CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Previews- Page 23

[Cfried]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 2:20pm

"Tales of Wonka" has been cut and replaced with a new song, "Charlie, You and I" sung by Grandpa Joe. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 4:59pm

Here's another production shot: https://instagram.com/p/BSzKwFCDJ0Q/

[MizMamie]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 12:20am

Just returned home from tonight's show. It was absolutely atrocious. Horrible in every way. The script was mostly laughable, the new songs mostly sucked, I couldn't wait for the "kids" to be killed off, and the chocolate factory was basically 3 blue walls. Augustus Gloop reminded me of Newt Gingrich. The best thing was intermission, and if I had had an aisle seat I would have walked out (like I saw two people do). The dancing squirrels were clever, but it you want to see a large rodent on a Broadway stage, head over to Groundhog Day. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 12:22am

Call_me_jorge said: "Here's another production shot: https://instagram.com/p/BSzKwFCDJ0Q/

 

"

Why does Borle literally look 72 years old in that picture?

Also, WTF IS THAT COSTUME ON CHARLIE?!

 

Updated On: 4/13/17 at 12:22 AM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 12:37am

Call_me_jorge said: "Here's another production shot: https://instagram.com/p/BSzKwFCDJ0Q/"

That's all it is? A blue background with five tubes coming out of a metallic chamber? Good god.

[Joshua Boyd-Williams]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 12:48am

I can't believe that's the inventing room. 

[Margo319]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 4:49am

Every part of this show made me want to vomit.  I wonder if it will be popular this summer because of children wanting to see it?  Will it last til the summer?

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 7:52am

I watched the grotesque squirrel number in disbelief. If they don't cut it before the opening, it will enter Broadway annals alongside the pig's blood number in Carrie for sheer mind-numbing, jaw-dropping awfulness.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 7:56am

Call_me_jorge said: "Here's another production shot: https://instagram.com/p/BSzKwFCDJ0Q/

 

Christian Borle looks like he borrowed the Wizard's costume from Wicked in that picture. 

Updated On: 4/13/17 at 07:56 AM

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 8:27am

I'm teasing you, After Eight, but this may be the only time on BWW record that you share the other posters' general consensus on a show...

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 8:53am

I love how this article shows a picture of the chocolate room in London, when it's about the broadway production. It's like they don't even want to admit it's worse. https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/theater/a-second-bite-of-the-wonka-bar-reimagining-charlie-for-broadway.html?smid=fb-share&referer=http://m.facebook.com

[wonkit]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 8:59am

Basically false advertising.

[MizMamie]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 9:01am

After Eight said: "I watched the grotesque squirrel number in disbelief. If they don't cut it before the opening, it will enter Broadway annals alongside the pig's blood number in Carrie for sheer mind-numbing, jaw-dropping awfulness."

This, and also Violet's offstage death, brought gasps and murmurs and finally polite applause from the audience last night. The show is a 2 1/2 hour train wreck.

 

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 9:32am

Call_me_jorge said: "I love how this article shows a picture of the chocolate room in London, when it's about the broadway production. It's like they don't even want to admit it's worse. https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/theater/a-second-bite-of-the-wonka-bar-reimagining-charlie-for-broadway.html?smid=fb-share&referer=http://m.facebook.com

 

"

"Basically false advertising."

Did you even read the article? The use of that picture is literally captioned with the subject of London having a more elaborate set. 

[BruceBogtrotter]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 9:52am

MizMamie said: "This, and also Violet's offstage death, brought gasps and murmurs and finally polite applause from the audience last night. The show is a 2 1/2 hour train wreck."

I was really surprised they cut Violet's number entirely (or at least that's what I'm lead to believe by recent posts of numbers) since it was one of the more memorable songs from the London version. They kept the other kids lackluster death numbers so it just feels.. off to cut Violet's.

The again considering how these reviews have been going I shouldn't be surprised about anything for this show.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 10:51am

The press people for this are definitely trying to defuse the "sets look cheap" complaints with these articles coming out. It's a feature, not a bug!

[BJR]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 12:19pm

Well obvi, because it isn't a bug, or an accident, but a completely deliberate creative choice.

You may disagree with it, but this assumption they're trying to pull one over on people is bizarre.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 12:23pm

I think an elaborately decorated theatre and glossy promotional campaign for a property that is remembered for an incredibly spectacular locale implies a lavish production, not one that wants the audience to use their imagination to fill in 2/3s of the stage.

They are clearly trying to cut the complaints off at the pass with these articles by altering expectations. That's the job of press people.

Updated On: 4/13/17 at 12:23 PM

[remark]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 1:05pm

Kad said: "I think an elaborately decorated theatre and glossy promotional campaign for a property that is remembered for an incredibly spectacular locale implies a lavish production, not one that wants the audience to use their imagination to fill in 2/3s of the stage.

They are clearly trying to cut the complaints off at the pass with these articles by altering expectations. That's the job of press people.

"

Indeed. Its offensive to each and every paying customer lurred into the marvellously over-decorated, flashing, beaming theatre to then expect them to 'imagine' a stage full of set and costume whilst providing the very bare minimum.

Updated On: 4/13/17 at 01:05 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 2:47pm

They seem to have spent more on the theater exterior than they have on the actual set. 

[Margo319]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 2:51pm

^^^^  Totally agree.  The outside looks amazing.  Then, you buy tickets and you are trapped in a hell no one deserves.  

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 3:31pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-See-Christian-Borle-and-More-in-a-Mouth-Watering-First-Look-at-CHARLIE-AND-THE-CHOCOLATE-FACTORY-on-Broadway-20170413

The blue backdrop looks like they're trapped inside an aquarium.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 3:33pm

Maybe they found some leftovers from the Little Mermaid set in the wings?

[Princeton2]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 3:38pm

The elevator scene does look better than London but otherwise looks more like a touring set (which rumoured is what the design is for the uk tour). I found the London sets quite ugly and the chocolate room was especially disappointing but they were at least big and had had koney spent on them

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 4:31pm

You can do simple and it still be effective and well done - look at Amelie. This just looks like my local community theatre.