CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Previews- Page 5

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:41am

Babe_Williams said: "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. 

 

"

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 takes about halfway through the film to get to the factory, as well.

[catalana3]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:45am

Babe_Williams said: "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. 

 

"

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.

"

The first part of the first act sets up the story and Charlie's family situation. Then each child gets their own song. Then Charlie....finally...gets his ticket. There are many scenes not represented on the son list too. 

[newintown]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:56am

Speaking structurally, I think that the only place you could effectively put an intermission into this narrative would be before they enter the factory. After that, an intermission would only slow the momentum.

[Flacd]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:58am

Were the ticket winners songs sang  inside a big TV as in the UK version or what?

[wssinsider]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:01am

Winners songs are on stage with a projection in the back, no set pieces for that. Those are the fun numbers on act 1. The family songs are bore and dull

[Flacd]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:04am

My god why?! Why?!   and what about Wonka appearance during It Must be believed to be seen?

[Cfried]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:04am

Wow. This feedback is genuinely breaking my heart. I saw it in London and again, it was visually spectacular. I will be seeing it again in July, but this is really making me anxious. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:08am

Flacd said: "My god, reading all this reviews i'm afraid the show won't last too much. Even though WestEnd version had some defects it was absolutely magical and visually outstanding, what's happening to this production?

 

"

I am not at a harsh critic at all in general - but the London version was anything but magical to me and all over the place and dull as nails. Poor reviews didn't prevent it from ruining it's almost 4 year run. I am very curious about this version...and early reviews seem to be all over the place.

[Flacd]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:12am

Anyway guys I hope someone will share a show audio recording soon

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:12am

Flacd said: "Anyway guys I hope someone will share a show audio recording soon"

No.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:16am

I'm going tonight and with these all-over-the-place reports I really don't know what to expect. I have the OLCR and have to say I wasn't that taken with it. A few OK songs, but after a listen or two it's been on the shelf collecting dust. Looks like the song list has been shaken up a bit though, so maybe this new tune stack will be better. 

[Flacd]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:16am

What about the oompas?

[HeleneIsASlut]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:20am

Could someone describe the set? Someone mentioned earlier that the favorite was a 10 by 10 box? Could you elaborate please? 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:21am

Flacd said: "Anyway guys I hope someone will share a show audio recording soon"

 

You're the worst. 

[tyguy1980]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:22am

SPOILER ALERT!!!!  This show is dead on arrival. You have to give it to the cast who is working so hard up on that stage. The show is poorly directed. The sets are HORRIFIC. There is no imagination in them whatsoever. If you're looking for a spectacle, this show is not. Most of act 2, which is set inside the factory is practically a blank stage, with one scene having the poor actors mime going through a miniature door, a swamp, wind tunnel, avoid swinging frying pans, and hitting a nonexistent gong.

The Oompa Loopmas are straight out of Shrek: The Musical. I suppose it's hard to recreate them onstage, but it feels like no effort was put into it. Again, the cast is doing their absolute best with what they're given.

Having seen pictures of the West End production with lots of set, I was looking forward to this. They obviously decided to go in the complete opposite direction and it was a HUGE misstep. It's a shame, because the show has (strike that, reverse it) HAD potential.

I suppose families might enjoy it (although it might be disturbing for them to watch a little girl literally get torn limb from limb). So, it might do well for a bit. Some of it is fixable, but most of it is not at this stage. I really wanted to like it and I hope it does well, but I came away so disappointed. I fear it won't last as long as it did in London.

Updated On: 3/29/17 at 10:22 AM

[tyguy1980]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:22am

Updated On: 3/29/17 at 10:22 AM

[CRS14]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:24am

The Oompas were fun. I don't want to give away too much but it seemed like they tried doing too much with them that led to some scenes being very distracting. Hard to say more without truly spoiling.

I mentioned the 10x10 box. The entire "candy land" that was so magical in the movie is a 10x10 box that no one actually goes in or truly interacts with (except the Gloopster of course but even that was not truly inspiring. They just walk around it and pick up cheap plastic things off of it and pretend to eat them. The "box" takes up only a little bit of the stage and the rest of it is just barren. Felt like a total miss.

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:26am

tyguy:  Joined today to double post a bad review?

[tyguy1980]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:33am

wonkit said: "tyguy:  Joined today to double post a bad review?"

 

Wasn't able to log into my old account. Not sure why my post showed up twice.

 

[Wildcard]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:38am

Seems like they took out all that was good in London and kept all the bad parts. "If your Father Was Here" was the worst and most boring song and it remained. And the pacing, not going into the factory until the second act, was the main problem in London. The first act should end with the candy room at least and begin the second act with Augustus falling in

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:40am

Which girl is torn limb to limb? That sounds horrible.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:41am

YIKES!!!  How was Jackie Hoffman?

[Flacd]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:41am

What about Strike that, reverse it scene?

[wssinsider]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:42am

Valurca Salt. The squirrels come out with her limbs and her head. Not child friendly if you tell me. The sets are a mess a HOT boring mess

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:43am

wssinsider said: "Valurca Salt. The squirrels come out with her limbs and her head."

Omg NO.