Come with me, and you’ll be in a land of pure imagination ...

That is, attend a showing of “Willy Wonka” at the Regional Theatre of the Palouse this weekend, and you’ll dive into a world of candy and childhood dreams.

The show, which is directed by John Rich, is sure to delight children of all ages and even adults will have a good time.

Those who are familiar with the 1971 classic film with Gene Wilder will not be disappointed. This play stays true to the original. You won’t find Johnny Depp playing a slightly creepy, family-hating, disfunctional Willy Wonka here. Jim Sato plays the character as Wilder did, a chocolate-loving man who must weed out the horrible children to find a pure-hearted child to take over his candy enterprise.

It is the children who will win your hearts in RTOP’s production of the show. The girls playing Violet Beauregarde and Veruca Salt, Olivia Pietz and Grace McGreevy were wonderful. It is hard to imagine these girls as anything but gum-smacking or spoiled-rotten brats, though in reality I am sure they are anything but.

The Oompa-Loompas, by far my favorite characters from the movie, were darling from the older “lead” Loompa to the littlest Loompa.

Though the acting wasn’t perfect from these young stars, no one should expect it to be. It is by far more amazing to imagine how hard these youngsters must have worked to memorize all their lines, learn all the steps and dig up the courage to belt it in front of an audience than it is to worry about a few misspoken lines or missed notes. And I know I was so immersed in the world of Willy Wonka that I might never have noticed.

Sato shines as Wonka, as well as his alter egos, the Candy Man and the news reporter, Phineas Trout.

The music is sure to please, from recognizable originals like “Pure Imagination” and “The Candy Man” to new songs, written for the play, like “I Eat More” and “Think Positive.” The songs will really move you, making you smile, giggle or feel sorry for a little boy who can’t afford a piece of chocolate or a coat but remains upbeat through it all.

The theater, located on Grand Avenue in downtown Pullman, is small and intimate, allowing viewers to be truly immersed in the play. And while the set is far from high-tech, the set design makes accommodations for the small space and uses it well. From the golden tickets that light up each time a ticket is found and go out each time a child is eliminated to the bubble machine during the boat scene, each prop is carefully chosen to enhance the production.

I highly encourage taking your children to see the show or seeing it yourself to bring out your inner child. You will not be disappointed.