'A world of pure imagination'

“Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination. Take a look and you’ll see into your imagination.”

— From “Pure Imagination,” Willy Wonka Jr.

Are you ready for a family-friendly evening of charming entertainment from a stellar cast of young actors? The Old Colony Players (OCP) have your ‘golden ticket’ to adventure.

The Valdese community theater organization will present “Willy Wonka Jr.,” the timeless story of a world-famous candymaker and his search to find an heir, beginning on Jan. 24.

This musical delight will be onstage at the Old Rock School in Valdese for a two-weekend run. The local production features a young cast of knockout actors who carry the challenging musical with wit, humor, and a heaping helping of sweet talent.

Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story tells about the delicious adventures of Willy Wonka, a confectioner who hides five golden tickets in candy bars and offers prizes to the finders. Five youngsters hit the jackpot, and each wins the chance to tour Wonka’s chocolate factory and pocket a lifetime supply of candy.

Four of the ticket-holders are insufferable brats, but the fifth is a likable boy named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his likable grandfather. The children must learn to follow the factory rules — or suffer the consequences of their actions.

OCP Director Bradshaw Call has assembled a cast of 34 youngsters who have been hard at work for more than a month in preparation for opening night. Call said he has been very pleased with the energy and imagination the cast has put into the play.

“I’m so very proud of this group of young actors. They have worked very hard and put in a lot of time and effort,” he said. “The important thing to me about this production is the imagination that goes into bringing it to life.

“I’ve asked the cast to draw themselves in character and to draw different parts of the set, the environment that they will be inhabiting as their characters and bringing the audiences into for each performance,” Call continued.

He said the youngsters’ drawings will be incorporated into the set design.

According to Call, helping cast members explore and develop their imaginations is an important part of the experience.

“Storytelling is very important to us as a culture,” Call said. “So is imagination. I think it’s vital for young people to develop and nurture these traits. I’m so happy to be able to help them develop these skills and put on this production.”

A recent rehearsal found Call blocking a song and dance number with the show’s “Oompa Loompas,” small, mischievous, brightly-colored characters, with a penchant for singing catchy songs. They are particularly keen on highlighting the failures and shortcomings of the bratty children who visit the factory.

The young actors sang, danced, took choreography direction, and smiled through the rehearsal, even when Call asked them to repeat their act several times.

The whimsical musical features familiar songs from the 1971 movie, which starred Gene Wilder as Wonka, as well as a host of additional tunes.

Children of all ages will enjoy feasting on this scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.