Charlie And The Chocolate Factory presented by Emerald City Theatre at Apollo Theater

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"...The theme of the story is about imagining possibilities, but of greater import, it teached little ones about selfishness, greed and vanity versus kindness and goodness mixed with love. The kids get to see that listening and following rules are very important in their life and after viewing this production, parents can take advantage of what they all experienced for discussion as to how these marvelous principles fit their own lives. Headed by Jake Carr as Willy Wonka and Hunter T. Davis as Charlie, this cast takes on many roles including being puppeteers and Kevin J. Beltz has designed a simplistic set that works to keep the focus on the story and characters over the glitz that we have seen in the movie versions. Rossella Nitti’s puppets are very clever and DJ Reed has done a remarkable job with the props."

Chicago Theater Beat - Somewhat Recommended

"...I suspect that children are smarter and more imaginative than this. Generations have survived fairy tales from Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson without lingering damage. This antiseptic approach to a similarly dark fantasy is doing a disservice to the tot set. I graduated from the illustration heavy tot books when my mom took me to see “Peter Pan” some 47 years ago. An imaginative production at a children’s theater made me want to read more or have it read to me and, yes, it tweaked my imagination. "