The edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Play a Play I read is no longer in print. Hopefully this new edition is just a new cover and has not changed the work of Richard R. George . Roald Dahl introduces the play with a short introduction of how it was sent to him. The end of the play has staging, lighting and other ideas of how you can perform this version yourself.
The middle is the play. It follows the movie closely in areas (with many of the “Hollywood” details obviously taken out) and since I have never read the Charlie books, I am assuming also honoring the books where he could.
The only illustration in the book is the cover. This helps you to create your own image of how the characters should look. (The image is of the older edition).
Other books by Dahl have also been adapted into play formats. Each one has been adapted to have minimal staging, props, etc. and can be performed by students or at home for friends. Some have been adapted by George and the rest by others. I have not had the pleasure of reading them, but think I will look for them.
Confession: the reason I have not read Charlie is I am not a huge Dahl fan. I did enjoy Skin and Other Stories but I am a fan of short stories. And these are for young adults and adults. This macabre is up my alley. Because of this play, and having watched some of the movies the plays are based on, it would be a fun way to read a new genre and read Dahl.
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