Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (951)
See it if Very entertaining w/ lots of laughs. Borle & entire cast are great! Strong hilarious Moments esp in Act2! "Death" scenes very creative/fun.
Don't see it if You are looking for something serious. I find the critics reviews unjustifiably harsh. If you want a fun time, this is a great choice.
See it if you are looking for fun, and a pleasant, happy show. Add points if you are bringing kids, and/or you are a Christian Borle fan! đ
Don't see it if you are looking for high drama.
See it if You enjoyed the movie. Updated characters. Christian Borle would be a great Willie Wonka if he were directed to be larger than life.
Don't see it if You you don't like dark comedies.
See it if you don't expect the magic of the movie but love the story. Clearly tells the point that doing what is right will make you a winner.
Don't see it if you expect huge lavish sets that take you away. But many clever inventions that are fun to watch.
See it if You like the story, are a Christian Borle fan, or want to bring children to a fun show
Don't see it if You don't show which have audiences with a lot of children, or don't like musicals.
See it if Great production of classic tale with some alterations in story.Use of adults to play the children is a terrific idea.Cast is outstanding.
Don't see it if Prior knowledge of Wonka story is helpful. Show is great fun. Use of puppetry for oompa-loompas works very well. Well acted and sung by all
See it if Christian Borle!!!!!!! He absolutely STEALS the show, are a fan of the original story with a bit more graphic visuals of the childrens demis
Don't see it if You arent a fan of the original story and dont like shows with undetermined child death
See it if You want to be entertained, and you may want to take your child with you. I thought there was a lot of creativity in the staging here.
Don't see it if You've read the reviews and think it's a bad production. You don't like Roald Dahl. You don't like exploding children!
Critic Reviews (52)
âThe overall product will likely thrill many, but is mostly cotton candy without the substance or edgy humor of the book and original filmâŠThe weakest by far of all the adaptationsâŠThere are spectacular production numbersâŠDirector Jack OâBrien and book writer still David Greig have not solved the main problem: The awkward first actâŠIt is truly a shame the people behind the show simply did not come up with fresh ideas to make this a more memorable musical.â
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"The score is professional; the scenery tries to get by on our pure imagination; the cast is fine except for the child who plays Charlie...Worse still is the showâs basic premise which we must face head-on: Willy Wonka is a serial killer...Itâs all meant to be a cautionary tale: 'Kids! Donât disobey your parents! Behave and youâll be rewarded!' and 'Parents! Donât overindulge your kids!â But the message comes from a place of fear, not rationality."
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âShaimanâs music is charming â full of tasty licks as usual...It is most unfortunate that muddy sound design often obscures those witty lyrics. Christian Borle portrays Wonka with his usual Ă©lan, with somewhat more humanity than previous incarnations. Director Jack OâBrien has presented a smaller-scale production than Sam Mendes on the West End, and while Iâm not sure that was the right decision, itâs still sufficiently splashy and vivid. Recommended.â
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"The lugubrious, overstuffed, undernourished first act...The second act finally gets to the good stuff. Meaning Christian Borle...You know what bad behavior earns. Admonishment. But in author Dahlâs hands, that amounts to fanciful and picturesque dismemberment which is supposed to amuse us. Sorry, Dahl. That is sick...Everything depends on the ultimate chemistry between wistful, almost-real Charlie and outlandish, not-at-all-real Willy Wonka and it isnât quite there."
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"We finally have a terrific show for kids under 12 and, in fact, have a marvelous show for anyone still living...Mr. Borle is a total whirlwind and the kids will adore him. Heâs on stage about 95% of the time and how he can catch his breath is hard to imagine...So take your kids or any children for that matter and go see 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' I guarantee they and you will have a ball."
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âA garishly grotesque new musicalâŠBizarrely, these obnoxious caricatures of âchildrenâ are played by adultsâŠThe most memorable music is from the film scoreâŠMark Thompsonâs serviceable sets and costumes disappoint, as does Joshua Bergasseâs clunky choreographyâŠSince family fare is always in demand on Broadway, itâs too bad that something magical must have been lost crossing the Pond."
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"A poor copy of its London incarnation...Anything of any consequence really happens in the final minutes of the first act or in the second act, including the truly unique dance sequences by the Oompa Loompa factory workers portrayed by dancers merged physically with puppets...The Dylanâs candy bars sold in the lobby are pretty good and all in all bound to be more satisfying than the show itself."
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"Broadway producers have taken blue-chip title 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and diminished it to the point where it almost seems to be some sort of elaborate practical joke...These reductions in scale may have been more palatable if the musical itself were more appealing...Borle brings plenty of amusing quirks to Wonka, but overall pushes too hard where the role should be far more sinister and wickedly charming...The only recommendation that can be made is to avoid it."
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