Broadway Pulse: Newsday Critic Sees SPIDER-MAN

[Rob]

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

A new trend?
Click Here to Read Broadway Pulse: Newsday Critic Sees SPIDER-MAN Updated On: 12/25/10 at 10:12 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/25/10 at 10:24pm

I don't understand what the fuss is. Her article really wasn't a review. It certainly didn't impart as must opinion as Reidel's 1st post-preview column did, and he also openly admitted seeing the show. I'm sure these two aren't alone either...

[Disneyland Magic Man]

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

Don't act like this is a "new trend". It's happened in the past when shows disgracefully push back their opening. Beatlemania anyone?

I applaud this critic for doing this. Others should follow suit. Yes, normal Broadway shows should have the privacy of fixing things before the press comes in, but Spider Man is far from normal... The show is almost a year overdue, and they're charging ridiculous prices for tickets. Not to mention that the show is marketting itself as in performances, they only pull the Preview card when being criticized.

Broadway should learn from this whether the show does well or not. Treat your preview period like a preview period, drop preview prices, and fix your show for an attainable opening night.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/25/10 at 10:29pm

That was more of just an article with audience members' thoughts than a critic's offical review... At least in my opinion anyways.

Updated On: 12/25/10 at 10:29 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/25/10 at 10:56pm

SPIDER-MAN should be treated different because it is "far from normal" and "over-due?" Based on that criteria, then EVERY show fits.

Should the incoming Broadway production of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH be treated different? It's been nearly a year since it planned to come to Broadway. Fact is -- many shows can plan all they want, but $H*T HAPPENS.

Until Opening Night, a show should be protected from reviews. That being said, it is OUTRAGEOUS for a show to charge as high as they do for a ticket price during the preview period. SPIDER-MAN joins the family of Broadway shows that did this...which would be ALL of them.

[Brick]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 12:28am

^And I believe this is the true problem with the preview privacy situation. If only producers would go back to a reduced price ticket for previews, they'd have more ground on which to stand in these scenarios.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 12:48am

Untraditional preview period = Untraditional preview response

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 1:15am

I'm on the fence about this...it certainly is more of a overview of the night rather then a in depth review. She clearly stays away from stating HER opinion, therefore not really making it a "review" however she does include audience reaction which I think is fair game...esp. for a show that is charging these prices for PREVIEWS. Yes...many shows have high ticket prices during previews, many shows also experience flaws...but Spider-Man has been a show that is begging for publicity, eating money like it's donuts, has a outspoken director, high profile creative team, huge franchise attached, large stunts (that prove to be a tad on the dangerous side,) and is quickly losing a lot of positive word of mouth if I'm not mistaken. So to a degree, I can see why critics are gonna start sneaking in and seeing wtf is going on.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 1:19am

I thought Wiener's piece (column?) was rather soft.
If you are going to the trouble of buying a tkt, commenting on the length and price of previews, than say something about the damn show Linda.

[dented146]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 2:28am

I'm curious if any other musicals have opened on Broadway without a previous out of town tryout or an off Broadway run.

Usually the musicals which begin in San Diego run a week or two in previews prior to opening night. The prices are less than than Spiderman but still in the $60-$80 range.

It seems to me that it's only fair to wait for the reviews when it comes to story and music etc. But the technical fiascos taking place should have been completely ironed out in a warehouse somewhere.

[philly03]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 2:37am

Frank Wildhorn's "The Scarlet Pimpernel" opened cold on Broadway in Fall 1997. The show got lackluster reviews (save for it's unknown star in the title role Douglas Sills), despite having a stellar cast (Sills, Terrence Mann & Christine Andreas), a large budget, and a concept album released 5 years prior.

Others: "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" from this season, and "Elf" (both this season); and Andrew Lloyd Webber opened "Cats," "Phantom of the Opera," "Aspects of Love," "The Woman in White" and "SUNSET BLVD." in London without try-outs.

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 2:43am

The list of shows that opened on Broadway without an out of town tryout is actually too long. It is not uncommon.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 2:55am

Legs Diamond
One Night Stand
Rockabye Hamlet
A Broadway Musical

[twinbelters]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 3:05am

Capeman
Merrily We Roll Along
Side Show
Nine

[dry2olives]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 5:00am

In 1979 Sarava ran for a then-unheard of 38 previews, postponing opening night three times while flooding the television airwaves with a lively commercial that said nothing about being in previews. I believe that Clive Barnes, then writing for the Post, was the critic who broke the ice and decided to publish a review, beginning with a disclaimer explaining the situation.

[JMPlayer6]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 6:30am

The article by this critic does cross the line into review, in my view---not even close. Nor do I see anything in it that suggests that, when her actual review does comes out, the review wouldn't be unbiased.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 7:47am

Per the article, now they have poor Joshua Kobak doing the stunts in Tierney's stead.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 8:34am

It's such a softball article, I'd be surprised if I didnt find out the producers reimbursed her for her ticket cost. It's not quite a Valentine to the show, but it does seem written to encourage folks to come take a look at it -- at full price, of course.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 8:54am

The critic has done this for attention, plain and simple. I would not be shocked if any press tickets Newsday had get pulled. I hope so.

[canmark]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 9:12am

I think Spider-Man has become a major theatre NEWS item, and any theatre journalist would be remiss to not follow it closely. And how can you really understand the issues with the staging and the injuries (was it poor design, human error or recklessness) unless you've actually seen the show?

The article was written as an article (quoting people who saw the show, rather than providing her own analysis), so I don't think there's a problem. It would be inappropriate for critics to review a show before it's ready, but as we all know, this rule does not apply to amateur critics, bloggers and any old anybody who posts their opinions (and bootleg videos) on the Internet. One can't blame legit critics/journalists from being worried about being scooped by the general theatre-going public.

Updated On: 12/26/10 at 09:12 AM

[ActingIsLovee]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 12:23pm

i know i'm being a tad overly sensitive here, but the quote from one of the audience members "Besides, if I want art, I'll go to see 'Carmen' at the Met. This is entertainment." kind of felt like a stab in the heart. it's heartbreaking that broadway is no longer seen as art, and is becoming more and more of a theme park.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 12:52pm

I thought the article was completely appropriate. It was fair and clearly not a review.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 2:18pm

"Yes, normal Broadway shows should have the privacy of fixing things before the press comes in, but Spider Man is far from normal"

Dumbest thing ever posted.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 3:14pm

>> it's heartbreaking that broadway is no longer seen as art, and is becoming more and more of a theme park.

It hasnt been "art" in years -- if ever, actually -- with a few exceptions. It has always been a business, creating a product people will buy. I mean, seriously, you think Gershwin sat down at the piano to write "art"? Porter? Loesser? They were all insanely talented guys, but they went into this to make a living, not to create art. SPIDERMAN is just taking it all to the next level by creating "event theatre" that, in the process, is packing the houses with people who came not to see art but to get a musical thrill ride.

[Disneyland Magic Man]

Posted: 12/26/10 at 3:15pm

^ Why? The press is getting antsy. It's not a rule to wait, it's called being respectful.

And other shows in Broadway's history have had the press come in when opening night has been pushes back multiple times. It's a sign that the show is not in good shape, and reviewers want to let the public know this to sway people from spending money on the show.

That's the point of a bad review.