Two of the original stars of the hit film Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory will appear at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of a musical parody based on a Glasgow event that left parents fuming and children in tears.
Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen, who played Veruca Salt and Mike Teevee in the 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder, will co-narrate the stage reading of Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody.
The show is based on the doomed Willy’s Chocolate Experience, which sparked headlines across the globe in February after being advertised as a “chocolate fantasy” where “dreams become reality” – but instead turned out to be a sparsely decorated warehouse where children were limited to a couple of sweets and a quarter of a can of limeade.
Willy’s Chocolate Experience was brought to a halt on its opening day. Pic: Stuart Sinclair
The £35-a-ticket experience was brought to a halt on its opening day as frustrated parents demanded their money back and called the police.
The cast of the parody was unveiled on Monday afternoon, with a bill that also includes Shelley Regner (Pitch Perfect series), Eric Petersen (Shrek The Musical), Nicole Greenwood (In Plain Sight), Wilkie Ferguson (Motown: The Musical), Cassandra Parker (Cabaret) and musicians Monica Evans and Chris Villain.
The show, created by US producer Richard Kraft and directed by Andy Fickman, will run at the Pleasance King Dome from 9-26 August.
The cast of the 1971 film Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. Pic: THA/Shutterstock
Ms Cole will narrate between 9-18 August, with Mr Themmen taking over between 19-26 August.
Julie Dawn Cole. Pic: Willy’s Candy Spectacular
Paris Themmen. Pic: Willy’s Candy Spectacular
The pair will also be joined on stage by Kirsty Paterson, who became a viral hit after pictures emerged of her as a sad Oompa Loompa at the Glasgow event.
Pic: Willy’s Candy Spectacular
The organisers said there may even be a few “unknown” surprise guests, which could be a reference to teenager Felicia Dawkins.
She played The Unknown at the original event – an evil chocolate-maker who lived in the walls of the factory – and has since gone on to terrify more children at London Dungeon.
The Unknown/Felicia Dawkins. Pic: London Dungeon
Producer Mr Kraft said: “It was only in March that I came up with the notion for a stage musical.
“I had a press release before I had a show. Then a great team of top songwriters wrote our score of 16 tunes.
“Next, the perfect director, Andy Fickman, signed on. And now our dream cast has assembled to premiere this crazy idea at the Edinburgh Fringe.
“Even in my purest imagination, I couldn’t have seen this all coming together so beautifully and so fast. It is simply scrumdiddlyumptious.”
Pic: Willy’s Candy Spectacular
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A number of tracks from the show have already been released.
The latest is titled Lower Your Expectations, penned by Emmy nominee Riki Lindhome and sung by Fletcher Sheriden.
The song revolves around Willy holding a press conference the day after the event is shut down, “delivering a masterclass in the art of the non-apology apology”.
The producers of the show have emphasised the musical is a “parody production” and there is no involvement from organisations that own the copyright to Roald Dahl’s book Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and its different adaptations.
It is also “not sponsored, endorsed by or affiliated” with House of Illuminati, the organisation behind the Glasgow event.
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Director Mr Fickman said: “I feel like Willy Wonka himself standing at the gates to the factory with this remarkable cast all arriving with their golden tickets ready to perform.
“Working with this glorious cast in this dreamy musical is already a joy, but to add the original Veruca Salt and Mike Teevee to the mix – my head is having an explosion of sweet treats.”
