CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Previews — Page 4

I don't think theatre junkies necessarily mind the focus being on the content, but tourists and others come to expect big and flashy with this musical.

I consider myself a "theatre junkie," and I'd still want/expect a full, big, splashy, imaginative production with a property like Chocolate Factory.

What were those golden tickets in what looked like a glass case? I saw people posting pictures with them? Is it something they sold? Also what merch did they have?

This looks quite different from West End's curtain call https://instagram.com/p/BSNQEzlgv0b/

How is Emily Padgett?

So they decided a great and magical show like the west end one for a minimalist one? And adding puppets? And come on what are those little clouds?! It all seems a children play

Minimalistic is a way to call it, but if you paid 150 for the show and see the set, you'll call it cheap.

Emily is fine, you forget she's in the show, her song is a total bore and she does a ballet duet during her number, totally unesesary.

Golenboybway said: "What were those golden tickets in what looked like a glass case? I saw people posting pictures with them? Is it something they sold? Also what merch did they have?



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It looks like it is something you can buy. I saw someone trying to sell one on ebay signed by the cast. It looks like it's limited edition and says number blank of blank. It's hard to see with the signatures. http://m.ebay.com/itm/322466629020

West End version surely was not cheap. The set design was incredible and magical. The sed designer it's the same of the uk version but it's also true that the theatre royal drury lane is the west end biggest stage. Having said that I'd never expect the set to be cheap or minimalist or too different from the uk version.

ntrackbar said: "Thanks for posting the song list, catalana3.

It strikes me very odd that they don't get to "I've Got a Golden Ticket" until the end of Act I. Maybe I am misremembering the story, but that feels like an awfully long time to wait for Charlie to find his ticket.



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I was thinking the same! You would think he would get right to the ticket and the majority of the show would be in the chocolate factory.

It seems like they haven't changed the pacing problems at all. In London, Act One ended as it does here, with a Golden-Ticket type number and then Wonka's first song at the factory. I'm frankly shocked that they kept the parent's song in, as it was a total bore in London and it seems like they would have had the rights to "Cheer Up Charlie".

I saw it last night. First act got out at like 9:35 (started at probably 8:15) and 2nd act concluded at just about 11. (Spoilers coming from here on in and this is just a random collection of thoughts)

Can confirm that the sets were incredibly disappointing. When you get to view the factory for the first time and it's a 10ftx10ft box with cheap plastic ornaments you can't help but be underwhelmed. With the amount of production and effort they used on the OUTSIDE of the theater you'd think they would have something magical inside. Wrong.

Also, the set was malfunctioning all night. In the first song the bed with the grandparents in it did not fully turn around so Grandpa Joe - who is supposed to not be able to move - had to crawl around to be able to face the audience. To say it was an odd start is an understatement.

If you're hoping for a near replica of the Gene Wilder movie you'll be disappointed. It is such a different dynamic having Wonka interact with Charlie BEFORE he wins the Golden Ticket. Borle is incredible so it wasn't a total disaster but it took away all the suspense. I was really looking forward to the huge applause he was going to get when he first emerges from the factory but instead he starts off the show.

The music was rather disappointing. I can't remember a single melody besides the originals from the movie (and they cut "Cheer up Charlie" which could have played so well). There was also an incredibly weird dance number with Charlie's mom and her dead husband which was just weird. There was simply no need for that.

The company is fine but no real standouts aside from Borle. Charlie was a cute kid but nothing amazing about his voice. The book was rather childish with the same jokes over and over (the one grandpa wanting to be dead, Mrs. Teavee being an alcoholic, the mom being replaced at work by a washing machine, etc.). Hopefully that is something thatt can be easily fixed.

I'm still gathering all my thoughts since I went in with such high hopes and was slightly disappointed. With such great source material it was upsetting to see it fall flat.