‘Willy Wonka’ Musical Parody Has Songwriter Riki Lindhome Questioning Life Choices

Earlier this year, a number of actors were questioning their life choices after answering an add to work at a Willy Wonka experience in Scotland. Organizers advertised it as an “immersive experience” that would transport Willy Wonka fans to a “magical realm.” They used lush, AI-generated art helped lure patrons to the event, which turned out to be anything but magical. The experience was housed at a shabby warehouse that was so depressing it earned comparisons to a meth lab, and it ultimately made international headlines for just how bad it was.

Now, songwriter Riki Lindhome is questioning the life choices of one of the actors involved in a new track for Willy’s Candy Spectacular, an upcoming parody of that disastrous, Fyre Fest-style Willy Wonka event. In the song (below), Lindhome channels the experience of Kirsty Paterson, who played the sad Oompah Loompa in the real viral experience and is also involved in the musical.

“This song is for everyone who is, was, or has tried to be an actor,” said Lindhome, known for her band Garfunkel and Oates and acting work on Netflix’s Wednesday. “When I saw the look on Kirsty Paterson’s face, I just thought, ‘I’ve been there. We all have.’”

New songs for the event have been dropping weekly, leading up to stage reading set for the Edinburgh Fringe Fest in August. John Stamos previously released a track from the musical, which hails from The Little Mermaid Live producer Richard Kraft, and his Kraft-Engel Productions. Tova Litvin, and Doug Rockwell and Daniel Mertzlufft are among the other songwriters involved.

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