Just the Ticket: Cast of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ gets ready to bring children’s classic to Lyndhurst
Nov. 6, 2024
By Farah Afifi
Staff Writer
Lyndhurst is in for a treat as the children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will come to Lyndhurst Middle School’s stage on Nov. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m., with tickets costing $10.
Director Ms. Coppola, who has been directing LHS’ plays since 2005, said she is excited to bring the much-loved classic by Roald Dahl to life.
“It’s a story that everyone remembers, and I think everyone knows the movie, or if they do not know the movie, they have read the book,” Coppola said.
In the play, Charlie Bucket and his Grandpa Joe obtain a golden ticket, allowing them to join a small group of contest winners who get to tour the magical and mysterious factory of candymaker Willy Wonka.
Coppola said students will also enjoy seeing the show because it is entertaining.
“We see people punished for bad deeds and rewarded for good deeds, so it’s the typical ‘the good guys win in the end’ kind of story,” Coppola said.
She said there are several reasons she selected “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” as this year’s play.
“I was hoping for a title that would encourage a lot of people of all ages to come out and see the show, and… I expected a lot of participation from the freshmen because the middle school shows are so popular,” Coppola said. “So, I thought a show that could expand and contract depending on the amount of interest would be a good choice.”
“It’s a story that everyone remembers, and I think everyone knows the movie, or if they do not know the movie, they have read the book.”
Coppola said this is the approach she took last year in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” when she added more Christmas carolers because a lot of students were interested in being part of the play.
Taking on one of the lead roles in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is sophomore Joey Romeo, who will play the kind and curious 11-year-old Charlie Bucket.
Romeo said his favorite part of being involved in the play has been attending rehearsals.
“Everyone is nice this year. The [actors] are good. [The cast is] able to make everything go through smoothly,” Romeo said. “Everything looks great so far.”
Romeo said he has grown as a person from taking on the role of the play’s protagonist.
“I’ve really gained a lot more compassion for people, and I really understand what some people may have and what some people don’t,” Romeo said. “So, it’s just me realizing, ‘Okay, I need to be nicer, especially to people who may not have as many things as [I] do.’”
Senior Nathaniel C. Hughes, who started acting in LHS’ plays last year, was cast as Grandpa Joe.
Hughes said his favorite aspect of his role is that it allows him to be on stage without having an overwhelming number of lines to memorize.
“I just like being up there, and it’s very fun to just not say anything but still react to what’s happening,” Hughes said.
He said the most challenging aspect of his role is mastering the voice of Grandpa Joe.
“Nailing down the voice, that’s the one big challenge so far,” Hughes said. “I’ve just been listening to [Jack Albertson], the guy who played Grandpa Joe in the original [1971] movie.”
Hughes said this play is significant to him because it will be his last before graduating from LHS.
“I’m looking forward to it a lot, and I’m going to have a great time,” Hughes said. “I do not think it’s really sunken [in] that after this, I’m probably not going to do another performance unless I do something in college.”
