Dannyka Manangan

REVIEW: 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical' delights Manila with Filipino twists and magical staging

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>There is a reason why <em>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</em> continues to capture hearts, decades after Roald Dahl first introduced readers to the imaginative world of Willy Wonka. Beneath the colorful candies, magical inventions, and one-of-a-kind characters is a simple story about hope, kindness, and believing that even the biggest dreams can come true. </p><p>Now staged for its Manila run by GMG Productions, <em>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical</em> brings that timeless story to life with dazzling stagecraft, memorable performances, and enough magic to leave both children and adults smiling long after the curtain falls.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/7/11/exclusive-karylle-shares-what-she-finds-most-rewarding-about-being-in-theater-1127"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Karylle shares what she finds most rewarding about being in theate</strong></a></div><p>The story follows Charlie Bucket (Oliver Wong), a kind-hearted young boy who lives with his mother Mrs. Bucket (Karylle), Grandpa Joe (Steve McCoy), and his other grandparents. Despite growing up poor, Charlie never lets hardship take away his imagination. His greatest wish is to meet the legendary chocolatier Willy Wonka (Michael Dalke) and one day enter the world of chocolates.  </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:560px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783928821725Michael Dalke, Oliver Wong, and the Golden Ticket Winners in the Chocolate Room.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo Credit: GMG Productions</span></span></span></div><p>When Willy Wonka announced that five lucky children who will discover Golden Tickets hidden inside his chocolate bars will get the chance to tour his mysterious factory, Charlie believes fate may finally smile upon him, and it did.  </p><p>Joining Charlie inside the factory are Augustus Gloop (Sam Nackman), whose endless appetite constantly gets the better of him, together with his mom Mrs. Gloop (Jorie Janeway); Veruca Salt (Allison Gann), a spoiled little girl who expects she will get everything she wants through the power of her father Mr. Salt (Brandon Grimes); Violet Beauregarde (Giselle Amarisa Watts), a determined young performer whose father Mr. Beauregarde (Darren Lorenzo) dreams of turning her into a superstar; and Mike Teavee (DJ Plunkett), a gadget-obsessed child who would rather spend time with screens than people, even his mom, Mrs. Teavee (Kelly Brandeburg).  </p><p>As Willy Wonka guides the children through his extraordinary factory, each of them learns that greed, pride, selfishness, and obsession all come with consequences, leaving Charlie&#x27;s kindness and humility shining the brightest. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783928891626Michael Dalke and Oliver Wong Outside the Factory Gates.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Oliver carries the production with remarkable confidence. His portrayal of Charlie is sincere, lovable, and wonderfully curious, making it easy for audiences to root for him from his opening number. Whether singing &quot;Willy Wonka! Willy Wonka!&quot; or the warm &quot;A Letter from Charlie Bucket,&quot; Oliver captures both the innocence of childhood and the determination of a dreamer who refuses to give up despite life&#x27;s challenges. Cohen Toukatly alternates in the role of Charlie. </p><p>One of the production&#x27;s emotional anchors is Karylle, who proudly represents the Philippines as the only Filipina in the international cast. </p><p>As Mrs. Bucket, she delivers one of the show&#x27;s most touching performances. Rather than portraying a mother defined only by poverty, Karylle gives Mrs. Bucket quiet strength, warmth, and unwavering love for her son. Her rendition of &quot;If Your Father Were Here&quot; beautifully expresses the heartbreak of a mother who wishes she could give Charlie everything he dreams of while struggling to provide even the family&#x27;s daily needs. </p><p>Her chemistry with Oliver is equally touching. Their scenes together feel genuine, and the production even incorporates subtle Filipino touches into their mother-and-son relationship. These familiar moments resonate with local audiences, making the Bucket family feel even closer to home and reminding viewers of the respect and affection commonly seen in Filipino households. </p><div><strong></strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dam-PUbgOjj/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A19625976.7%2C%22ls%22%3A634828.7000000002%2C%22le%22%3A635350.7999999998%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="511" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783929645383Karylle.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783929662161Karylle 2.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p><strong><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></strong>Steve brings infectious energy to Grandpa Joe, whose optimism never fades despite the family&#x27;s hardships. His performance during &quot;I&#x27;ve Got a Golden Ticket/Grandpa Joe&quot; together with Charlie becomes one of the production&#x27;s most heartwarming but fun moments, perfectly capturing the excitement of finally seeing Charlie&#x27;s dream come true. </p><p>Meanwhile, leading the magical journey is Michael who perfectly embraces Willy Wonka&#x27;s eccentric personality with effortless charm. His version of the famous chocolatier is mysterious, playful, unpredictable, and endlessly imaginative. He balances childlike wonder with witty dark humor that lands particularly well with adult audiences, while remaining delightfully entertaining for younger viewers. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px;display:block" width="500"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783928937506Michael Dalke as Willy Wonka.jpeg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="500"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo Credit: GMG Productions</span></span></span></div><p>One of the evening&#x27;s biggest surprises comes when Willy Wonka suddenly sings a familiar Filipino song, an unexpected moment that instantly drew cheers and laughter from the Manila crowd. </p><p>The humor throughout the musical works on multiple levels. Children will enjoy the colorful visuals, playful comedy, and larger-than-life characters, while adults will appreciate the clever jokes and subtle comedic moments woven into the script, especially by Willy Wonka and the parents of the Golden Ticket winners. It is the kind of family production where parents can laugh just as much as their children. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:560px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783928974168Michael Dalke and the Golden Ticket Winners Contract Signing.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo Credit: GMG Productions</span></span></span></div><p><strong> </strong>The four Golden Ticket winners also deserve praise for bringing distinct personalities to the stage. </p><p>Sam fully embraces Augustus Gloop&#x27;s uncontrollable love for food, making his greed both amusing and memorable. Alongside him, Mrs. Gloop showers her son with endless affection, unintentionally encouraging his unhealthy habits instead of correcting them as proven during their performance with long meters of sausages.  </p><p>Allison makes Veruca Salt every parent&#x27;s nightmare. Loudly demanding with her Russian accent and impossible to satisfy, Veruca constantly gets her way because her father, Mr. Salt, simply cannot refuse her anything. Their relationship cleverly illustrates how constantly giving in to every child&#x27;s demand can shape entitled behavior. </p><p>Giselle shines as Violet Beauregarde, delivering strong vocals in &quot;The Queen of Pop&quot; while portraying a young girl constantly pushed toward fame by her father, Mr. Beauregarde. His obsession with turning Violet into a star says just as much about him as it does about his daughter. </p><p>Meanwhile, DJ&#x27;s Mike Teavee perfectly embodies today&#x27;s screen-obsessed generation. Constantly glued to gadgets and technology, Mike reflects how children can become disconnected from reality when consumed by the digital world. His mother, Mrs. Teavee, amusingly enables many of his habits, once again reinforcing one of the musical&#x27;s recurring themes that parents play a major role in shaping who their children become. </p><p>What makes these characters particularly enjoyable is that each is introduced through musical numbers that reflect their personalities. Songs like &quot;More of Him to Love,&quot; &quot;When Veruca Says,&quot; &quot;The Queen of Pop,&quot; and &quot;That Little Man of Mine&quot; allow every performer to showcase impressive vocals while giving audiences a clear picture of each child&#x27;s strengths and flaws before entering the factory. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px;display:block" width="500"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783929044529Michael Dalke, Oliver Wong, and the Golden Ticket Winners.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px" width="500"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo Credit: GMG Productions</span></span></span></div><p><strong> </strong>Once the factory tour begins, the production becomes an absolute feast for the senses. </p><p>The stage immediately transports audiences into Willy Wonka&#x27;s whimsical universe. What truly sets the production apart is how immersive the experience becomes. Through massive projections that extend beyond the stage and onto the theater walls, audiences do not  simply watch Charlie&#x27;s adventure, but they also feel as though they have stepped inside the famous chocolate factory themselves. Every wall bursts with color, oversized sweets, moving visuals, and clever illusions that make the theater feel larger than life.   </p><p>Adding to the spectacle are Willy Wonka&#x27;s magic tricks throughout the production. Each illusion is executed seamlessly, leaving audiences wondering how they were done while keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. The surprises come one after another, making the experience feel as unpredictable as Willy Wonka himself.  </p><p>The Oompa Loompas are among the production&#x27;s biggest scene-stealers. Brought to life through intricate puppetry and the ensemble&#x27;s synchronized movements, they are mesmerizing to watch. Their fluid choreography makes the puppets appear lifelike, creating the illusion that actual Oompa Loompas are dancing across the stage. Combined with their musical numbers, they become one of the show&#x27;s most magical theatrical achievements.  </p><p>One particularly unforgettable sequence is &quot;Veruca&#x27;s Nutcracker: Sweet!&quot; The choreography, staging, and black giant squirrels with red eyes create one of the musical&#x27;s most visually creative moments. However, it is also arguably the production&#x27;s darkest sequence. Compared to the other children&#x27;s humorous punishments, Veruca&#x27;s encounter with the squirrels may be a little too intense for very young viewers. While it remains brilliantly staged, parents of younger children may find it slightly more disconcerting than expected. </p><p>Beyond its visual spectacle, the story remains its sweetest ingredient. </p><p>Beneath all the chocolate, candy, and colorful spectacle is a reminder that imagination is worth protecting, especially in a world that often asks people to stop dreaming. Charlie&#x27;s journey is not simply about finding a Golden Ticket but also about choosing kindness over greed, humility over entitlement, and hope over hardship. Each child who enters the factory represents a different lesson, while the adults beside them show how parenting can either nurture good values or unintentionally encourage bad habits. It makes the musical entertaining for children while giving parents meaningful takeaways to reflect on after the show.  </p><p>In the end,<em> Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical</em> is much like one of Willy Wonka&#x27;s creations, all filled with sweetness, surprises, and a little bit of mischief. More importantly, it reminds audiences of all ages that dreams are never too big, imagination should never be forgotten, and sometimes the greatest reward belongs not to the luckiest person, but to the kindest one. </p><p>This Manila staging offers a golden ticket to an unforgettable theatrical experience, one that will have both kids and adults leaving the theater believing, even just a little, in pure imagination. </p><p><em></em>Presented by Broadway International Group and Broadway Asia, in association with AMA Group of Companies and GMG Productions, <em>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical</em> runs until July 26 at the Theatre at Solaire.</p>

<p>'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical' runs at the Theatre at Solaire from July 8 to 26. </p>

'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical' runs at the Theatre at Solaire from July 8 to 26.