SPIDER-MAN to Shut Down for 2-3 Weeks; 3 Month Delay in Opening?- Page 3

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 10:25am

But 'boobs, don't you remember how often people here have reported on the most minor little goofs of shows and how other people responded?

"Oh my god, at RENT tonight a tiny piece of Maureen's drumstick broke off a the beginning of 'Over the Moon.' Squeegee Man was trying so hard not to crack up."

"Oh my god, that sounds AMAZING. I wish I had seen that!"

"Does anybody know if they're planning to have Maureen's drumstick break again?"

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 10:33am

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/theater/julie-taymor-spider-man.html?_r=1&ref=arts

Julie may have been out overnight?

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 10:37am

"I do not think cutting Arachne is a good idea at all. She just needs to be better incorporated into the story."

She practically IS the story, certainly in the second act. Get rid of her altogether. I didn't give a hoot in hell about her, her shoes, her myth, or anything else about her. I just kept wishing she would go away.

Now we have the opportunity for that to happen, and oh, would the show be better for it!

The only thing worse than Arachne were those insufferable Geeks. Get rid of them, please!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 10:42am

Does anyone here honestly believe that 3 weeks is enough to make the changes necessary to this show?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 10:58am

I imagine the Geek Chorus will be cut. I doubt they're going to eliminate Arachne, since that would involve re-writing the entire second act, and there just isn't time for that.

Does anyone here honestly believe that 3 weeks is enough to make the changes necessary to this show?

No, like I said earlier, this is nothing more than re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Ashley might be able to improve the pacing a bit, but that's about it.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 10:58am

IMO, the only way for Julie to save face or hang on to a shread of "artistic" integrity, is to say STOP! I created it and it goes no further without me.
Close the thing and let everyone be done with it.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 11:03am

As adamgreer said, there is not enough time to get rid of Arachne. She is a major character and is central to the current plot. Taking her out would mean conpletely rewriting the show. It just won't happen. I dot think that all the show's problems can be fixed in three weeks. The show can definitely improve and become better, but some of the problems with this show are not fixable.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 11:16am

I have a strong feeling that a new script has already been written and that this break is coming in because the producers now have all of their pieces in place (including a new director, and maybe a few new tunes from Bono and the Edge).

I don't think that the show is going to be a masterpiece once it reopens (which I think will probably be closer to 6 weeks) but it will definitely be better.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 11:54am

And will they NOW stop calling it the 65 Million Dollar musical? I am sure they will spend about 5 Million per week when the shutter for those weeks. NOT including the cost of the rewrite, new director,buying people out of their contracts etc.

[fallingawake]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 11:58am

Just walked by the theatre as someone pulled the 'now in previews; opening march 15" sign from the door. There were also two news crews setting up cameras outside. I have tickets for the mat today, so I'm curious what's gonna happen

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 12:26pm

For God's sake, just close the damn thing and be done with it. Julie can do her puppet shows in the boondocks if that's what revs her engine.

[JMPlayer6]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 12:41pm

I totally agree with CapnHook.

And I will say again for what I believe is the third time on this board: I think that someone saying this is the worst musical ever has not seen very many Brodaway musicals! Or else they are too focused on someone else's money. (It's not my money; why should I care?) Is the show good? Not really. (I saw it in January.) Can it be improved? Of course it CAN be. Why not? Will it be improved? We'll see.

[p.s.]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 1:30pm

Why not open on the 15th; then close; sell off the rights, sets, leases, etc., to a new production company (at $30 million or whatever it is deemed to be worth); and take the tax losses? The new group could then take its time (6 weeks or more?) to reinvent a show that could work on Broadway.


p.s. There could be a naming contest for the new show. Any suggestions?

[Kevn520]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 1:55pm

It looks like the June 12th performance has been cancelled, which is the potential new opening date (not that it even matters anymore).

[Neverandy]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 2:16pm

I'm 32 years old. I grew up in the nyc metro area. With very few exceptions (when I was in college or working as an actor in regional theaters or in Broadway National Tours)I have seen every Broadway musical that has opened since 1996. Spiderman is the absolute worst.

[yournamehere]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 2:36pm

Three weeks is enough only if they plan to keep Act One mostly the same (cut out Arachne, Geek Chorus) since that wasn't really all that terrible. If they follow strictly to the traditional Spider-Man story, the book should be the easy part. Are they even considering the score a problem? Who knows.

[Brick]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 2:46pm

I take no glee is seeing Taymor step down from this project after 9 years. She might have been filled with hubris and lack taste on being able to evaluate its quality, but the mess of this show has been weak producing. Weren't other B'way producers saying months ago if the producers were serious about making changes they'd shut down and reopen with new material. Months ago.

I think its a bit sad to see all the vitriol saved for Taymor.

[yournamehere]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 2:49pm

I think that it is also a lot harder to be so close to the project and see its inherit flaws. I am sure, to Taymor, Arachne and all of those plot points made sense. I don't think all of it is ego. It sucks but if she isn't willing to take help then she needs to go and ultimately an inability to work with others is the reason she's no longer on the project.

[Brick]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 3:04pm

I agree, but Cohl change of heart is what's suspect here.

It implies that Cohl has wanted major changes all along and she has resisted working with others. Or if the thought of new collaborators is coming now, then once again, weak producing.

I don't buy that Producer Cohl was on a completely different page than she was for 5 months: he thought it needed lots of work, she thought it just needed tweaks and some coming-together.

What it looks like was they both thought it was in pretty decent shape, but needed a little more work. He trusted her to make the changes, she's slowly been doing it given the large size of the show and the fact that he wanted to keep the show running to bring in money. It was selling well for awhile because of curiosity, but he thought audiences were truly loving the show, even with the kinks to be worked-out. Then, as grosses dipped recently, he realized he needed a stronger show to keep the audiences coming and launch future productions. Then, suddenly, he and Taymor aren't on the same page, other artists are needed, she balks, and we're here.

Bottom line: she wasn't the boss or she wouldn't be getting fired. And where has the boss been all this time?
Updated On: 3/9/11 at 03:04 PM

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 4:18pm

Three weeks is enough only if they plan to keep Act One mostly the same (cut out Arachne, Geek Chorus) since that wasn't really all that terrible.


Act One (aside from the terrible terrible Geek Chorus) wasn't that bad. It's Act Two that is dreadful, especially that ending which makes no sense whatsoever. (That said, I found none of the music to be memorable, so while the first act is OK plot-wise, it's still overall a really awful musical.) I don't think 3 weeks will be enough time to completely re-write, score, rehearse and block a whole new act. Unless they already have something fully written, it's just going to end up being superficial changes that are not really going to amount to anything significant.

I couldn't care less about the budget, as it's not my money they're spending. If they want to spend $200 million of their own money on the show, then go for it.

Updated On: 3/9/11 at 04:18 PM

[fitz2]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 4:45pm

So Musical Theatre Review xxx

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 4:52pm

If the songs stay the same the show will never get "positive" reviews. End of story. And Bono's not doing **** to change to anything.

[yournamehere]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 6:38pm

There ARE some songs that aren't that bad. I just think that if they are going to tell the same Spider-Man story again that everyone is used to, wouldn't the real issue be a score and NOT the book?

They can just use the Spider-Man movie script. I doubt anyone would complain compared to THIS book.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 6:45pm

^ EXACTLY! The book should have been the easy part. It is a story everyone knows and loves.

[Marie2]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 7:33pm

Personally I'm looking forward to the musical ABOUT the debacle that is the Spiderman musical. Somebody has GOT to write one.