Neuqua Valley High offers its version of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

In Neuqua Valley High School's production of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," five young Golden Ticketholders redeem their ducats for a tour through the fantastical production floor, but only one redeems himself.

"The others get opportunities to redeem themselves, but they never do. (Charlie) does," said Director Laura Dabezic, an English teacher at the Naperville school. "He makes a good choice."

Unlike Augustus Gloop, for instance.

"He's a glutton. He only wants to eat candy," Dabezic said.

His avaricious ways eventually lead to his downfall when he is sucked into a river of chocolate and disappears.

"I like to simply refer to myself as the fat German kid who falls into a chocolate river," said Conor Casey, the sophomore portraying Gloop. "He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He's just hungry - constantly."

While Casey said he's by no means a small person, he needs the help of a fatsuit to bulk up for his part as a chronic overeater.

Casey said he's pleased to be part of the show, a show Dabezic said she's wanted to present for the past three years.

"Mrs. Dabezic's got us all working like crazy, but it's worth it. We're there to help the director bring about their dream," he said. "It is bright. It is colorful. It is funny and it's really well put together."

Casey said he likes that the show allows for audience participation.

"We get the chance to talk to the audience. As far as these little kids are concerned, we are the characters," he said.

"It's a children's show for children. There's tons of interaction and participation," said Dabezic, adding that the interactivity potential is greatly enhanced by the set design.

The unconventional factory interior is depicted using a few theatrical devices, such as a three-story scaffold.

"We're doing a lot with special effects, special effects lighting," Dabezic said.

At one point, she said, it will appear to be snowing on the audience.

In addition to the main cast, there are also 215 children appearing on stage as oompa- loompas. In the Roald Dahl children's book and in the two movie versions of the story, oompa-loompas operate factory machinery. Dabezic said about 50 oompa-loompas will appear in each of the four performances.

Eccentric factory owner Willy Wonka is played by junior Bryson David Hoff.

"It's a very bizarre character," Hoff said. "His ideas are completely off-the-wall and not something you'd expect to find inside a factory. He's sort of a magician, is the way I see it."

Hoff said the story is a bit moralistic; the characters and their fates can and have been interpreted various ways on stage and screen. This production, he said, takes a decidedly light, fun approach.

"All of us have been trying to keep it as light as possible," Hoff said. "It is, at its soul, a children's story."

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

Who: Presented by Neuqua Valley High School students

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 10-11, 3 p.m. Oct. 11-12

Where: Neuqua Valley High School auditorium, 2360 95th St., Naperville

Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students and children

Info: (630) 428-6380 and www.ipsd.org

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