Charlie to the Lunt-Fontanne- Page 2

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 9:51am

Jeremy Gerard didn't "break the story", an embargoed press release was sent out.

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 9:51am

Many actors rehearse one show during the day while they play another at night, until previews for the new show start. So he could stay in Falsettos, assuming it runs that long, until March. So he could still do 6 months of Falsettos. I don't see why he would have to drop out.

[onesongglory2]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 9:53am

Any buzz on when he's leaving Something Rotten?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 9:55am

That's going to be tiring for Christian. He would be working over 2 years straight doing 3 shows.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 9:57am

Could he end up getting two nominations for two different shows?

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 10:01am

Call_me_jorge said: "Could he end up getting two nominations for two different shows?"

 

I was wondering that as well. Has that ever happened before? At least in an acting category? 

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 10:02am

Yes. It's happened a lot. In recent years, Jan Maxwell and Mark Rylance.

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 10:10am

In London, Wonka basically is only on for Act Two - so it might need less rehearsal time for Borle to get up to speed on the part. But, who knows what will happen in the US version - since one of the major complaints about the London version was that they don't get to the factory until Act Two.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 10:10am

Falsettos is a limited run. It closes mid-January. Andrew Rannells talked about it in his interview with Patti not Lupone (if I say her name, I might get reported).

[Sertzo19]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 10:25am

Actually just saw this in London, and although I completely understand the complaints over the factory not appearing until Act 2, I don't know how they can really fix that, considering how much plot there is to cover before the factory. Whether they use the book, or either of the two musicals to base the revised book off. I did think that each kid that gets a golden ticket having their own song was WAY too much, especially considering half of their songs were absolutely terrible. Maybe they can string those 4 songs into a medley of some sort, that would definitely help. Sorry, that was off topic. 

One thing worth noting, as someone here already pointed out, the West End production is HUGE. Huge set pieces, huge screens, a giant proscenium extension, enormous everything. I would imagine that they want time to figure out all the mechanics and any extensions they'll want to build into the stage, as well as rehearse them over and over again to avoid another SpiderMan style disaster. The timing on all thise makes perfect sense.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 10:28am

Would they use all the same sets though? They have an almost entirely new creative team.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 10:39am

Not a fan of Borle and not planning on seeing this show based on the reception, but this is really great casting! 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 10:40am

He wouldn't depart from Falsettos that soon.  He'd rehearse one during the day, then go to Falsettos at night.  It's a bear of a schedule, but he'll do it.   I would guess if he doesn't totally abandon Falsettos, he'd stay with this until Charlie is in its last month of rehearsal.

 

I wasn't excited about this show, but now I might be!

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 11:00am

Call_me_jorge said: "Would they use all the same sets though? They have an almost entirely new creative team.

 

Even though, it is a different creative team, it is the same book by Roald Dahl, which no creative can divert from and is the backbone to what is happening on stage. So therefore sets can remain unchanged, the sets weren't the problem in London.

I don't see this lasting long at all.

 

"

 

[Tag]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 11:07am

"the sets weren't the problem in London"

Well that's not completely true.  Because of the scale and complexity of the sets, Act II was comprised of a big set reveal followed by an awkward book scene downstage of projected animation on a screen while the complex set upstage was being changed.  This switched off the entire act.  The set was a hinderance to the flow of the show.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 11:52am

In the original book, as I recall, Violet and Mike are announced as Golden Ticket finders pretty much at the same time, so if there is a need to streamline the kids' introductions (I'm not familiar with the London material) then that would be the first logical place to begin the process. 

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 12:15pm

First of all - thrilled about Borle - he is perfect for the role.

Saw the show in London and agree the first act needs to get to the factory sooner.  The problem is the natural break is the appearance of Wonka and the progression into the factory.  Totally agree that each kid does NOT need their own complete song, and there is also a bit of fill with Charlie in Act I - so if a good dramatic end to Act I could come while in the factory it would be a much better show.

Looking forward to the changes, and especially Borle.

 

 

[Tag]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 12:20pm

In the West End production each kid and their circumstances are introduced separately.  Every kid and their supporting players (Mom and/or Dad) have a song and each of the songs are in a different style.  ie. Mike Teavee is in a techno style (which is as bad as it sounds!).  A reporter woman appears in each scenario and tries to tie it together.  This all appears in a huge tv set piece upstage, as if Charlie and his family are watching the news unfold.



You can see the other children's sets in the back here:

 

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 12:22pm

It also will be interesting to see what they do with the "special" moment where the glass elevator flies. Because, it no longer "flies" in London like it first did. At first, it flew much like the car in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang going in lots of directions. Now, reportedly, it is more like it rides on a cherry picker - it goes up a bit and that's it. Not much stage magic.

[Eliza2]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 12:22pm

Count me in with dramamama - I wasn't into this show at all but I think I might have to see Christian Borle. I couldn't take my eyes off him during Something Rotten because I was afraid I might miss some hilarious mannerism or strutting around the stage. He's perfect for Willy Wonka.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 12:23pm

I have a personal dogma to buy tickets to anything with Christian Borle, so I'm officially in. I do have major qualms about what I've heard and read about the West End production. Charlie is one of my most beloved children's stories ever, and I hope they revise the Broadway run accordingly to make it as perfectly sweet and funny and visually stunning as possible. With Borle at the helm of the performances, I have hope.

[Tag]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 12:33pm

It also will be interesting to see what they do with the "special" moment where the glass elevator flies. Because, it no longer "flies" in London like it first did. At first, it flew much like the car in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang going in lots of directions. Now, reportedly, it is more like it rides on a cherry picker - it goes up a bit and that's it. Not much stage magic.

Are you sure about that?  What's currently being used and has been from early on is pretty complex.  (If I remember correctly the elevator wasn't working/complete during previews though)

[jman16]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 1:09pm

Tag, the above elevator is no longer being used. Theres a new one that just goes up and down. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 2:16pm

Falsettos is scheduled through January 8 2017

[Sertzo19]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 2:17pm

jman16 said: "Tag, the above elevator is no longer being used. Theres a new one that just goes up and down."

Are you sure? I saw it about 3 weeks ago and the elevator moved in every direction, definitely not just up and down. 

Also for those curious for a little more info about the kids' intros, Tag is correct. Each kid has their own song that range from 1:26 to 3:26 and they all range from funny to cute, to absolutely horrid (Mike Teavee). Not only do they have their intro song, but they each are bookend-ed by a song from the reporter that's visiting them. Each of these scenes is a MASSIVE set piece. While I know that the creative team is different than the West End team, there is no doubt they will aim to make this just as big as the West End production. Personally I think the story sort of calls for it. 

Matilda is a little different in that it's a more intimate story, but not only does Charlie take place in a mega chocolate factory full of magical contraptions, but there are 2 movies people will have in mind when seeing this, and the production team is fully aware of that. People will be disappointed if there isn't spectacle from start to finish. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the show. It was ridiculously bloated, half the songs worked and the other half made me so embarrassed for the team that wrote them, but the show was pure magic. The setpieces were for the most part breathtaking, although I did have problems with one massive set that came into play with the Oompa Loompas, but otherwise I was mesmerized by how smoothly and perfectly they all worked. This show was fun, and totally meant for kids to enjoy. Make of that what you will. A lot of theatergoers may think the show is stupid, bloated and expensive but at the end of the day, the show is not meant to be for them, it's for kids! I'm excited regardless, Christian Borle will make a fantastic Willy Wonka. If they cleanup the terrible songs that introduce each kid and rewrite the awful Oompa Loompa songs, I think we could have something really special on our hands. 

Updated On: 5/9/16 at 02:17 PM