Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical Opens In London
LU STOUT: Now Willy Wonka is at the heart of a sweet spectacle now on stage in London's West End. The celebrated movie director Sam Mendes is behind a new musical version of Roald Dahl's classic childen's book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Neil Curry got a golden ticket to its official opening night.</s>NEIL CURRY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just like chocolate, Willy Wonkas are a matter of taste. And almost everyone has a favorite. Gene Wilder's Willy tickled the taste buds with a lighter flavor.</s>GENE WILDER, ACTOR: Would you come forward, please?</s>CURRY: While Johnny Depp's Wonka hitted at a dark secret within the center. And now the award winning actor Douglas Hodge mixes the best of both ingredients to create his own recipe for the musical stage show of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Bringing Roald Dahl's magical story to the stage has been a long held ambition for director Sam Mendes.</s>SAM MENDES, DIRECTOR: All my childhood relationship with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" I hope I brought to this show. And, you know, it's something that meant a lot to me for a very long time. I first tried to do this when I was a student and they wouldn't give me the rights. Then I tried again when I was 25 and I was working (inaudible) and they still wouldn't give me the rights. And each time I went back, it got bigger and bigger. And now here we are at Drury Lane, you know.</s>CURRY: Actors Matthew Broderick, Jessica Parker and Uma Thurman were among those attending the official opening night of a production which introduces new songs, surprises, twists and turns to the story and immerses audiences into a world of colorful characters and spectacular sets.</s>OPHELIA DAHL, DAUGHTER OF ROALD DAHL: I think there are aspects to it that feel very emotional, because you can't help but feel connected to him and to the bits and pieces of stories that really, really appeal like, you know, parts of him. There's obviously the chocolate goes without saying. He loved chocolate. But he also loved to be creative. And I think this is probably going to be one of the most creative shows that anyone is going to see for a long time.</s>CURRY: Special that the Dahl family members (inaudible).</s>MENDES: Very special. And they've been amazing, actually, incredibly supportive. And I think it's a sign of their confidence in Dahl's work that they allow people to come and this is just the latest version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," You know, there have been two others -- two on screen and others on stage, even. But I think this is the first show of this scale that's ever been mounted of that -- of that piece.</s>CURRY: Wonka's enigmatic assistance, the Oompa Loompas, appear as never before, brought to life by a team of expert puppeteers. Anyone who sees this can understand why you would make this a priority. But is there still hope for Bond fans?</s>MENDES: Well, you know, I'm still in discussion with them about -- I just haven't had the time to really make a decision. And I won't until this is open. And my priority has been this until tonight, really.</s>CURRY: In the meantime, Charlie has granted Mendes a license to thrill theater audiences with a production that has the potential to run as long as an everlasting gobstopper.</s>CURRY: Neil Curry, CNN, London.</s>LU STOUT: I really want to see that. Now before we go, how would you like to chat with an astronaut. Well, NASA's Karen Nyberg will speak to CNN on Friday. And we want to ask her your questions. Use the hashtag #CNNSpaceChat and share them through Twitter. Or you can leave a comment on our website. One of the questions we've received so far, "how will private companies affect future space missions?" And another, "what do astronauts do when they have to sneeze?" Log on to CNN.com on Friday for the answers live from the International Space Station. And that is News Stream. But the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next. END