Should the government step in and shut down Spiderman?

Posted: 10/30/10 at 4:01am

It's obviously a horrible mess, way, way over budget and sucking up resources that could be better used by any number of other, better shows and now we hear it is a death trap in the making. If a can opener factory or a donut shop was causing this sort of mayhem, I have no doubt authorities would take action. When will this Broadway calamity get the same sort of oversight??? When an actor is killed? When some bankrupt producer burns down the theater for the insurance money??
Updated On: 10/30/10 at 04:01 AM

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 5:24am

Although it's pretty bad for someone to get injured while working in a show, I think we should just give this a chance. Who knows for sure what it's going to be like? Lets talk about closing it down AFTER the show opens first

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 5:56am

Because if it's GOOD that makes it "ok" to be dangerous?


While I think Joekv is a little overboard, at least his thougts are proactive and looking out for the welfare of others.


The fact about how much money has been spent is hardly a concern to any government affiliation. (Spending is good.) It's a private venture, and unless folks have been coerced into investing, they all chose to continue to throw money at this show.

[Kevn520]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 8:21am

Personally, I think the government has far more important issues to contend with.

Let the unions sort it out if there truly is a safety issue. On the flip side, the actors could choose not to be employed in this show. Why should the government step in to save people from their own employment choices?

[fade2black2]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 8:33am

OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health administration) is a Government organization that is surely involved already. Between that entity, the Union and the City, there should be plenty of safe guards. If it truly is a significant danger to the actors or audience, I think these groups will work together to make it safer for all.

[cantstandbrody]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 9:00am

FYI OSHA is invovled after accidents most of the time . The NY Board of Labor are the people who look at stunts and approve them . As far as actors go(not all of them ) once they get the job they are usally to scared to speak up for there saftey because they think it CAN hinder jobs in the future as well.This is were you need to realize the skill set of the stagehands.Many times ive seen them stick up for actors when they see something that is to dangerous .Alot of the time it falls on deaf ears .That is when the BOL needs to be contacted .There is a Board of Labor article 41 I believe that is regarding flying over the audience. All flights in a show have to be submitted to the BOL and im quite sure that when Spidey presents the finished flights and BOL looks at it .They will surely remove anything that they deem to risky . You need to give them the space to try stuff .Also before actors are flying they were using stunt people who are trained to do stuff like this . Ive seen actors injured by aggresive choreography too . Unfortunatly injuries happen .The key is not to repeat them . As far as RIEDELS article in the post he is a little dramatic and his "facts" arent all accurate .this post is strictly MY opinion and not meant to offend anyone . Just info!best of luck spidey !!!PS have you ever seen some of the shows in Las Vegas . Automation ,flying etc that boggle the mind and yes dangerous too !!

[Baileyboo]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 10:15am

Not sure if Joe is serious or not.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 10:23am

"On the flip side, the actors could choose not to be employed in this show"

In this economy, RIGHT?

Hmm, maybe I won't work on the highest profile show this year.

The guy broke bones and is back a week later. I'm thinking he doesn't have a ton of options right now.

That's a pretty naive statement.

[willep]

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

This isn't the first show that actors have gotten injured while working on, and it won't be the last. Frankly, the only reason that it was big news is because everyone wants this show to fail and there is such hype around the show itself.

[Q]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 11:26am

"Not sure if Joe is serious or not."

Apparently, you're not alone.

I'm pretty sure.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 2:30pm

Know how many people CLAIM to have been at the opening of "Frankenstein" or "Carrie?" Enough to give the shows a decent run, had they really attended. Who wouldn't want to work on what may be the biggest hit - or the greatest flop - of the last ten years? It's like a front row seat at the Collesium.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 8:37pm

I would rather not let the government begin to have a say in what is "safe" and what is not in terms of theatre. It may sound extremist, but that's the first baby-step toward government mandated censorship.

[dramarama3]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 8:41pm

When I saw the thread title I assumed this was a joke...

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 8:48pm

"It's obviously a horrible mess, way, way over budget and sucking up resources that could be better used by any number of other, better shows"

Why couldn't they have done that for the "101 Dalmatians Musical?"

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 8:50pm

I'm with nomderubberroom: the governor or possibly the president must step in to save our actors, our nation's most precious national resource. This is one of the many reasons we have been lobbying to have our actors put on the endangered species list, so this kind of reckless Taymorian endangerment cannot cause ever-more dwindling numbers in actor herds.

[Kevn520]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 8:53pm

"That's a pretty naive statement."

No, it's not. It's called dealing with the consequences of your choices.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 8:59pm

Yeah, totally. Those people who work in meat processing plants who cut off their fingers because they're on their feet 9 hours a day and have quotas to fulfill and cancerous growths to cut off the carcasses? That's their choice.

[Kevn520]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 9:09pm

I'm just saying that if something about your job puts you at risk for a significant injury, don't do it. Or if you do stick with it, have some understanding of the risk you are taking.

[outdamnwench]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 9:55pm

All actors who are at risk of danger sign an extraordinary risk rider. They are all well aware of the risks they are taking, especially on a show of this budget and scale.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/30/10 at 9:55pm

Well, Joe. I hope you're happy.

This is the Main Board, remember.

[PopAria]

Posted: 10/31/10 at 12:09am

The government should step in to close down McDonald's and Big Tobacco companies before closing this show down. Don't get crrazy.

Now lets talk about how Spider-man can help us... Maybe donations to my college-loan pay-back charity? :)

[JMPlayer6]

Posted: 10/31/10 at 12:26am

Perhaps the question should be: should the government step in and shut down the waste of bandwidth and the asking of dumb questions on this website?

[quitetheatrical23]

Posted: 10/31/10 at 1:33am

Yeah, why hasn't Obama fixed Spiderman? Doesn't seem like change you can believe in! (note sarcasm)

[James885]

Posted: 10/31/10 at 3:58am

I'm not sure if the OP was actually serious, but the government getting involved in Spider-Man is an absolutely ridiculous notion.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/31/10 at 4:31am

Hillary would never have allowed it to get this far!