Fabba and the Chocolate Factory

Last night we watched – and thoroughly enjoyed – Fabba, a theatre company for adults with learning disabilities, present ‘Fabba and the Chocolate Factory’ – an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.

A young boy, Charlie Bucket lives in poverty with his family. Charlie’s Grandpa Joe tells Charlie about the local chocolate factory, owned by Willy Wonka.

Wonka has hidden five Golden Tickets in Wonka chocolate bars; the finders of these tickets will be invited to tour the factory. The first four tickets are found by gluttonous Augustus Gloop, spoiled Veruca Salt, gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde, and television addict Mike Teavee.

Charlie buys the Wonka Bar that contains the fifth ticket and Grandpa Joe accompanies Charlie to the factory. After adventures with the ‘Oompa-Loompas’, and the dark but comical demise of the other four children Charlie inherits Willie Wonka’s Chocolate factory.

Fabba gave the story their usual twist with excellent costumes, scenery, props and many wigs. There were songs, dances and lots of laughter as we followed Charlie and Grandpa Joe through the market, the excitement of the ticket discovery, the factory machinery, meeting the Oompa Loompas… Fabba, as always, demonstrated their attention to detail, entertained their audience wonderfully, and enabled us all to leave feeling good.

But ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ is more than just a nice story. It’s about a good, poor boy who has a break; indulged, greedy children are shown to be what they really are – and lose out; caring relationships in the Bucket family – especially between Charlie and Grandpa Joe contrast with the selfish relationships in the other families; finally good triumphs and is rewarded.

And Fabba’s more than an entertaining ‘theatre company for adults with learning disabilities’. It’s about giving good people – who some might consider poor – a break; good caring relationships are more important than lots of chocolate (or any other ‘stuff’); those who are thought to have least actually can have a lot; in the end good does triumph.

Charlie’s story is Fabba’s story.