CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY National Tour

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:23pm

The show has already begun with its launch in Buffalo back in September...

http://www.playbill.com/article/a-look-at-the-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-national-tour

...but I don’t recall if anyone here has seen it yet? 

I just finished downloading the OBCR on Napster and will start listening to it this week. Only 55 days to go! Looking forward to adding more souvenirs and a window card. :)

[BwayLB]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:29pm

Youre not the only one desperate for word of mouth

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:45pm

A little thread jacking here.  Dmwnc1959. Have you or anyone else seen the non equity tour of Something Rotten?  I did a search and there is no mention of it.  It is coming for one night at our other Broadway series that seems to book only one night non equity tours.  I never saw it on Broadway and got a really inexpensive ticket.  I would like to see Charlie and the Choclate factory, but not sure if they made changes to the show with the tour like they did to Finding Neverland.  When I see the tours, I hope they resemble all or most of the show on Broadway.

[BroadwayNoob]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:50pm

I saw the Broadway production but I'm curious about the changes done to the tour

Also, my best friend's cousin is Mike Teavee and I'm wondering how he's doing

[BwayLB]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:54pm

ArtMan said: "A little thread jacking here. Dmwnc1959. Have you or anyone else seen the non equity tour of Something Rotten? I did a search and there is no mention of it. It is coming for one night at our other Broadway series that seems to book only one night non equity tours. I never saw it on Broadway and got a really inexpensive ticket. I would like to see Charlie and the Choclate factory, but not sure if they made changes to the show with the tour like they did to Finding Neverland. When I see the tours, I hope they resemble all or most of the show on Broadway."

I have the same standard. But i do not normally mind non equity tours as long as the material is worthy.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 6:59pm

ArtMan said: "A little thread jacking here. Dmwnc1959. Have you or anyone else seen the non equity tour of Something Rotten?”

No, I only saw the (Equity) National Tour when it came through in Feb. 2017. Sorry. 

 

BroadwayNoob said: "I saw the Broadway production but I'm curious about the changes done to the tour.”

I thought that I had seen a video clip somewhere to where songs had been added or changed, though I’m still eager to hear the OBCR. Maybe if someone that has attended the tour can get us a screenshot of the musical numbers played in the tour and compare.

 

 

Updated On: 12/10/18 at 06:59 PM

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 7:38pm

Some reviews from Buffalo...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/buffalotheatreguide.com/2018/09/26/theatre-review-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-at-sheas-buffalo-theatre/amp/

https://buffalonews.com/2018/09/26/sheas-chocolate-factory-delivers-eye-candy-for-all-ages/

https://www.buffalovibe.com/articles/arts-culture/review-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory

https://totallybuffalo.com/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.buffalorising.com/2018/09/oompa-loompas-almost-steal-the-show-in-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-at-sheas-through-saturday-afternoon-only/amp/

 

Updated On: 12/10/18 at 07:38 PM

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 7:54pm

Chicago...

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-charlie-chocolate-review-1005-story.html

https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-review-musical-oriental-theatre-willy-wonka/

https://www.dailyherald.com/entlife/20181005/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-an-intermittently-entertaining-hodgepodge

https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/roald-dahls-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-broadway-in-chicago/Content?oid=59673998

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 8:00pm

 Cincinnati ...

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/theater/2018/10/18/roald-dahls-charlie-and-chocolate-factory-aronoff-center/1683413002/

 

Philadelphia...

http://www.philly2philly.com/entertainment/entertainment_articles/2018/11/8/211417/review_charlie_and_the_chocolate_factory_acade

 

[SugarButterBroadway]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 8:25pm

Recently saw the tour in Philadelphia. Although I never saw the Broadway production, I thought the tour was very well done. I know for a fact is that Mike Teavee/Mrs. Teavee's song in act one was changed. Certain parts are still the same from the original song, but it has a new name and a different melody. Willy Wonka's factory has a new exterior color. It's more of a gold color and looked very nice. Like I said the cast was strong, and Noah Weisberg was fabulous. One mishap on stage did happen though. As the candy shop was being taken off after the first scene, the track stopped moving, and all of the candy toppled off and two stage hands came and cleaned it all up. They played it off very well though. Otherwise a great production.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/11/18 at 10:07am

I saw the tour this past Friday in Toronto. After seeing and hearing stuff on these boards about the show, I wasn't too excited this was part of my subscription. I still see, but it would be the lower show out of the seven in our grouping.

My girlfriend really liked it, as she loves the book and film. I have only seen the film, and have not read the book. I thought that the use of Wonka as the chocolate shop owner was interesting. I really enjoyed it. I will agree with others that said in another thread that it takes too long to get to the chocolate factory. Act two seems to tie everything really quickly. Act two suffers from a problem that Sondheim pointed out in Finishing the Hat. In a number like 100 Easy Ways to Loose a Man, you think "I have to hear 100...alright". I felt it was like that with each scene. Let's move on, so we can kill off another character. 

The score, is certainly not Bombshell, or Hairspray, or (from what I've heard) Mary Poppins Returns. Hell, it's not even Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me! There are some pleasant moments. I didn't realize that they changed Teavee's number. I was thinking, this is not a good Jackie Hoffman number! But, now I realize why. My only other gripe with the show, was not having Pure Imagination be in the glass elevator. A mashup of The View From Up Here/Pure Imagination would be incredible.

I did love Noah Weisberg as Wonka. Very clownish, but not in an annoying way. I felt like it was a personality he was putting on for the public, to hide his sorrow of being stolen, and left alone from people. My Charlie was as good as a child actor can be. lol 

So, wasn't a horrible night in the theatre...I've had those! But, I was happy I went and saw it. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/11/18 at 10:13am

I saw the tour back in October while it was in Chicago. I wouldn’t say I loved it, but I enjoyed it. I also knew what I was getting myself into, so I made sure I didn’t take the show too seriously. I thought it was pretty hysterical at some parts and others were just dreadful(like that back story song of how Wonka found the loompas). I thought Noah was the perfect Wonka. He was fantastic.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 12/11/18 at 10:16am

I saw it on Broadway and while I didn't love it, it was certainly better than I thought it was going to be after all the over the top negativity on here.

My main criticism was that it looked a bit cheap for Broadway and took a bit too long to get to the 'factory', but apart from that it was enjoyable.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 12/11/18 at 10:24am

Well if a majority of opinion is decent, i might see the tour in Costa Mesa.

[angoradebs]

Posted: 12/11/18 at 6:46pm

I saw it in Cincinnati in October. It was fine. I didn't hate it, but I also have no desire to ever see it again. I was glad I bought a cheap partial view ticket.

I thought the scenes where each Golden Ticket is found were really repetitive and was glad when they ended. I also had a hard time understanding some of the lyrics even though I had listened to the cast recording.

I wouldn't pay a lot to see this, but if you can get a cheaper or discounted ticket, it's a pleasant enough couple of hours.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/22/19 at 5:57pm

Well, “Charlie” has ended its run in Boston and begins tonight in Baltimore. Anyone on the boards here seeing this between now and Sunday, or saw it in Boston and want to add comments about the show?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2019/01/11/charlie-and-chocolate-factory-need-more-confection/r1AieZp0dfDpbhKiztFN1H/amp.html

11 days and counting. :)

[h6p8gv]

Posted: 1/22/19 at 8:07pm

ANy idea who often stage doors

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 6:10am

From Baltimore:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/baltimore/article/BWW-Review-CHARLIE-AND-THE-CHOCOLATE-FACTORY-at-The-Hippodrome-Delivers-a-World-of-Pure-Imagination-20190123

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 7:48am

Im seeing the show tonight!

[BwayLB]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 9:26am

^! Let us know how you enjoy it

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 11:10am

I also saw the tour in Chicago and though it was far from great, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.  The ensemble and most of the supporting cast were strong.  I loved the Oompa Loompas!  I really didn't care for Noah as Wonka.  Maybe it was because I was fairly close in the orchestra, but he  looked like he was phoning in a meticulously choreographed performance at his fourth daily show at Six Flags that lacked any real authenticity or spontaneity , rather than a national tour of a "Broadway" musical.  And the boy who played Charlie could sing mostly on pitch, but that was all.  Well, he remembered his lines and blocking, too.  I hate to say it, but he was painful to watch.  The candy shop and home scenes were quite a chore to sit through.  To me, the biggest problem was either in the direction, which was pretty weak with respect to comedy and timing, or the maintenance of the direction in this tour, which could be seriously lacking.  

[downhillskier]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 2:56pm

It was a fun night out in Boston for a discounted partial view front Orch seat, however I would not recommend it at a higher cost. I enjoy most musicals, but this would be close to the bottom of my list. My husband is a fan of the first movie, and enjoyed it more than I did, Tons of kids in the audience Friday evening. They were fans of the more recent movie and seemed to enjoy it. I thought it was one of the worst scores I have heard. Hard to hear the lyrics. The music, IMO , all went downhill after the high point of "the candy man"

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 9:00am

Yeah....I can see why this failed on Broadway. The book is to blame. It is shockingly morbid. They mention death every ten seconds. In Act 1, it gets repetitive. In Act 2, it is super creepy. Willy Wonka even admits that he murders his enemies towards the end of the show ("Murder is always a good enough punishment"....wtf) and literally almost gets in a physical fight with Grandpa Joe. And speaking of him, the characters are so bland as well. Grandpa Joe is reduced to nothing but a crackpot, Willy as mentioned is a psychopath and actually an *beep* hole in general, and the kids are all stereotypical. Mrs. Teevee is an alcoholic and mentions alcohol so often as well. 

Act 1 is fine enough, but Act 2 is unbearable. It has so much filler (What was with that booby trap scene), distasteful jokes when someone dies (adding to Willy being a psychopath and three out of four kids actually die), and really gruesome deaths. And yes, Veronica being tear limb by limb (with blood on the props) by squirrels is just as bad as it sounds. One more note on the book: Why did they reveal Willy Wonka at the beginning and...

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

have him suggest his plans to the audience? Also, if he always intended to give the factory to Charlie, what was even the point of the factory tours and golden tickets?

The music was either forgettable or average at best. I'm glad they brought out the movie's songs to give the audience some familiarity. 

But, here are the bright sides. They did improve on the sets. The chocolate room isn't still the greatest, but at least the small cubicle of "chocolate" is surrounded by projections of a valley and a jungle. Still looks fake, but it's better than to have nothing but a glass box.

All of the actors are great and they make the best of working what they have. Henry was my Charlie and he was wonderful! His singing is gorgeous and he is really endearing. I had Willy Wonka's understudy, Benjamin and for going on the first time ever, Benjamin acted like he had been doing it the whole time. Benjamin was really great and he reminded me a lot of Gene Wilder's Wonka with the little moments of warmth and kindness Wonka should be having at most of the show. He even brought out Gene's sarcasm sometimes throughout the show. He pulls out the "No. Stop. Come back." bit when Mike tries to reach the TV. James Young as Grandpa Joe did his very best with the material and he played Joe as kind, but cooky. Adults as the other children worked better than I thought, even though the girls were much more believable than the boys. Amanda Rose as Mrs. Bucket was one of my favorites. Her "If Your Father Were Here" was emotional.

Also, the effects were great. Oompa-Loompas were done perfectly and they were hilarious. They handled Violet's popping in a effective way with the costumes. But, my favorite was tiny Mike. Even though it's obvious how he's done, it still looks believable.  

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 2:25pm

What was with that booby trap scene

It looked like nothing more than a cover for costume changes.  It was amateurish and awful to watch.

And yes, Veronica being tear limb by limb (with blood on the props) by squirrels is just as bad as it sounds. 

I loved that scene!  I thought it was hilarious.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 12:01am

Ive got a ticket to tomorrows mat I cant use- 2pm Hippodrome, partial view orchestra g 18. Im hoping to get 20 bucks I can send the ticket virtually to you and venmo. Pm me!

Updated On: 1/26/19 at 12:01 AM