Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen, renowned for their roles as Veruca Salt and Mike Teevee in the classic 1971 film “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory,” will be collaborating at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in a musical parody titled “Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody.”
They will co-narrate this stage reading, adding their iconic presence to the show’s narrative. The parody draws inspiration from a controversial event in Glasgow known as “Willy’s Chocolate Experience,” which garnered global attention for its misleading promises of a lavish “chocolate fantasy.”
Instead, attendees found themselves in a poorly decorated warehouse with minimal treats and dissatisfaction among children and parents alike. The event was abruptly halted on its opening day due to widespread disappointment, prompting demands for refunds and police intervention.
The cast lineup for the parody was recently announced, featuring a mix of talented performers such as Shelley Regner from the “Pitch Perfect” series, Eric Petersen known for his role in “Shrek The Musical,” Nicole Greenwood of “In Plain Sight” fame, Wilkie Ferguson from “Motown: The Musical,” Cassandra Parker from “Cabaret,” and musicians Monica Evans and Chris Villain.
Created by US producer Richard Kraft and directed by Andy Fickman, “Willy’s Candy Spectacular” is scheduled to run at the Pleasance King Dome from August 9 to 26.
Julie Dawn Cole will handle narration duties from August 9 to 18, while Paris Themmen will take over from August 19 to 26, promising a unique and entertaining perspective on the infamous chocolate-themed mishap and its aftermath.
