The Carlyle Elementary School (CES) presented their rendition of Willy Wonka Kids on Friday, May 12. The play, which is based on the book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” by Roald Dahl, was this year’s CES’s “One Book, One School.”
The musical showcased the talents and hard work of the grades 4 – 6 students as five golden ticket holders took the audience on a journey through Wonka’s peculiar factory. In the end, only Charlie Bucket makes it through to the end with his grandfather, but a somber Willy Wonka bids him adieu. However, Charlie decides to apologize for his behaviour in the factory – having sampled one of Wonka’s new products without permission as others had on the tour. Wonka then exclaims that Charlie passed the test and would inherit the Chocolate Factory.
Willy Wonka was played by Jaiden Riddell; Candy Man by Darcie Rae; Charlie Bucket by Vashti Wardrope; Mrs. Bucket by Lainey Levesque; Mr. Bucket by Payton Spry; Grandma Josephina by Logan Procyk; Grandma Georgina by Karsyn Gervais; Grandpa George by Halle Schutz; Grandpa Joe by Tyra Newell; James by Madison Goudy; Matilda by Ashlee Lenius; Phineous Trout by Abby Franklin; Augustus Gloop by Memphis Hunt; Mrs. Gloop by Brianna Sharp; Veruca Salt by Kassidy Schultz; Mr. Salt by Lily Cormier; Violet Beauregarde by Zadie Gervais; Mrs. Beauregarde by Brityn Baker; Mike Teavee by Sawyer Tomaszewski; Ms. Teavee by Nevaeh Whitebull.
The Candy Kids and Squirrels were played by Chace Blunt, Samantha Colpitts, Liam Thompson, and Kori Knelsen.
The Oompa-Loompas were portrayed by Katelyn Rutten, Myla Faber, Laila Magapacal, Nika Dustyhorn, Keira Brown, Margaret Boyko, Syah Sutherland, Hyra David, Reinne Lafigeura, Makenna Slykhuis, Kirsten East, and Alyssa Bee.
CES set design and crew included Daphne Asuncion, Hayley Rutten, Ruby Parker, Tisheya Kennedy, Elizabeth Lenius, Shacal Taypotat, Erica Shepherd, Forever Shepherd, Denasia Big Eagle, and Leelah Kakakaway.
At the end of the evening the students presented the teachers which included set design directors April Eberts, Sherry Zacharias, Carrie Rutten, and Natalie Bloomfield, as well as music/stage directors Melissa Roy-Brown, Beth Kelloway, Krystal Fehrenbach, Lindsay Greve, Carrie Dureault, and Justine Kyle.
Special thank you’s were also given to Dianne Twietmeyer with Cornerstone Theatre for her assistance with the microphones, GFK High School for use of their stage equipment, and Devon and Brent Stephanson for building the backdrop and the chocolate pipe used in the show.
The talented group of students did an exceptional job having memorized substantial dialogue and numerous songs as well as a variety of dances and movements throughout the production. Riddell, who played Wonka, particularly caught the audience’s attention during the song “Pure Imagination,” with a spectacular rendition, while Vashti Wardrope who played Charlie had wonderful stage presence. Laughter abounded for Memphis Hunt who played Augustus Gloop perfectly. Overall each and every single youth involved in the production did a wonderful job bringing the show to life, including the efforts of those backstage.
CES plans on hosting musicals each spring and was very happy with the way the first annual production turned out.
