Children's Theatre presents 'Willy Wonka' at Elgin's Hemmens center

In a cold barn west of Elgin, a dozen or so parents gathered every night for weeks to build a giant gumball machine, a huge cauldron, an 8-foot TV set and a pink candy boat big enough to hold several children.

These oversized props and a cast of 82 kids take the stage this weekend at Hemmens Cultural Center when Children's Theatre of Elgin opens a whimsical, wonder-filled production of "Willy Wonka Jr."

Willy Wonka, of course, is the elaborate story of an eccentric candy maker who invites five children - the finders of five golden tickets hidden inside his famous candy bars - to tour his fantastical confectionery factory. For one very special day, Wonka opens the doors to these prizewinners and their parents, promising them a lifetime supply of chocolate at the end.

But not all the children are, shall we say, of stellar character, and the candy man manages to wrap the tour in some startling life lessons.

That's one of the reasons producer Lena Scheflow particularly likes this show.

"It just teaches kids about character and morals that everyone should follow in their daily life," Scheflow said.

"It's all about hope," director Jen Prise added. "I just don't think kids get enough positive influences.

"It's good in a show like Willy Wonka that we're not in a fantasy land," Prise said. "I think it's easier for kids to relate to (the story) when it's in sort of a real world scenario as opposed to these fantasies."

Actually, "Willy Wonka" is a bit of both, as fans of the original Gene Wilder movie ("Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," 1971) or the updated Johnny Depp version ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," 2005) can attest.

No, indeed, you've never seen a factory quite like this one. When Prise conceived a design for the set, she had in mind a kind of Rube Goldberg machine, "and so we have all these bits and pieces that do separate things," she said.

The gumball machine is so big they're using yoga balls to represent the gum.

The candy boat that takes the children through a tunnel will be wheeled across stage in a special black light effect with children's white-gloved hands creating a sense of wave motion.

Prise, a full-time theater freelancer, also did the show's lighting design. Vocal director is Jessie Rzeszutko, and the choreographer is Elisabeth McCoy. Tony Panico's crew put wood and nails to Prise's stage design, and Fran Mitchell headed the costume committee.

The biggest challenge in this show is the music, Prise said - there's a lot of it. In fact, the Oompa Loompa actors have four songs with unique lyrics and choreography, but each uses the same tune. Even though the Oompa Loompas are short characters typically played by short people, Prise found the songs confusing enough that she decided to cast older kids on their knees.

And it's working. The kids are able to keep the words straight better than she can, she said.

Adam Horn said he has his own lyrical challenge playing Charlie Bucket, one of the five children on Willy Wonka's magical mystery tour. A seventh-grader at the Einstein Academy in Elgin, Horn has to rattle off names of Willy Wonka candy bars, like Wonka's Whipple Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight, without tying up his tongue.

But Horn is having fun. This is his 20th show with CTE and one of his favorites, he said. "The Oompa Loompas are kind of funny. It's just a fun show. All the little kids like it, and the parents like it."

For Alex Adams, Willy Wonka is his 30th show - his fifth with CTE - and the St. Charles East High School freshman enjoys playing the title role.

"I enjoy the fact that he is weird, and weird in a good way," he said, "not in a bad way."

Adams said he prefers the original Willy Wonka movie over the remake but was influenced by both.

"I do a lot of Johnny Depp movements and the Gene Wilder voice," he said, "because the Gene Wilder voice didn't come across as creepy as the Johnny Depp voice."

This production is called "Willy Wonka Jr." because it's a bit shorter than usual, for school-age audiences, and singing ranges have been modified for school age actors. It features music from the original motion picture, including "The Candy Man."

A new video projector will illuminate the back of the stage with special graphics and will even include bouncing ball lyrics just like in the 1971 movie.

And if you're wondering about that nasty Violet Beauregarde, who balloons up like a blueberry in the movie versions, you'll just have to check out "Willy Wonka Jr." at the Hemmens to see how CTE pulls it off.

If you go

What: Children's Theatre of Elgin's production of "Willy Wonka Jr."

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24 and 25; 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26.

Where: The Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin

Tickets: $10 for adults, $8 for students or seniors.

Call: (847) 931-5900

<div style="float:right;margin:0 0 6px 0;"> <div class="moreHeader"> More Coverage </div> <div class="moreHolder"> <div style="margin:6px;text-wrap:auto;"> <div class="moreSubHead"> The cast </div> <div class="moreText"> <p class="News"><B>Bartlett:</B> Andrew Brhel</p> <p class="News"><B>Batavia:</B> Claire Heronemus</p> <p class="News"><B>Crystal Lake:</B> Riley Coduto</p> <p class="News"><B>East Dundee:</B> Elliot Simmons</p> <p class="News"><B>Elburn:</B> Madison Kleba, Matthew Michelson, Lauren Neslund, Tracy Suppes</p> <p class="News"><B>Elgin:</B> Andrew Anderson, Alexandra Barth, Joseph Beaty, Tanner Bednar, Jennifer Bohner, Sarah Brandes, Alex Buhrow, Chloe Burkhart, Cameron Coffland, Allison Dulabaum, Haley Dulabaum, Maddie Dulabaum, Katarina Dutra, Jackie Evans, Amelia Gill, Erin Granger, Chantel Gust, Maddie Hayes, Coby Ilani, Tali Ilani, Michael Jakubowski, Brailey Kerber, Emily Lamp, Sonya Mack, Alyssa Maldonado, Sofia Mari, Janine Martin, Maxwell Moring, Allison Reynolds, Grace Rockenhauser, Stella Rockenhauser, Sarah Scheflow, Alexis Schrepple, Hannah Schutzkus, Paige Shockey, Emma Sirridge, Nico Sirridge, Owen Sirridge, Ellie Soosloff, Annika Spayne, Abigail Steffen, Hannah Stultz, Johnathan Stultz, Melissa Trudrung</p> <p class="News"><B>Gilberts:</B> Grace Minogue, Massimo Ranallo, Tatiana Ranallo, Valentino Ranallo</p> <p class="News"><B>Huntley:</B> Kevin Kline</p> <p class="News"><B>Lake in the Hills:</B> Courtney Mills, Nicholas Mills</p> <p class="News"><B>Sleepy Hollow:</B> Adam Horn, Blasé Horn, Kiana Horn, Wesley Horn, Isabella Romano, Max Romano</p> <p class="News"><B>South Elgin:</B> Courtney Bender, Olivia Loechner, Brianne Panico, Haley Panico, Angelo Schutt, Annamarie Schutt</p> <p class="News"><B>St. Charles:</B> Alex Adams, Jessica Blakely, Emma Gulstine, Mallory Mroz, Arreyellen Salyards, Julia VanPetten, Katelyn VanPetten</p> <p class="News"><B>West Dundee:</B> Nicole Curatti, Madeline Donatelli, Amy Gorkowski, Collin Gorkowski</p> </div> <B></B> </div> </div> </div>