Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Aug 19, 2024 2:09:11 GMT
Glasgow Willy Wonka experience musical ravaged by covid outbreak - Published Aug 17, 2024
The future of Edinburgh Fringe show Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody was in doubt after key cast members were laid low by the bug.
A musical based on the chaotic Glasgow Willy Wonka experience was forced to use stand-in actors after being hit by a covid outbreak.
The future of Edinburgh Fringe show Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody was in doubt after key cast members were laid low by the bug. But the show went on and is now one of the biggest hits at this year’s Fringe.
The musical is based on Glasgow’s infamous Willy’s Chocolate Experience, which became a global online phenomenon after parents complained about their terrible experiences. The event in February was slammed for featuring grumpy Oompa Loompas, tiny bags of sweets for kids and a lack of entertainment.
After it went viral, copycat events were staged in the US and top producer Richard Kraft decided to make a musical about the story. Glasgow actress Kirsty Paterson, who found fame as a grumpy Oompa Loompa at the Glasgow event, is starring in the show alongside original Veruca Salt Julie Dawn Cole.
But Kirsty and other crew members had to miss shows after Covid spread through the production at Edinburgh’s Pleasance venue. Julie, now 65 and a gran who came out of retirement to join the Fringe show, said: “The first one who went down with Covid was Cassie, then Shelley, then Kirsty, then one of our directors. The show relies on singers and without it, if you’ve got Covid, you can’t do this show.”
Kirsty and Julie met for the first time on Thursday after almost half the cast were left bed bound at the start of the Fringe run. Julie, who was 13 when she starred in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, flew in from the US to join Kirsty as narrator.
But the production had to rely on stand-ins after Kirsty and some of the other actors were unable to perform as a result of catching Covid. Kirsty said: “Two of our main singers got it and I got it. It was going around but we are all recovered now.”
Julie has taken Kirsty under her wing since meeting her on a zoom call to discuss the musical show. She said: “I’m teaching her everything I know. I’ve had a very lucky career and to anyone – if a door opens, go through it – and hope it’s not a toilet.”
Kirsty added: “I didn’t think my life would end up like this five months ago, so I’m just rolling with it. I get to narrate with Julie Dawn Cole, which is amazing.”
The future of Edinburgh Fringe show Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody was in doubt after key cast members were laid low by the bug.
A musical based on the chaotic Glasgow Willy Wonka experience was forced to use stand-in actors after being hit by a covid outbreak.
The future of Edinburgh Fringe show Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody was in doubt after key cast members were laid low by the bug. But the show went on and is now one of the biggest hits at this year’s Fringe.
The musical is based on Glasgow’s infamous Willy’s Chocolate Experience, which became a global online phenomenon after parents complained about their terrible experiences. The event in February was slammed for featuring grumpy Oompa Loompas, tiny bags of sweets for kids and a lack of entertainment.
After it went viral, copycat events were staged in the US and top producer Richard Kraft decided to make a musical about the story. Glasgow actress Kirsty Paterson, who found fame as a grumpy Oompa Loompa at the Glasgow event, is starring in the show alongside original Veruca Salt Julie Dawn Cole.
But Kirsty and other crew members had to miss shows after Covid spread through the production at Edinburgh’s Pleasance venue. Julie, now 65 and a gran who came out of retirement to join the Fringe show, said: “The first one who went down with Covid was Cassie, then Shelley, then Kirsty, then one of our directors. The show relies on singers and without it, if you’ve got Covid, you can’t do this show.”
Kirsty and Julie met for the first time on Thursday after almost half the cast were left bed bound at the start of the Fringe run. Julie, who was 13 when she starred in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, flew in from the US to join Kirsty as narrator.
But the production had to rely on stand-ins after Kirsty and some of the other actors were unable to perform as a result of catching Covid. Kirsty said: “Two of our main singers got it and I got it. It was going around but we are all recovered now.”
Julie has taken Kirsty under her wing since meeting her on a zoom call to discuss the musical show. She said: “I’m teaching her everything I know. I’ve had a very lucky career and to anyone – if a door opens, go through it – and hope it’s not a toilet.”
Kirsty added: “I didn’t think my life would end up like this five months ago, so I’m just rolling with it. I get to narrate with Julie Dawn Cole, which is amazing.”