Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Thought I'd put my thoughts here 

Okay I've just seen this for a second time, and I have no need to see it again

It isn't just bad that the songs are bland, the main character is passive, a lot of the first act taking place in a shack, and the factory tour being grounded by the repetitive nature of the story and sequence of sets.

It's just that the one magical scene to be found is now missing the legs to carry it, which is Pure Imagination. I was sitting in the front row on the left side and could clearly hear the loud thumping noises, and I thought "they're not bringing the elevator through the stage are they"

And indeed the elevator is trundled on on top of this great big platform that was clearly the new lift. It only levitates a few metres and as mentioned it just goes left and right. At times stopping long enough to get a good view of the outline of the lift. And the elevator still jitters around occasionally.

It just looked sad really.

On another note I will say that If Your Mother Were Here has slightly been improved. Mr Bucket sings the 1-2 verses before Mrs Buckett returns home. He goes off to find work and then she sings "If your father were here". Then the two sing the rest of the song. Better, and it doesn't make me think that Charlie's mum had died.

It just still feels redundant by the fact this song is about the absence of the parents, who are the very ones who are singing this to Charlie. Maybe this was meant to suggest that they don't spend a lot of time at home with Charlie because they are out all day looking for work after Mr Bucket lost his job. But that is let down by the fact that they've been onstage in the Bucket house for the last 20 minutes, and Charlie has never indicated that he misses them.

Now Jonathan Slinger

He is much better now compared to the audio recording of him a few pages back. He's cut back on delivering the lines with force and he does have a good singing voice, which also has hints of madness and eccentricity

*sigh*

He's just not Willy Wonka

I was worried about this back when he was announced, and my fears were correct. I've seen all his RSC performances 2006 to 2013. None of them spell a lovable, eccentric, man with sparkling eyes and a beaming face. The only one that comes close is his extravagant Richard II, and even then you saw a dour side to him when he took off his curly wig.

And that's how I'd describe his Wonka. Dour. With the occasional weird smile.

I think he was going for a reclusive man, shut away from society in his factory. Eager to show his work but withdrawn from human interaction. Just not welcoming at all and lacking warmth. It isn't enough to carry the second act

If I was Charlie and he offered me the factory, I'd think "uh, uh, I don't want to shut myself up and become you"

Of the three, Douglas Hodge and Alex Jennings (based on videos and bootlegs) were way better