‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ next week
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. >> There are a lot of reasons to want to see “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the musical that comes to Proctors in Schenectady next week.
For one thing, it’s based on the beloved 1964 Roald Dahl story that was made into a popular film. Renamed “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, it featured a memorable performance by Gene Wilder in the title role.
Indeed, it’s the kind of story that seems ideal for a musical. It revolves about five youngsters who each win a Golden Ticket to tour a chocolate factory. With the exception of the kind Charlie, the other kids all have a fatal flaw, which leads to their comic demise.
Throw in the Oompa-Loompas — little puppet-humans who run the factory — there is a lot of potential for fun in the material.
Another reason the show should interest local audiences is that it features the choreography of Joshua Bergasse. Summer theater fans should be familiar with Bergasse’s talent from his work at Barrington Stage Company. In a recent telephone interview, he estimates he’s been involved with about seven shows at the Pittsfield, Mass. theater company — either as a dancer or a choreographer.
His last two were as choreographer for the popular “Pirates of Penzance” and for “On the Town,” which transferred to Broadway. He was also the choreographer for their recent production of “The Royal Family of Broadway.”
He calls Barrington Stage “a wonderful place for artists” and acknowledges his work for “On The Town” helped establish his Broadway credentials. It was an important step in what is now a flourishing career. Despite his success, he is still connected with Barrington Stage and hopes to return as early as the 2020 season.
His work with both “Pirates of Penzance” and “On the Town” featured strong, muscular performances. He laughed and said that his dancers “frequently remind me of that.” However, his work for “Chocolate Fac- tory” is more varied. “The only thing they really have in common is joy. I love to find the happiness in a scene through dance,” he says.
He does admit to one trait found throughout most of his choreography. “I love to throw props,” he laughs. In one show he used baseball bats. He ups the ante in “Chocolate Factory” having the dancers throw axes in the Bavarian number. “It’s not as danger- ous as it sounds,” he says reassuringly.
Overall, he describes the choreography in “Chocolate Factory” as “diverse. No two numbers are alike,” he says. He explains that the young
girl Veruca is now a budding ballerina, which provides for some classically influenced dance. Augustus is from Bavaria which lends itself to an ethnic-influenced number and Violet is a YouTube pop singer – enough said.
However, his voice goes up an octave when he speaks of the Oompa-Loompas. “Working with them in the rehearsal room was so much fun. It was so collaborative, with one great idea following another. We have some special numbers with them.”
Bergasse says fun and work should be synonymous. He says the most important trait he looks for at an audition is “a person who likes to work and is willing to contribute. I want people with whom I want to spend time with. If I have to be in the room with someone 8 hours a day for three months I want it to be with people I like and who are creative.”
Bergasse’s own creative needs are moving towards directing. His next project is directing and choreographing “I Married an Angel,” for a run at Encores in NewYork City, March 20-24. It is a rarely produced 1938 Rodgers and Hart work that is described as “A drawing room comedy, with serious extended dance sequences.”
On the topic of casting people with whom you want to spend time in the rehearsal room, Angel will feature Sara Mearns, a star with New York City Ballet. She is Bergasse’s wife.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at Proctors, Schenectady. Feb. 26 - March 3. For schedule and ticket information calls (518) 346-6204, proctors.org