When a character announces that the show is a rip-off of a rip-off experience, Willy’s Candy Spectacular comes dangerously close to generating an auto-critique of its own production. While the cheap and cheerful scenography can be written off as a response to the ‘fiasco in Glasgow’ which provided the basic plot for this musical, and a very strong ensemble cast belt out the songs with aplomb, there is a sense that this Willy was rushed out to capture the internet buzz before the world moved onto another meme. 

The fiasco was a copyright-busting immersion experience based on Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, which ended up with an AI-generated character terrifying children and the whole shambles being shut down by the police. The photograph of a ‘sad oompa loompa’ went viral, and perhaps the kindest thing in this show is that they have that actor in the cast.

After some laughs at the chaos, the plot disappears into its own redemptive finale: this is a Broadway version of Glasgow that condescends to its subject. The songs are solid, the performances impressive and the energy admirable but the sentimentality and generic nature of the plot is disappointing.

Willy’s Candy Spectacular, Pleasance Dome, until 26 August, 3pm; main picture: David Monteith-Hodge.