Home Show Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

If you're hearing the sound of my voice, it means you're a very special part of a very
special group of people. Because at least once in your life, you have checked out the Clubhouse
Podcast live every Sunday, 9th, 7 Eastern, 4 Pacific on the Vocal Now Network, VOKAL.
Vocal market in your favorite. Browser download the app, check out all the great material,
all the great shows that are at Vocal Now. Welcome! My name is Rob, I am the executive producer
of the Clubhouse Podcast and I do live in a world of pure imagination and it gets me in trouble sometimes.
But I'm not alone because it's time for another home show. Number 483 for those of you playing the home game.
Joining me in the co-host chair is the Lady of the House. And a woman who likes to use the word
Scrum Deliumpcious as often as she possibly can. She is general. Welcome, friend. Hello, everyone.
It is Scrum Deliumpcious of you to join us today. There you go. Rounding out the day,
this is the official fact checker of sooner or gator productions. And a man who's vocabulary is
an everlasting gobstopper. You may know him as Igboonu, but his mom and name him Don Ford. I'm
gonna call him Don Ford. Hey, brother. I know what Alexa Khan is now. You do indeed. You do indeed.
Whenever we get together to review something, we, whenever we get together to review something,
we review something. That's usually the way it works. This is no exception. But we are going to
do the stage. I'm just going to keep chucking like this because I screwed up a word.
It's time for us to talk about something going on this weekend at the Windspir Opera House. It
is the new musical version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. For us, aren't this whole thing?
Yes, sir. We got to thank Cindy. Everybody at the ATT Pack and the Windspir for the invite.
We love our vendors, especially at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The Windspir Opera House
is such a beautiful venue. I love that place. Big fan. New music for the raising of the
chandelier. Written by one of the kids next door at Booker T. Washington High School.
Fantastic. They viewed it last night. Actually, went down a little bit then went up.
Yeah, they actually changed the look like the chandelier changed shape and then all the stuff
went up. It was pretty neat. It was pretty impressive. Fancy, fancy.
So, let's talk about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for a minute.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the book written by Robert Dahl, is one of the very few books I
have read multiple times when I was a kid. Love the 1971 film with a great gene wilder.
And you know, it's a kid that played Charlie. Never acted again, right?
Yep. Just wanted to do it. Yep. Like, carry him from aliens.
That was it. That was the ballgame. So Charlie Bucket is a young poor boy. He was born a young poor boy.
In this particular version, the father is not there. The father has passed. It was him, his mom,
and all four of his grandparents living in a small shack, basically.
And in the stage version, they're fed by him buying like rotten vegetables from a local person
with a shopping cart. And he gets to know a local chocolate store owner that just opens
who may or may not be somebody. And he goes there every day.
We can't buy anything. We talk to the shopkeeper. And he finds out that knowing that the
wonka factory that makes the wonka candies is in his town. They've opened this chocolate store.
They're carrying the wonka chocolates again, which is a big fan of. So through circumstance,
Willy Wonka, the elusive chocolate tier and proprietor of the wonka factory,
says that he is putting, he is hitting a golden ticket in five of his candy bars from around
the world. And the first five people, five kids, to get the golden ticket, can bring a chef
around and go on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity tour of the chocolate factory.
Spoiler alert, Charlie gets one. As do four other young people.
Varuka Salt, yes, that's the name of the band came from.
Augustus Group, Mike TV, and Violet Beauregard. And then here we go.
They do use pure imagination. And I've got a golden ticket. Both of those songs are in this version
of the musical. This version of the musical was written by Mark Shaman.
Guys, got skins on the wall. I'm just saying.
Act one ends as they enter the factory, which I thought was interesting from a pacing standpoint.
This thing with the intermission is two and a half hours, which was surprising for me because
this is a children's story. Roll doll, though, also known for sometimes getting a little real
with his storytelling. And we're going to talk about that here in a minute.
I love this story so much that I was kind of having my arms fought across a little bit when I walked
into the wind spare. I was like, hey, because I really didn't dig the remake that Tim Burton did. It
was okay. But I thought Depp went a little too far over the top with it.
And I just have such a special place. And that, you know, roll doll did not like the 1971 film.
No. So much that he wouldn't let them do Charlie in the great class elevator,
which was very sad because I enjoyed that book very much too.
There are liberties taken here. This is more based on, it's more based in the book than it is in
the films, which is going to throw a lot of people. Because the films took a lot of liberties.
Oh, yeah.
So the chocolate factory itself is the complete second act.
One of my favorite and most poignant moments in the film is not there. Fizzy lifting drink has
mentioned, but it's way later, which is kind of the catalyst for the, you know, the big part
at the ending and everything else. So it didn't, to me, it didn't have the emotional impact
that the, that the film did. Good cast. I mean, you've got Noah Weinberg playing Willy Wonka.
And he, to me, envelops. When I go to the store and I see a Wonka bar, if I go to the movies and
see a Wonka bar, he's the guy I see. So they cast that very well. There's three kids that play Charlie.
We're not sure which one we saw. Maybe either. But there's a rotation. The Kiwi sells. It was great.
And there would have to be at that young of an age. Absolutely. To me, not a weak piece of the cast here.
With some updates, Violet Beauregard is more of an aspiring pop singer.
Baruch assault is actually Russian and she's a ballerina. She was amazing. Yeah, her,
her ballet dead on, nailed, nailed the, the ballerina part of it. But still the spoiled brat.
Just like a Cohen played her in this particular. The rich spoiled brat though. She still has that.
Oh, yeah. Yeah. The father talks like these a lot.
Augustus Gloop, pretty standard. And with a name like that, you kind of got to keep it on the level.
Mike TV is, he's a hacker. Okay, good. So instead of the cowboy, because in the 70s,
cowboys and Indians were the thing. Don's about to get kitty butt in this face.
Jackson has decided to climb Mount Don.
Nice.
He's put his butt right on your head.
No, Jackson's trying to leave. Look at him. He is loving on. If this was a visual medium,
you see Jackson has now decided he is now Don's stall.
Get that to Don will put on the social media. Good job, Jackson.
I enjoyed this musical very, very much.
There, I am not going to deny it. There were a couple of times where I welled up.
Because memories of my childhood came around.
Then it made me happy.
My only issue is this thing's long and it was a school night.
There was a cute moment where Charlie finds the dollar that he buys the Wonka Bar with.
And he yells, Mr, you dropped your dollar and some kid about two rows behind his goes,
he can keep it.
But I really, really enjoyed this. I thought it was a lot of fun.
The technology is really well done in this.
But if I had, if I have a downside, it's just the length of it,
especially given what they took out of it.
Now that's what I think.
Now let's go across the table.
Before we move away from you, really.
Yes, ma'am.
You said some of the original songs are there.
It sounds like there's some other songs.
Oh, yeah, there's 19 songs.
With you and the musician.
Oh, I thought the music was fine.
Okay, thank you.
There is a song towards the end of act one that Charlie's mother sings.
Oh, nice.
That's called if your father were here,
which is very well executed, both singing and the way it's presented.
I thought was really well done.
So now let's go live to the other side of the table.
Don, do you have me?
Yeah, I'm here.
Okay.
I've been saving.
I know you have, because I've read your written review currently located at www.theclubhousepodcast.com.
That's our website.
All right, go.
I'm kind of like you.
Special place in my heart.
Absolutely.
The film came out the year I was born.
And it's something that kind of even shaped me as a child.
I was negative too.
So I was really excited about this.
I know you were.
We talked about it before the music was sitting out in the lobby.
It's saying, hey, this, I hope, you know,
but unfortunately, every once in a while, that doesn't happen.
Now, let me just say before you get into this,
one of the things I thought was really cool.
I don't know if you saw it at the merch stand, the t-shirts.
The way they listed the cities on the back was a nutrition label
that you would get on a food show.
Oh, yeah.
So there are things about this.
I didn't enjoy.
I know there was.
That's the song you talked about that the mother saying.
If your father were here, yeah, great song.
And phenomenal sets and backdrops and all of that,
where they can make the backdrops and the current things expand and all together,
one in the time.
A lot of video work.
Love video work incredible.
And when he walked into that first room of the chocolate factory in the green
with the water, the water, the waterfall of chocolate.
Love that room.
Look beautiful.
I'd like one of those in my home, please.
The chocolate waterfall.
I'll give you a fun doofing for Christmas.
You're going to be better with that because trust me,
because they talked about the original film,
how they actually made it with chocolate and cream.
And it's spoiled by the end of the production.
It's stuck up the old studio.
Oh, I didn't know that.
Yeah, cool.
A little fact, some acting was good.
There was some good comedy.
I agree, fully wholeheartedly.
Yeah.
But Mike T.
He's almost there.
I hate this thing.
Poor Jackson.
Yeah, you scared my cat.
Thanks.
Nice job.
I hated it when I left.
I know you did.
I read your review.
When...
Which I don't understand, but let's roll with it.
No, let me...
I don't know.
This is your time.
This is your time.
But again, this is a discussion.
I understand.
And I remain quiet for 10 minutes.
Right.
You say your speech.
It's been only been on the thing for 12.
Well, okay.
Well, eight minutes.
Now I'm just starting to talk.
But I was set back and here's the thing.
The...
This is like you're saying over two hours.
It is indeed.
The film is only an hour 40.
Correct.
Okay.
This thing is longer than the movie
and there's so many things that they cut out
from the book and from the movie.
Like Mr. Slogzworth.
That thing is totally done.
Not even there.
The...
If it was from the movie,
the fake ticket.
The...
Shuffling, I'm getting the candy bars
and the workers going through the candy bars
to get it for the...
for the rich, spoiled brat daughter.
I mean, there was just so much the...
The wallpaper.
Even the chocolate thing in bed.
And just that talk...
Like the talk he has with this grandpa
that one night.
And...
Oh, let's...
Hopefully this is the one.
Nada!
Nada, nada, nada, nada, nada!
And I think...
Yes, this is a musical.
But I...
You look back at that movie.
The movie...
would be considered maybe a semi-musical.
Because there are a lot of songs in that.
And they made a good musical movie.
But on this one here,
yes, I may understand some musical production.
But they had some wasted useless...
what I call songs that were not needed.
And why did they do those useless songs
when they're cutting important things out of the story?
This is the first time that the Fantastic Faith Ford
has ever heard of the story and seen it.
And this is how she's introduced
and it makes me very sad.
But does that motivate you more to show her the film?
Oh, yeah, I'm different in on that.
Yeah, there you go.
We're going to get the books of the net.
You know...
Is that on there?
I'm going to find out.
All right.
If it is, she's going to be watching that.
Fair enough.
Okay.
Y'all will be watching it together.
And this is...
I understand that this was a...
a new version, a modern version,
like with the Apple and stuff like that
for my TV and stuff.
But this is one of the few productions
where I literally almost walked out
because how two characters
end up leaving the chocolate factory on the tour
is not even close to
how it happened in the book or the movies.
And how they did it
was very uncalled for, in my opinion.
And it may be really disgusted.
Okay.
It really made me disgusted,
especially how one person left the factory.
And this is supposed to...
and there are a bunch of kids there.
And I'm going,
how would I explain that to my kids?
It's an interesting point that you make.
I guess for me,
there was a comedic element to it
so that it wasn't...
And I think we could both agree.
It wasn't graphic per se.
Because it was very apparent
that there were stage props involved.
Now, from a kid's standpoint,
I can see how you would say that.
Younger kids that don't understand
how stage props work.
I can roll with that.
But even the point of making it,
that's how it happens.
And there was just so much mist from this.
And that they could have added
in a bunch of useless songs
that I was just like,
what's the point of this?
And that one scene just disgusted me.
It disgusted me.
I...
This is...
This goes on the list with Matilda with me.
As you said in your written review,
currently located at www.theclubhousepodcast.com.
That's our website.
And unless Matilda comes back,
or there's something else,
when we do a year-end,
trust me,
this is not going to be anywhere near the top of my favorites.
Okay.
I was just hugely,
hugely disappointed on this.
I guess I just didn't see it
the same way you did.
I just was caught up in the whole thing,
and I just loved it.
But here's the thing.
You walked into it,
hesitant about what they were going to do about it.
There.
We'll do it with it.
Don walked in.
Yay!
They're doing my thing.
Do you think the fact that you had
different levels of expectation going in
may have factored into the two of you
having such polar opposite results of viewing it?
That's fair.
Maybe a little.
But here's another thing.
It's just that I wish they would have had more
of the big staple points
in the less of the useless music.
That really was like,
this is just...
There were certain elements
that I wish would have kept in there.
And that may have been financial
as far as the music.
They probably had to pay some kind of royalties,
most of their own songs.
And I think that
the fact that I didn't get to line
at the snazbearies taste like snazbearies
was a little disappointing.
But there were good things I love,
but it's just...
No, we're there oompa lumpus.
Oh, that's good.
Well, let's add this on a high note.
Yeah.
This show lives and dies by the oompa lumpus.
Let's just call it what it is.
Yes.
The way they did the oompa lumpus in this
is magical.
Loved it.
The first time the oompa lumpus showed up,
the place went nuts.
And it's not the oompa lumpus songs
that you get in the film either.
They kind of had their own bit.
And there's even a song
that where Willy Wonka sings about how he met them.
And now is...
And I remember in the book,
the story about how they met them.
Are they the...
a new version of oompa lumpus?
Or do they look like the 70s version?
Or do they look like...
They look like neither.
They look like...
Do they got their own love?
Whole new concept.
And I don't even want to...
I don't even want to give away on air how they did it.
You just kind of have to see it,
because it's done...
For real yet.
Yeah, and I would say that.
I loved it.
I loved that part.
Yeah, and I mean it was...
I'm telling you, they got a round of applause
the minute the first one came on stage.
Oh, fantastic.
And there was what, eight of them?
At the beginning of the day.
So, like, eight to 12, yeah.
And a lot of them.
And they rotated numbers.
And when we take a picture of how they did it
after we get off air,
it'll amaze you even more.
Yeah.
Great question.
But if we don't forget to talk about that,
I'd have been disappointed in myself.
Because I'm a big fan of the oompa lumpus.
So, my...
Now, did either of you leave craving a chocolate bar?
Yeah, I went home and ate candy.
That's just a day of that incident.
Why?
But I had to wait till the morning,
so I could have my one Reese's Cup in the morning.
I thought I had a really good chocolate chip cookie
that I was good at.
I had one of those little many things of her season crackle.
Oh, crackle's one of my favorites.
I love crackle.
Big fan of the crackle.
So, she was the special dark?
Oh, yeah.
That's all I'm saying.
All right, let's get to the final analysis.
She's on the chocolates.
Because now I'm getting hungry and I haven't eaten dinner yet.
And I still got to do laundry.
The way we do the final analysis on the show,
we're not going to give you a thumbs up, thumbs down,
we're not going to give you a letter of grades,
numbers, golden tickets, anything like that.
Two questions.
Question number one is, would we see this again?
The answers are no, then we're done here.
The answer is yes.
Since this is a stage production,
it's going to be where we just sit.
Is it close?
You sit?
The more the money is.
Done, I'm just going to ask you for it
because I think we know where this is going.
Would you see Charlie and the chocolate
factor in the new musical again?
Heavens, no.
I will not recommend it in any way, shape or form.
I hated it.
Rob, would you see this production again?
Totally would.
I enjoy this very much.
How close to stage would you like to get?
We sat in the back of the lower bowl.
And I think that's about right.
I mean, they had all four balconies open during this production.
Do you think there were any bad seats?
Or do you think everybody had a really good perspective?
I don't think there was anything that was
what a block to view.
Maybe the top closest to the stage, maybe
because of how they did the Oopalupas.
That might have given that away a little bit more than you should.
That's a fair point.
All right, at the wind spear opera house
through Sunday, but touring around the nation.
First, let me say it.
I thought you would talk to you.
No, it's Charlie and the chocolate factory.
A new musical.
All right, for this whole thing.
Yes, sir.
We got things sitting here.
We have the ATT back in the wind spear.
We love them all.
We love our vendors.
And the packet tickets let us watch shows.
Pretty awesome to check them out.
Let's do the plugs.
Visit our website where you can find Don's written review
as well as mine.
It is www.theclubhousepodcast.com.
Follow us on social media.
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All three words in that order.
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That Rob Urban that has spelled E-R-V-I-N.
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I'm Jen Rome, home on Instagram.
In a Twitter, I'm at Igboonu, IGBUN-U-U-U.
Check out all of our great stuff on the Vocal Now app
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Also, you can email me Don at ClubhousePodcast.com.
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I'm going to go pound sand.
I'm Rob at the clubhousepodcast.com.
Face at the house waiting on Don.
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So until next time for Don,
General Man in the Empire,
I'm Rob.
Clubhouse is closed.
Brittany Palmer.
She could have been like the tour guide and helping out Willy Wonka.
Why do I have to keep coming up with this stuff for you people?