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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Reviews

Broadway ShowsMusicalsFamily ShowsFilm-TV

Average customer review: 3.5 star rating (3.3 Stars)

Number of reviews: 24

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2.0 star rating Caity from Los Angeles, California

PURE DISAPPOINTMENT

Waited almost a year to see this play and it was a complete flop. Seems as if the props and writing was done in a hurry. The squirrels were scary as well as the oompa loompas. Wanted more of the original songs and storyline. Not worth the money spent on the tickets.

2.0 star rating Kali Sakai from Seattle, Washington

ALL OF THE MALICE AND NONE OF THE MAGIC

With the exception of the clever staging for the Oompa Loompas, this production lacked the spirit, heart and magic of the original story. It's like the creators of this musical downplayed the sense of wonder and imagination that makes it so timeless but super-charged the negative aspects and personality defects of each character. Wonka is portrayed as unbalanced and mean. The 4 terrible kids lack any humanity but face surprisingly permanent and at times grisly consequences. Grandpa Joe is inept, delusional and unfit to attend to Charlie. Conclusion: This version of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory sucks all the joy and amusement out of the original story and replaces it with a heaping dose of regret and unease.

2.0 star rating Portlandglitz&glam from Portland, Oregon

WELL THAT WAS A COMPLETE LET DOWN.

I was so excited to watch this tonight. But wow what a let down. Most of the effects /backgrounds / backdrops were displayed on a large tv screen. With a few little things like the German dancers and squrriels ripping apart Veruca Salt those were the 2 best things that happened. The rest was so boring people were leaving. The lady and her son next to me left at the break. The first hour and 20 min was leading up to going in to The Chocolate factory . They drug that out soooooo long. I was literally falling asleep. So many seats did not get full again when we came back from break it was crazy. They replaced Violet with a hip hop girl with “fly girls” and a dad for her manager. It was not what I expected and I welcome change but it lacked luster. Veruca Salt was great! Ans so was her dad. Charlie was a great actor and so was Willy Wonka. But it was incredibly hard to watch and quite boring. I feel really bad for saying that but I wouldn’t ever see this again.

2.0 star rating Alex Edwards from Richmond, Virginia

TOO SLOOOOW

Soundsystem gets a D. Way too many eardrum piercing sounds, especially Veruca and the squirrels. That scene was boring and drawn out. The invisible maze scene was equally boring and drawn out. The Oompas were the best part of the show. The ensemble was so good, they need their own feature number like Hard Knock Life, or Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. Where were the peppy toe tappers? The orchestra was great. The actor who played Wonka should get paid 4x any other cast member. Lots of songs and dialogue. No other performer or scene was memorable. The ending was very, very weak. I don’t think this production is good enough to be on tour. I think the script needs major work to improve the pacing and energy level. It definitely needs a signature song, Candyman isn’t it. I don’t recommend this show. The material just isn’t there.

2.0 star rating Linda Smalley from Norris, Tennesse

A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT

I was so surprised and disappointed at the Fox's unprofessional performance of the Willy Wonka on Sept. 27. As a musical, the story is told in song. Unfortunately, the performers didn't bother to make their singing, (or speaking for that matter) understandable. Charlie, his mother and grandfather, the German group, and Willy Wonka spoke and sang clearly and understandably. The rest of the ensemble didn't bother. I didn't understand a word said by the Russians, the Californians and the couple from Iowa. Of course that is a mark of a poor director. I left at intermission and was relieved to get out of the theatre, I

2.0 star rating JMA2Y from Detroit, Michigan

NOT REALLY THAT GOOD

Long, tedious, not always well done. The first half-before the factory tour-takes too long to have Charlie find the ticket. The second half is theefore rushed. The second half lacks enough props and staging. I know it's supposed to be invisible but very little of the stage is used. The magic and color and candy is very lacking. And then the children DIE horrible deaths.

2.0 star rating Concerned Father from Austin, Texas

INAPPROPRIATE, DISTASTEFUL, BIZARRE

My daughter and I were looking forward to this show for weeks. I didn’t realize that kids would be killed and the F word would be sang. When one of the characters was ripped apart by weird squirrels my daughter left in tears. I understand trying to appeal to all age groups but this was truly a disappointment.

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What we thought

enthralling EXCITING Unmissable

As the lights fade and the fuelled giggles are heard, I realize that a Roald Dahl fan will forever be young at heart!

What could possibly go wrong? As the lights fade and the fuelled giggles are heard, I realize that a Roald Dahl fan will forever be young at heart! In this marvellously colorful production, Charlie Bucket reminds us that it doesn't matter where you come

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Nicola Quinn

Nicola Quinn

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