Saw the show tonight. The show is not the mess this board makes it up to be, but it is not the show we deserved. Simply put, I think the main issue is a lack of coherence. Half of the sets follow a sort of abstract, expressionist emptiness which is beautiful, but then the next set will be one realistic set piece amidst this space which makes you wonder "if they're going to just drop the abstract design, why didn't they build more set pieces?"
The new music made me miss the london score deeply. The new music (for the most part) either made no sense in context, or slowed down the plot. However, it's not all bad. The new song for the great glass elevator scene is gorgeous, and it is also the best visual in the show.
In terms of the book, it had plenty of laughs, and it guides you through the story well enough. However, the show kills Wonka as a character. He is completely humanized, and it takes away the magic, and replaces it with manic. Borle is incredible, but it makes no sense to make Wonka present from the first scene, a man who literally steps out and reveals his reason for being here, and then treat him like this magical mysterious candy man in the second act.
The cast is wonderful. The show has its moments. Would I tell someone to go see it? Probably not, but all my friends are actors and theatre artists. If you throw your inhibitions out the door, you will have a great time. It's good for the tourists, and that's about it.
