Broadway stars swap chocolate for Chinese snacks in Beijing

The cast of the Broadway musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" brought a taste of Willy Wonka's whimsical world to a China Global Television Network (CGTN) studio in Beijing, swapping chocolate rivers for Chinese snacks in an imaginative cultural exchange.

Actors Daniel Plimpton, Cohen Toukatly and Oliver Wong appeared on CGTN's The Vibe in a segment that aired on Monday, where they sampled classic Chinese candies and snacks while turning their reactions into impromptu songs and musical riffs.

Plimpton, a career actor, seemed to delight equally in the sweet and strange treats alongside Toukatly and Wong, ages 12 and 10, respectively.

The lighthearted snack-eating challenges echoed the spirit of the musical itself, which follows young Charlie Bucket's journey through the fantastical chocolate factory of eccentric inventor Willy Wonka.

Based on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl, the stage adaptation recreates a world of chocolate waterfalls, glass elevators and surreal inventions while exploring themes of imagination, honesty and perseverance.

During the studio appearance, the performers tried a range of Chinese treats, from milk candies to spicy snacks, joking about unfamiliar flavors and linking them to moments from the musical.

One candy prompted an impromptu rendition of "Pure Imagination," one of the production's best-known songs, while another fiery snack left one cast member laughing through tears after experiencing its intense heat.

The appearance offered a lighthearted glimpse into cultural exchanges between Chinese audiences and international performers, as the Broadway cast explored local snacks and shared musical improvisations on air.

Since premiering on Broadway in 2017, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has toured internationally, including productions in London's West End and across North America. Following performances in the cities of Dongguan, Shenzhen and Shanghai and last year, the musical has continued its China tour with stops in Haikou and Beijing in 2026.

Japan's benchmark 10-year government bond yield hit 2.54 percent on Tuesday, the highest level since June 1997, according to a Nikkei report.

Continued turmoil in the Middle East has driven up crude oil prices, fueling market concerns over accelerating inflation in Japan and triggering a sustained sell-off in government bonds.

Data recently released by Japan's Ministry of Finance shows that the country's total government debt, including government bonds, borrowings, and short-term government securities, reached 1,343.84 trillion yen (about 8.54 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of March 2026, marking a record high for the 10th consecutive year.