Willy Wonka Hits the Esplanade Stage in Early February

Eagle Butte High School will once again be taking over the Esplanade for several days in early February to put on their latest production. This year the cast and crew are performing Willy Wonka, a musical based on the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  

Grade 12 student Anthony Gallwey, who was also in Elf a couple of years ago, is taking on the lead role year. “I like flashy, iconic roles. That’s where I shine,” stated Gallwey.  

A man like no other, playing Willy Wonka offered some unique challenges and Gallwey felt he could fit the part. “I like to be big and loud. I didn’t know going into it how much work there is to being the lead of a production. I sorted out my priorities and realized this is not something I could slack off about. It’s been four months of hard work, and I think it’s paying off.”  

Getting into character has been the most difficult part of this role for Gallwey. “Willy Wonka is eccentric, yet he’s still humble about it. He still holds it close to his heart and I can’t just be loud, I have to be loud with a purpose. I’ve never had to think too hard into how much depth a character could have for a play.” 

Every spare moment he has – at home, at school or during the hour commute between the two – is spent preparing for the role, going over his lines and singing the songs. Due to living so far from the school, it’s difficult for him to make all the rehearsals, but he ensures he is still practicing for those four hours when he’s absent.   

Singing is what Gallwey enjoys most about being involved in the production. “Being able to sing while jumping across the stage has taken effort, but I have been working hard on that and it’s improving,” he explained. “At the beginning it was rocky, but now I’m singing more as Willy Wonka rather than myself. I feel the music more than the surroundings around it. I’ve been trying to be less of myself when it comes to singing but think more about what Willy’s emotions are and why he would be bursting into song at those moments.” 

To embrace the role, Gallwey has used some method acting, where he attempts to stay in character all the time and get that experience from all those he interacts with. “I’ve tried to think if I was in this situation, but I was Willy Wonka, how would I react to it, to try and get a feel on how he would behave.” 

Almost a year in the making, Gallwey believes Willy Wonka is Eagle Butte’s best production yet and he hopes lots of people will come out to see it. The performance will be accompanied by a pit band, made up entirely of volunteers. “I think it’s great they’ve put all their own time into the production. Their playing is remarkable, and they follow all of us, and we’ve got the relationship worked out,” said Gallwey.  

There will also be specially assigned seats, which Gallwey said will be bedazzled, for those who won golden tickets through a chocolate bar fundraiser. There are still some chocolate bars available for purchase with a few golden tickets left to find.  

Ticket sales are going well, and some shows are starting to fill up. Evening performances are being held Thursday through Saturday, February 6, 7 and 8 at 6:30 p.m., with a matinee also scheduled on Saturday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets for any of the shows can be purchased at buy.tixx.ca.