CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Previews- Page 29

[Mediamaven2]

Posted: 4/22/17 at 8:07am

Saw the show last night. Enjoyed it. Having read some of the disappointing reviews here, my expectations were very tamped down. I think it will get mixed reviews. 

I liked that much of the set design  was left to imagination in Act 2. And I was less bothered/surprised/disappointed by the chocolate room as I had read about it here. Besides, it is about 10 minutes (? max) of showtime.  I didn't mind the adults as kids at all - they performed better than kids would in terms of all movement/dance etc which made for greater entertainment, in my opinion.  

Appreciate the links posted above - will go read them now. Very curious  how this differs from the London production. 

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/22/17 at 9:30am

had a friend post on Facebook about the show. Basically he said "it was the most money he paid for seeing cheap children's theater".

[WDBNYC2]

Posted: 4/22/17 at 1:20pm

I think word is getting out that this is a stinker.  I've been watching StubHub, and prices have dropped to around $50 for some shows, and tickets are going unsold.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 10:33am

I saw the show last night and after reading this thread, I was expecting the worst show ever. I was pleasantly surprised and honestly, I really enjoyed it (I know, I'm in the minority here). I thought the sets were done nicely (I already knew about the minuscule chocolate room so no disappointment over that on my end), the score was fun and the cast was top notch. Standouts were definitely Michael Wartella as Mike Teavee, Kathy Fitzgerald as Mrs. Gloop. Also enjoyed Borle's performance, though, after seeing him as Shakespeare several times, it seems some of that role was brought into this one. Had Jake Ryan Flynn as Charlie and thought he was adorable. 

I was dreading the most talked about squirrel ballet & them wripping Veruca limb from limb, and yes, it was as disturbing and out of place as I thought it would be. It was the worst part of the show and I wish they had cut it. People didn't know whether to laugh or cry...the end of that scene was mostly left with silence and a few people slowly clapping. Other than that, my Mom and I thought show was fun and entertaining. I'd recommend it to friends if they were looking for a fun night at the theatre. Lots of kids in the audience and thunderous applauses throughout from start to finish. I thought the oompa loompa's were done very creatively. To be honest, though, had I not read this thread prior to attending the show, I'm not 100% sure my opinion would be the same; I went in with extremely low expectations.

[magic55]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 1:03pm

WDBNYC2 said: "I think word is getting out that this is a stinker.  I've been watching StubHub, and prices have dropped to around $50 for some shows, and tickets are going unsold.z'

 

I don't know about this. I saw the show twice-once with friends and once with family and it was completely sold out both times. The audience went crazy for it both times also. I'm looking into rushing it because it's always close to sold out on Ticketmaster when I look-including resale tickets. Opinions seem to be so different between the critics/chat boards and the audience with this show. I wonder why???

 

 

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 1:06pm

magic55 said: "Opinions seem to be so different between the critics/chat boards and the audience with this show. I wonder why???"

Broadway audiences are conditioned to pay a lot for bad art and applaud themselves for sitting through it/paying for it.  

[WDBNYC2]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 2:11pm

magic55 said: 
I don't know about this. I saw the show twice-once with friends and once with family and it was completely sold out both times. The audience went crazy for it both times also. I'm looking into rushing it because it's always close to sold out on Ticketmaster when I look-including resale tickets. Opinions seem to be so different between the critics/chat boards and the audience with this show. I wonder why???

Check tomorrow, 5/1, as an example.  There are a couple hundred tickets still available through Ticketmaster.  If you add secondary markets, it's even higher.  In July, there are weekend shows only 1/3 sold.

StubHub has thousands of tickets spread over the summer, some already below face value.

Updated On: 4/30/17 at 02:11 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 6:05pm

Once word gets out on how bad this un-magical, visually depressing, sugarless show is...it will close after the holidays! I predict the Lunt will be available next spring '18 for a big new musical!

Updated On: 4/30/17 at 06:05 PM

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 8:47am

With the announcement of the national tour, does anyone think that a closing notice will be posted soon?   It would be better to cut your losses in New York and hope this piece of crap works better on the road, yes? 

[remark]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 8:48am

Robbie2 said: "Once word gets out on how bad this un-magical, visually depressing, sugarless show is...it will close after the holidays! I predict the Lunt will be available next spring '18 for a big new musical!"

A national tour has just been announced starting September 2018. So my guess is the show will run to early 2018 when it will go dark for 4-6 months for some minor tweaks before heading out on the road.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 9:02am

I can't imagine they don't reimagine this for a tour and use it as an opportunity to correct some creative concepts of this staging.

But tours are more about booking schedules, not necessarily forecasting the closing of a New York run.  I'd be a little surprised if the show ran until early 2018, but perhaps the title can carry it through the better part of a year. It must be expensive to run though.

[remark]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 9:21am

QueenAlice said: "I can't imagine they don't reimagine this for a tour and use it as an opportunity to correct some creative concepts of this staging.

But tours are more about booking schedules, not necessarily forecasting the closing of a New York run.  I'd be a little surprised if the show ran until early 2018, but perhaps the title can carry it through the better part of a year. It must be expensive to run though."

Given they've been fairly tight with the purse strings on the set etc for the Broadway show I doubt the intention was ever to duplicate the set (pay for 2) but just tour the one from Broadway. Hence the design being a lot more restricted enabling it to tour easily.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 9:22am

Odd that CHARLIE announces it's touring before? EVAN HANSEN or COME FROM AWAY.

[Cfried]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 10:35am

The Charlie Facebook page posted that the tour will be an ADDITIONAL production and the Broadway production is still an open-ended run. While it received largely poor reviews, most people that I know have actually loved the show and I think there's a real demand. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 10:43am

Announcing the tour before the Tony nominations are announced? Well at least they know they don't have a chance of winning anything so might as well beat the "announce tour to get votes" part of the schedule all the shows do during the voting period.

[TheThreadMaster]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 10:47am

All I want to say is, "Vidiots" may just be the worst thing to occur in musical theatre. Absolutely dreadful, weaird, and cringy. 

[kaykordeath]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 10:49am

Hairspray0901 said: "

I was dreading the most talked about squirrel ballet & them wripping Veruca limb from limb, and yes, it was as disturbing and out of place as I thought it would be. It was the worst part of the show and I wish they had cut it. People didn't know whether to laugh or cry...the end of that scene was mostly left with silence and a few people slowly clapping.

"

Having not yet seen the show: Is it that much more out-of-place/surprising-disturbing as the boat going through the tunnel in the Gene Wilder film?

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 11:57am

everythingtaboo said: "Announcing the tour before the Tony nominations are announced? Well at least they know they don't have a chance of winning anything so might as well beat the "announce tour to get votes" part of the schedule all the shows do during the voting period.

 

"

To be honest, the fact that everyone is saying its a ****show kind of makes me want to see it just to see for myself. lol

[magic55]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 12:27pm

It's kind of obvious that this show was made with the intention of touring all along, so announcing a tour shouldn't be a shock to anyone or a sign of anything.  Whether they are using the Broadway sets or not probably depends on how well the Broadway show is doing by early 2018. 

[magic55]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 12:45pm

everythingtaboo said: "Announcing the tour before the Tony nominations are announced? Well at least they know they don't have a chance of winning anything so might as well beat the "announce tour to get votes" part of the schedule all the shows do during the voting period.

 

You really hate this show that much that you're mocking "them" for knowing "they" have no chance of winning anything and laughing at the timing of their tour announcement? When would a better time have been for "them" to announce their tour according to you?  

 

[timrobb1414]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 7:08pm

So I saw the show today at 1pm.  I went in with VERY low expectations.  I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.  Christian is giving a wonderful performance (given what he has to work with, he does a bang up job).  I think the Oompa Loompas were very well done.  Act one could be shaved a bit (some of the scenes in the Bucket house go on and on).  However, I actually found myself smiling and enjoying the performances.  The audience seemed to also be enjoying themselves.   I am glad I didn't try to sell my tickets based on the majority of the comments on this thread.  Is it mind-blowing theater, no...but it was a wonderful, fun afternoon. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 10:48pm

Babe_Williams said: "everythingtaboo said: "Announcing the tour before the Tony nominations are announced? Well at least they know they don't have a chance of winning anything so might as well beat the "announce tour to get votes" part of the schedule all the shows do during the voting period.

 

"

To be honest, the fact that everyone is saying its a ****show kind of makes me want to see it just to see for myself. lol

 

"

Don't, $ave your $...Charlie is unmagical, visually depressing and sugarless!

Updated On: 5/3/17 at 10:48 PM

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 1:09am

Don't, $ave your $...Charlie is unmagical, visually depressing and sugarless!

 

"

It doesn't even fall under train wreck, its just awful, agree with Robbie2 save your money

[showbizkid2]

Posted: 5/5/17 at 12:33pm

The London production had massive and very impressive sets but the book, feel and story of the show was horrible with bad songs. It left me cold but looked great. This new version is no set with some of the book/music issues sorted but still fails to make the grade.

Someone somewhere someday will produce the version we will all grow to love - just use a spectacular set and put the film and all it's music on STAGE!!! Simple.....

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/5/17 at 1:31pm

Babe_Williams said: To be honest, the fact that everyone is saying its a ****show kind of makes me want to see it just to see for myself. lol"

That's what inspired my husband and me to try Spiderman: Turn off the Dark.

Updated On: 5/5/17 at 01:31 PM