By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – When you think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, what comes to mind? Big Wonka bars? A river flowing with chocolate? Ice cream that never melts? How about chewing gum that never loses its flavor?
It's enough to give anyone a sweet tooth.
Beginning this Thursday and running through Saturday, the Tin Shop Theatre in Buchanan will bring this ever-so popular story to life, starting at 7:30 p.m. The play is being directed by David Ferrell.
Based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tells the story of a poor young boy, Charlie Bucket, (played by Stuart Coulston), who lives in a small home on the edge of a large city, with his mother and four bedridden grandparents. Charlie is a bright, kindhearted boy who loves his family despite their shared hardships. Apart from his family, his greatest love in life is chocolate. Due to his family's extreme poverty he only receives one bar a year on his birthday. Everything changes when Charlie receives the best gift any child could ask for – a golden ticket.
Willy Wonka, a famous candy maker, secretly hid five golden tickets inside his popular candy bars and to the lucky finders goes a personal escort around Wonka's amazing chocolate factory.
"It's fun. I really enjoy playing Charlie," 12-year-old Coulston said before the start of Tuesday's rehearsal. "My favorite scene has to be the last scene when I get to have the chocolate factory all to myself."
Coulston has been in a number of other plays, and said this one is a little different as it's a serious role. "Usually I get all of the funny roles, but I like this one. It's a new experience."
Meg Hein of Niles plays the role of Violet Beauregarde, a compulsive gum chewer.
"I get really sick of chewing gum by the end of the night. It gets hard and just is not fun to chew on anymore," Hein said.
Dori Prange plays the role of Veruca Salt, a down-right spoiled brat who always gets her way. "She's the complete definition of brat. But it's been a lot of fun playing her," Prange said.
Other cast members include Ryan Skinner and Justin Green (Willy Wonka), Colin Russell (Grandpa Joe), Emily Chance (Mrs. Bucket), Justin Green and Lindsey Hollister (candy-lover Augustus Gloop), Alex Gerard and Emily Ward (television-obsessed Mike Teavee), Ruth Moody (Grandma Josephine), Maddy Vorrath (Grandpa George), Liz Adair (Grandma Georgina), Marsha Gorbitz (Mrs. Gloop), Kathryn Hein (Mrs. Beauregarde), Zach Harris (Mr. Salt) and Sarah Dickey (Mrs. Teavee). The play is narrated by Eric Cowden and Ryan Skinner.
Head Oompa-Loompas are Ally Chance and Ele Hein, while other Oompa-Loompas include Sarah Adair, Lucy Arbanas, Dylan Catalano, Lee Donnelly, Mackenzie Ehlers, Mayde Ehlers and Britta Mollberg.
Seats for the play are limited, so reserve early. The play will also take place Aug. 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. To reserve tickets, please call the Tin Shop Theatre, 108 E. Roe St., Buchanan, at (269) 695-6464