CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Previews- Page 22

[Margo319]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 7:01pm

I would say the majority of it?  What the hell was he thinking?  I felt like I was looking at cheap dinner theater set in f*cking Las Vegas.  Ugh.  

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 7:05pm

Didn't he design the London set too? 

[EvanK]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 8:28pm

Margo319 said: "I would say the majority of it?  What the hell was he thinking?  I felt like I was looking at cheap dinner theater set in f*cking Las Vegas.  Ugh.  

 

"

I mean, in the end the producers / director approve the design. So I lay the blame at their feet. This designer did a huge design for London, so clearly he was steered a different direction on this version. 

Updated On: 4/8/17 at 08:28 PM

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 8:29pm

Please don't place the blame on the set designer. As you have all seen his design for the London production was beautiful. I'm sure he didn't just decide to cut and redesign his sets for Broadway. His budget for Broadway was probably a fraction of what he had in London. 

I place the blame on the producers who most likely MADE him cut and redesign his set to fit their budget. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 8:32pm

Dear hearts- I assure you, the scenic designer was simply honoring the vision of the director of the production. That's what the scenic designer does.

[bryan]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 10:24pm

what are the new songs in the show

[kellyhallo]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 9:53am

bryan said: "what are the new songs in the show

 

"

A friend of mine had a spare ticket so I went to see the show again on Saturday evening. There are no new songs in the show but they've changed quite a bit since the first preview. The first act is shorter by about 15 minutes and the second by 20 minutes.

A few of the changes:

1. Borle no longer does his "My name is Willy Wonka" in different voices bit to open the show. Instead, while standing behind the gate for the factory, he starts singing Candy Man and walks out  on to the stage after about eight bars of music.

2. They have completely cut the ending of the show. Now the show closes just after the glass elevator scene with Charlie stepping into the factory. The mangled children and Charlie's family no longer make an appearance. I really liked this change except now we don't know if any of the other kids survived.

3. A good chunk of vidiots has been cut.

 

There have been no changes to the set.

"If you're father where here" and the ballet that follows are still in.

Veruca is still torn apart by the squirrels and Violet is still blown up.

[Dysquith13]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 10:32am

Oof, is there ANY reference of the kids being out back together at the end? I can't imagine a lot of families being too happy without this reassurance.

Also, what part of Vidiots did they cut, precisely? I know I saw a clip at the oliviers I think that cuts the part with the mom, but I don't know.

Either way, thanks for the update!

 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 10:33am

I actually saw a positive post about this show on ATC, and one of the comments was how much the person liked the set.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 10:35am

Can't believe Veronica's death is still there

[jbird5]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 10:56am

DottieD'Luscia said: "I actually saw a positive post about this show on ATC, and one of the comments was how much the person liked the set.

 

"

There's also a rave review on YouTube from a kid and his tween sister. Although, to his credit he did pan the set.

https://youtu.be/X9hNLYhJ2To

Updated On: 4/11/17 at 10:56 AM

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 11:11am

I saw the show last night and I am still gathering my thoughts. Longer post to come, but overall not as bad as this thread braced me for, and there are definitely positives.

[kellyhallo]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 11:58am

Dysquith13 said: "Oof, is there ANY reference of the kids being out back together at the end? I can't imagine a lot of families being too happy without this reassurance.

Also, what part of Vidiots did they cut, precisely? I know I saw a clip at the oliviers I think that cuts the part with the mom, but I don't know.

Either way, thanks for the update!

 

Nope. No mention of the kids or what happened to them after their individual scenes.

As for Viodits, they cut the entire middle section when Wonka is chasing Mike through all the different screens and channels.

 

[Dysquith13]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 12:20pm

Thanks, Kelly! It's a change for sure....the Burton movie clearly showed the kids leaving altered, but alive, while the 1971 movie I don't think showed them after the fact, but the kids weren't in situations that could really be interpreted as fatal.

[kellyhallo]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 2:27pm

Dysquith13 said: "Thanks, Kelly! It's a change for sure....the Burton movie clearly showed the kids leaving altered, but alive, while the 1971 movie I don't think showed them after the fact, but the kids weren't in situations that could really be interpreted as fatal.

 

"

Agreed. As it stands now, it is not outside the realm of possibility that the kids didn't survive.

There was a little girl sitting next to me, probably about six or seven, who kept asking her Mom why the squirrels tore apart Veruca and killed her and started crying.

I wish that they would at least throw in a line at the end that the other Golden Ticket winners are alive so that the little kids in the audience won't have nightmares about squirrels attacking them.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 2:48pm

kellyhallo said: "If you're father where here" and the ballet that follows are still in."

I can't believe they're leaving that dreadful song in the show. It really stops the show. Especially since the dialogue leading up to it makes you think she's about t start singing Cheer Up Charlie.

[Dysquith13]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 3:41pm

kellyhallo said: "There was a little girl sitting next to me, probably about six or seven, who kept asking her Mom why the squirrels tore apart Veruca and killed her and started crying.

"

Aw, poor kid. I guess it's really a good thing they got adults to play the bratty kids. I don't think people could stomach seeing that happen to an actual child, (it's all pretend, but you get the idea) even one as rotten as Veruca.

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 3:45pm

Alright, so I saw it last night after having tickets for months, and I had mixed expectations going in between my own wants and familiarity with book, two movies, and junior show, and the comments in this thread. Before I get into the actual show, I want to comment on the audience: there were a LOT of children. I've been to Disney shows, Matilda, and the like and I have never seen so many children in a theatre in my life. Before the show there was quite a bit of rowdyness and I will admit I was a little worried: phones out, fiddling with booster seats, running up and down the stairs of the mezz, screaming and singing of the movie songs, and of course, eating of loud candy. BUT, when the show started, that stopped. Almost every single child was perfect; no singing, no phones out, not even a little squirming. I was gladly impressed. The PARENTS, on the other hand... phones out, talking, talking to the usher in the area (who handled it well), getting up and leaving way more than I have ever seen. The irony of the show wasn't lost on me.

Now, onto the show itself. As always, this is my OPINION, and I agree to disagree; we all have our own tastes (pun intended)!


SPOILERS, but I'm not going to tag the whole post.


The Good
The opening, from what I have gathered from this thread, has changed (for the better). Wonka no longer tries out accents or brushes his teeth. He explains who he is and the dilemma, and then opens up shop as the Candy Man.


The grandparents aren't in bunk beds; their bed is simply on the top level of the house and the bathtub and stove is on the bottom level. It works because it allows the shack to be condensed and for you to see more of the interactions between Charlie and the grandparents.


"More of Him to Love" is SPOT ON. It hasn't changed much from London but that's fine because it's the melody that sticks pretty well with the audience, and it explains exactly who Augustus and Mrs Gloop are, what they do, how he got his ticket, and it was funny while also just dark enough ("We don't leave our poodles all alone with him!". 


"It Must Be Believed to Be Seen" is also almost  the same from London. The melody is just great. That also being said, I think this is the show's one of two Tony options. The other is "Pure Imagination", of course.


At the VERY end of the act, Wonka pushes all 10 parents and children into the little factory entrance, and as soon as they are all inside, it filled with white smoke and they all VANISHED. It was magical and Wonka lets out this little cackle and then the lights go out and it's a pretty perfect last minute or so.


Once in the factory, I will admit that things get a better, probably due to the pacing speeding up. 
They have moved "Pure Imagination" into "Simply Second Nature"'s London spot. It works wonderfully. At the end of the song, the children and the parents join in and it's magical. I had chills. 


Michael Wartella and Jackie Hoffman should be watched intently any time they are onstage. They both NAIL their characters and I didn't want them to go? Not because I LIKE Mike Teavee, but because they were both so damn interesting and funny to watch, especially in the Chocolate Room. There's an extended miming sequence with an invisible obstacle course that should probably be cut down or cut out entirely, story wise, but I didn't mind because it was a pretty great vehicle for Mike that I found INCREDIBLE and was super thrilled by. I’ll mention this in the corresponding thread, but Wartella proved he could play a pretty great Psedolous with all the physical comedy he does in that scene. 


The new Great Glass Elevator's song, "The View from Here" is a solid song. More on why later.


The Problematic

As previously mentioned in this thread, Wonka as the Candy Man watches TV with Charlie. They aren’t watching random TV; they watch the other four ticket winners. Which is fine, except for a) you lose the grandparents’ great reactions, and b) we don’t hear as many of Charlie’s thoughts on them. We find out Wonka’s thoughts on them later; we don’t need them now.

I miss “The Amazing Fantasical History of Mr. Willy Wonka” from the London production. I thought it was such a gem.

There’s already been discussions about the ballet, so I’m not gonna bring it up again.

One of the other issues with the Golden Ticket winner intro songs (except for Augustus) is that  they move so fast that we miss how they got their tickets. Mike hacking into Wonka’s computer is really funny, but if I didn’t know going in I would have missed it.

“When Veruca Says” has one issue: now that the other four winners are played by adults, this number comes off a little more… adult than it should?

“I’ve Got a Golden Ticket” started a little flat. It grew in excitement but it should start there.

Fates: Augustus's fate is left up in the air. He probably could survive, but there is a crude joke about bones in the candy. Violet and Veruca are both dead. Mike is the only one confirmed alive, but he is Barbie-sized.


Borle's energy throughout the show never wavers, and it's clear why they cast him. He is doing all he can. However, the material is so inconsistent; one minute he's a psychopath, then fatherly, then silly-- and each of these have their place but there is NO balance or even continuity. That's what makes "The View From Here" so solid; a tone is set and stays consistent in the song. 


The kids need more to do in the factory. They don't interact (and there is great opportunity for them to do so in the chocolate room before Augustus falls in, but they don't take advantage of it), Veruca doesn't demand anything until the squirrel shows up, and it’s kinda like they expect you to know the characters well enough  to fill in the blanks.

                                                                             
They aren't going to be able to fix everything. But a few minor tweaks could improve so many scenes and make it so much better so EASILY. That's what hurts the most: the wasted potential. 

 

Oooof, ok. Done. Sorry it’s so long. I just felt so many different things. I wanted to like it so much and this cast is super talented...so I feel very mixed. 

[Patty3]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 11:42am

Just saw this article with a few pictures. 

http://ew.com/theater/2017/04/12/first-look-broadway-willy-wonka/

[RW3]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 12:24pm

Trista Dollison is the only one that actually looks like a kid. Haynie and Wartella look weird.. Pfaeffle just looks like an adult dressing up as a ballerina for Halloween. 

[JennH]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 12:50pm

Maddie-WASTED POTENTIAL IS RIGHT. It KILLS me when these people have gold in your hands/captured lightening in a bottle and they don't run with the material the way they should. I have a whole of shows/films like this...UGH. I mean there's a difference between something tat's bad and never should have been done in the first place, but then there's bad...but COULD be great if those in charge weren't trying to hard to "be different" juts for the sake of being different.

I get the "imagination" thing...but isn't this whole thing about this amazing world of "imagination" coming to life right before your eyes? Abstract can be done to GREAT effect for this material considering it's source, but minimalist? Not so much. Minimalist works for certain things, but not for Dahl. Matilda obviously was abstract as heck, but NOT minimalist. And if "Giant Peach" is gonna have a bigger future, same for that. Dahl is juts such quirky writer, that I read them and I don't think "minimal", I think "offbeat". So yeah, I don't want to spend a good chunk of change for a show that's minimal and frankly shouldn't be.

 

Now writing...Ok I enjoy Shaiman/Whitman, and it's basically a truth that Hairspray is still their crowning achievement, with I think Smash following very close behind. And what's interesting is that I'd say YES with every fiber of my being to them writing this show...if they didn't have the famous film to contend with. Their niche seems to be for shows that are bright and colorful...this is quite literal. Look at Hairspray and the scenes from "Bombshell" we see. The color palette is BRIGHT and candy colored. If the 71 film didn't exist, they could have SOARED writing this. Granted, I even thought they still might have, considering their writing aesthetic seems to works for this, but it seems like it's not...SO...I wonder why the powers that be just didn't have Bricusse return to this subject. Was this even thought of? The movie songs are unforgettable and brilliant. (I can still ALMOST live without Cheer Up Charlie), and at least the musical palette could have remained within the same cohesive universe at least. Newley may be gone, but Bricusse is still here.

[dianamorales]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 12:55pm

I need this to clean up it's act and run long enough for Terrance Mann to replace Christian Borle.

[remark]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 1:25pm

kellyhallo said: "

There was a little girl sitting next to me, probably about six or seven, who kept asking her Mom why the squirrels tore apart Veruca and killed her and started crying.
"

Thats so sad. I wonder if the creatives know what damage they're doing.

[Dysquith13]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 1:29pm

It's funny how pretty much all the costumes are pretty much the same as they were in West End, given the stark differences in sets. And is that an IPAD that Mike is wearing as a LANYARD?

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 2:10pm

^Yes.

Mike has his iPad and his Golden Ticket attached to him by some sort of landyard or bungee cord or a combination of. That being said, the iPad gets confiscated when they get inside the factory (and of course the tickets are collected).