Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Granted, Roald Dahl’s dark and complex stories from the 1960s are not easy to adapt into family musicals, especially these days, and “Charlie,” where the second act mostly contains a powerful adult taking down some obnoxious kids, is particularly hard. But “Matilda the Musical” managed to create a wonderful show from this same author’s gestalt without compromising the J.K. Rowling-like honesty and sense of the macabre that endeared this writer to successive generations of kids."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...The Paramount version is not affiliated with the version that hit Broadway in 2017 nor the national touring version that followed soon after. Instead, it features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The original songs are good, but not nearly as catchy as the original score, which features favorites like “Candy Man,” “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” “Oompa Loompa Song” and “Pure Imagination,” which thankfully are also featured in this stage version."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...Several adjectives come to mind when describing Paramount Theatre's regional premiere of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Dazzling is one. Delicious, a reference to the gleefully outsize performances as well as the candy-coated visuals, is another."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...Trent Stork’s staging bursts with fine performances, most notably Stephen Schellhardt as Willy Wonka and young Meena Sood as Charlie Bucket. Sood alternates in the role with Charlie Long; the pronouns in the lyrics and lines at the performance I saw were changed to clearly depict Sood’s Charlie as a girl, which is just one refreshing update in this show."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Broadway In Aurora! That is probably the best way to describe the works that are produced at The Paramount Theatre of Aurora. Since its inception, we have seen one great show after another. Every season they prove to us that the City of Aurora made the right move in bringing the structure back to life and having Jim Corti and Tim Rater lead them in bringing quality work to their stage. I thank you and so do the thousands of theater-goers who watch the fabulous productions. On stage now is an amazing and breathtaking production of "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" with a book by David Greig , music by Mar Shaiman, and lyrics by Shaiman with Scott Wittman and songs from the motion picture by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Of course, the original novel was by Roald Dahl."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Roald Dahl's delightful, often dark and demented, novel from 1964 leaps to life in Trent Stork's fantastic, reimagined new musical production. It's the perfect production for the holidays and will appeal to kids of all ages, as well as the grownup for whom the child still resides in his heart. It's a soulful and inspirational story about a child whose imagination bursts with creativity. Dahl's fantasy gives hope to everyone, saying that with determination we can all live our dreams. Like his hero Willy Wonka, young Charlie Bucket views an empty notebook page as a launching pad for exploring his "Pure Imagination." Truly, this is one musical produced by a great theatre company, that should absolutely not be missed."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Somewhat Recommended
"...All that said, Trent Stork has a firm-enough hand on the material they have to work with and has done what they could—a lot in tandem with Schellhardt’s casting, no doubt—to ride out the more abrupt tonal shifts. (Schellhardt, lest it be lost in all this, is excellent—steely, yet as bendy as taffy.) The physical production is certainly a brightly-colored wow, particularly Jeffrey D. Kmiec’s go at the Wonka factory. And there are some delectable picks from the chocolate box of new songs—Wonka’s “It Must Be Believed to Be Seen”, which closes the first act and closes his guests inside the factory with him, is a vampily menacing koan that fits perfectly in the character’s mouth."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...When the curtain opens on Trent Stork's masterfully directed production, we are greeted by Willy Wonka's signature W curling at the back of the stage (and, like everything in this show, Jeffrey D. Kmiec's sets amaze us with how they fill the immense space the Paramount stage offers). Willy Wonka appears and Stephen Schellhardt instantly establishes his Wonka as perfectly imaginative, congenial, and creepy all at the same time. Schellhardt's bio indicates he is a Jeff award-winning actor and I could instantly see why as, despite Wonka's eccentricities and uncaring attitude towards Charlie, his magnetism drew me in. While it is hard to like Willy Wonka, it is hard not to as well."
Life and Times - Highly Recommended
"...The title of the show is “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, so you can imagine how important the character of Charlie is. For the Paramount production, the role is double cast with Meena Sood and Charlie Long. On the night of review, Sood delivered a knockout performance – deserving every decibel of the enthusiastic cheers from the audience that drowned out the orchestra during the curtain call. I’m told Long is every bit as dynamic and effective in his performances."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...The Paramount's exceptional production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will take you on a delicious ride you won't soon forget. The Paramount usually goes all out for its holiday productions, but this is above and beyond even its usual standards. From the exceptional cast, to the incredible set, direction, and choreography, this is a must-see production. Even if you usually go nowhere near Aurora, you need to get to the theatre to see this one."
