home for sweets, as the Jasper Junior/Senior High School’s drama students bring Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to life.
The musical, which will closely mirror the first film adaptation of the book, follows the story of Charlie Bucket. Bucket—played by Casey Salanski—is a young boy growing up in extreme poverty with his parents and his bed-ridden paternal and maternal grandparents.
Despite his position in life, the young boy does his best to remain positive—even when his father loses his job, and especially when his idol, the famed chocolatier, Willy Wonka, announces a competition that will see five lucky children tour his famous factory.
To win this amazing prize—as well as a lifetime supply of chocolate—the kids have to find one of five golden tickets hidden in Wonka’s chocolate bars.
Following the news of the contest, it doesn’t take long before children begin finding tickets around the world.
First it’s Augustus Gloop—played by Laramee Desjardins. Then it’s Veruca Salt—played by both Cheyenne Henderson and Elena Kellis. Then Violet Beauregarde—played by Sadie Howe—and finally Mike Teavee—played by Stella MacMahon.
With only one ticket left, Bucket—who has nearly given up hope—finds his own and runs home to share the news with his family.
With his ticket in hand, Charlie and his Grandpa Joe—played by Kiana Boisvert—skip off to the factory to be whisked away into a mesmerizing world of experimental treats.
It is there that they meet the world-renowned Willy Wonka—played by both Jaymes Schmidt and Sydney Kirychuk—and the adventure really begins.
Two weeks before showtime, drama and music teacher Jonathan Thornton was beaming with pride as he talked about the show.
“In my five years here, this is our first musical, and everybody’s pulling their weight, memorizing their lines and throwing themselves into the singing and dancing.
“They’re killing it!”
The students chose the play back in December, after looking through a number of scripts and narrowing their choices down to three. Thornton said he likes to let the students decide because that way the show becomes theirs, and they take ownership over it.
And, according to Thornton, that’s just what’s happened. The students have been putting their all into rehearsing, perfecting costumes and making sets and props that will bring the show together on May 14 and 15.
“I couldn’t ask to work with a better group of people,” he said. “The sets, props and costumes are going to be awesome, and the cast itself is stellar.
“You’re going to miss something big if you don’t get to see this show.”
To purchase tickets, talk to a student in the show or drop by the high school office.
Nicole Veerman
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