With Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical on its way to Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, John Byrne catches up with Gareth Snook, who plays the iconic Candy Man, Willy Wonka.
I remember reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was about eight or nine years old. Roald Dahl’s tale of the impoverished Charlie Bucket, mysterious chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka, and a motley crew of spoilt kids had me spellbound.
Then there was the 1971 film, starring Gene Wilder as Wonka. More recently came the 2005 Tim Burton remake, starring Johnny Depp as a much creepier Wonka. The almost inevitable musical followed.
And, of course, there's Wonka, a third film based on the tale that's due out just before Christmas.
Before that, a new production of the West End and Broadway smash hit musical is heading to Dublin, just in time to be this Yuletide’s ultimate night out. I can’t think of a better way to end the year, really.
You must know the story. The story's hero Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to feast on the most amazing sweets, while experiencing Wonka’s inner workings.
But - of course - the five lucky winners discover that not everything is as sweet as it seems.
The latest stage show features songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the iconic 1972 film such as The Candy Man and Pure Imagination as well as new numbers by the composer and lyricist of Hairspray and Mary Poppins Returns, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Gareth Snook’s been a West End regular for decades and here he plays the legendary Willy Wonka. His lengthy list of credits include The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard and Made in Dagenham, Aspects of Love, My Fair Lady and Assassins and Company.
He most recently appeared in Wise Children and Bagdad Café, while his other credits include the UK national tours of The Full Monty and Martin Guerre.
He’s been on the road with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical since February ("We’re having a blast," he says) and keenly looking forward to the Irish leg of the tour.
John Byrne: Hi Gareth. I presume that – like pretty much everyone else – you were familiar with Roald Dahl’s book and the original film before you landed the Willy Wonka role?
Gareth Snook: Yeah. It’s strange actually. I didn’t read the book until I got offered the role. Roald Dahl didn’t make it to my house and I’m the youngest of five siblings.
Of course I’m old enough to have seen the film when it first came out, where Gene Wilder played the role of Willy Wonka. I’m a huge fan of Gene Wilder. And the Johnny Depp film was a completely different take on it. They took a few liberties, didn’t they, with the narrative.
It’s such an iconic role – and naturally you want to make your own mark on the character.
Of course. And playing Willy Wonka in a musical theatre is very different to doing so in a film. For a start, you’ve got to think of the 2,000 people present in the theatre.
Therefore, you need to have a completely different take on it, in order to achieve that. Because the audience has to be on Willy’s side. So you’ve got to find ways of getting them on your side so that they’re willing to come with you on this journey.
He’s got a wicked sense of humour, Willy – that's why I love him. And I use that quite a bit to get the audience’s trust.
Willy’s very much a child’s idea of what an adult running a chocolate factory would be like.
He can relate a lot more to children than he can with adults. He’s far more interested in children than he is in adults. And that’s why he gets so disappointed when the kids come to his factory.
‘Don’t play with the giant squirrel’ or ‘Don’t put that gum ion your mouth.’ ‘Don’t go into the chocolate waterfall.’ I always think that it’s fairly obvious that you wouldn’t do those things. And because those children are spoiled and entitled, they don’t listen to him. It’s a factory! It’s dangerous!
Would you have a favourite character amongst the kids?
It would be too obvious of me to say Charlie. I really quite like Veruca Salt. Sheis so spoilt! And he gets so exasperated, of course.
When she says, I want one of those squirrels, and he just goes ‘No!’ And nobody has ever said ‘no’ to Veruca Salt. And he says it about four times and enjoys watching her being bemused by somebody saying ‘no’ to her. So he enjoys that, thinking: ‘Well, here’s your comeuppance.’
You’ve been on stage for something like the last 40 years, and appeared in so many hugely successful and iconic shows - so how does playing Willy Wonka rate amongst all the roles you’ve played?
It has to be up there as one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. Strangely enough, Willy Wonka, people always ask me what would be your favourite character you’ve played, but Willy Wonka, it never really occurred to me until my agent called and said that they want you to go and meet them to see about playing Willy Wonka.
And it wasn't until I started looking at it and rehearsing it, then I realised I can understand why they asked me now because – as a director once said to me – I don’t know where Gareth ends and Willy Wonka begins!
I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment or not!
And the songs aren’t bad either!
Well, there’s Pure Imagination, which is the most famous song. Which I adore. I love it. I love singing that every night. It’s wonderful.
And there’s Candy Man, of course. Which is also wonderful.
And then there’s a whole host of other songs, which the American writers have composed, which are absolutely wonderful too. I’d say there’s something for everyone in there. Violet Beauregarde sings this kind of poppy song – because she’s the queen of pop – and that’s a marvelous song.
And Veruca’s song. She and her dad have this song where she ends up doing this ballet routine, which is very, very funny.
Willy Wonka has this wonderful song at the top of Act Two, which is extraordinary. It’s about eight minutes long, and it’s where he’s introduced to the families for the first time.
As I said, it’s got something for everyone. It’s wonderful.
And you lot are basically coming to spend Christmas in Dublin.
I’ll tell you what – I can’t wait to come, by the way. We’re there for five weeks as it’s running through Christmas and the New Year. Everyone is really excited about it.
I was over in Dublin earlier this year to open the Bloom Festival, where the BGET organised a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory garden. And the people there were so friendly. So I’m really excited about coming.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical plays at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from December 5 to January 4. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.ie, while Circle Club and Hospitality Bookings can be made via + 353 (01) 674 2407 www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
