Spider-Man rep speaks out on the "early" reviews- Page 4

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 10:38pm

I have never once given my opinion on this show. How could I? I've never seen it.

You are the one going on about the creative teams thoughts. But now I know you got your information from ushers, who are never in the theatre when they are rehearsing.

Thanks.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 10:39pm

I'm being told Julie has locked herself in a dressing room backstage and is has been eating pounds of Hershey's candy and listening to Whitney Houstons "I Have Nothing" on a loop for 24 hours.

So I've been told.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 10:44pm

dramamama611: and that information is false. Bono and The Edge are working on the score. I don't know why it was reported otherwise.

I am not accusing anyone here of starting that rumor. I am accusing people here of being naive enough to believe every thing they read. Newspapers - journalists - often get it wrong. In this case, they have.

Yet again. I have no problem with you disliking the show. I only take issue when you write that Ms. Taymor's ego blah blah blah... You don't know Ms. Taymor and her ego. From all accounts - and perhaps they too are wrong - her company adores her.

If you are so apt to quote the journalist who wrote that no changes were being made, why are you not willing to quote the cast and crew who all are totally onboard with Ms. Taymor? Comment on what you believe is her lack of taste, or bad choices, or even bad writing, or direction. Those are your opinions and you - and everyone - is entitled to them. Why be so nasty as to speculate that Ms. Taymor is the unfeeling monster so many posters here have protested to know.

The comments regarding her reaction to the safety issues were just plain disgusting. Again, from all inside accounts she was heartsick over what happened. She offered no resistance to making the necessary safety adjustments. Yet, from the posts here, one would take away that she was personally responsible and almost intentionally directed the danger into the show for the purposes of getting the publicity. How ugly is that!?
Updated On: 2/8/11 at 10:44 PM

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 10:49pm

So where are the changes to the score? I'm sorry...but after this long in previews their should have been something. And again, this is straight from Taymor's mouth...THERE ARE NO MAJOR CHANGES COMING!

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 10:53pm

Plus there was a quote from Taymor not long ago basically saying I know everyone hates the shoe song but it's staying. If she were really interested in hearing feedback about the show and fixing it for the better, she could get all the feedback she wanted. Though she was happy to talk to you and hear your opinions, do you think she would have been as kind had you been negative in your opinions? Clearly she's only looking for people who will allow her to continue her delusion that this is a worthwhile show.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 10:54pm

"from all inside accounts..."

"From all accounts - and perhaps they too are wrong - her company adores her."

"Again, from all inside accounts she was heartsick over what happened."

All of this is from the ushers?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 10:59pm

First: I never said ANYTHING about Taymor, her ego, or how the cast feels about her. I have only ever commented ON THE SHOW.

Second: Why is it ok for YOU to "spread rumors" of what you have read/heard but no one else can? And as some of the previous posters have said: Julie, her almighty-self, has claimed that there will be no major revisions -- repeatedly.

I have no idea how the cast and crew feel about her, but I DO know that no sane person would be badmouthing their boss in public -- no matter what job they have.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 11:01pm

She should have puppies run across the stage every few minutes. Seriously.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 11:02pm

If you are so apt to quote the journalist who wrote that no changes were being made, why are you not willing to quote the cast and crew who all are totally onboard with Ms. Taymor?

Because the cast and crew are PAID to be totally onboard. Wake up.

Journalists are reporting that no major changes are planned. You heard differently. Clearly, someone is lying. Why can't you consider the possibility that just maybe, YOUR information is what is false? Somebody lied. It could just as easily have been to you.

You saw the show once, as you admit. Some posters, and a few reviewers, have seen it multiple times and have reported very few noticeable changes. I'd rather believe them than an usher who decided to gush about how they loooooooove working with Julie Taymor on the show that is currently paying their rent, instead of doing his job.

Updated On: 2/8/11 at 11:02 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 11:14pm

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 11:38pm

"Any of the people who review the show and say that it has no redeeming value are just not legitmate reviewers, period. It's hard to have people that don't get pop culture reviewing a pop culture event, isn't it?"

What? What? WHAT!?

[billyboyA]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 12:11am

All right, I normally wouldn't post personal info about myself publicly, but as a working professional actor who has had roles in NY and also in several TV shows & films, I MYSELF have been I'm situations with shows where I felt there were problems with the script or misguided passions of a director and STILL loved my show and the director. I've heard the same reports directly from cast members that they love being in the show and love her creativity and passion for her work. That doesn't mean that they also think the choices are all right choices. It IS possible to be in a show you love doing in spite of it being a bad show. Case in point: Cats. No actor worth their salt thinks it's a very good show, but almost all that I know who have done it, had FUN doing it.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 12:17am

By the way, Scott, as much as we disagree on the merits of thle script, I think if we were to have met in the real world, I would have really liked you and enjoyed talking with you. I love your passion and love for the show, in spite of being in the minority. Taste is SO personal and objective and something about this show resonated with you... And I'm really glad you had that experience. Isn't that what we ALL want when we see a new show - to feel the way Scott does about this show? Let's all show him respect, because this show GAVE him that wonderful feeling and he gets to enjoy something the rest of us can't on this outing. Let him enjoy it.

[Barney Stinson]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 12:30am

I have a hard time believing that Bono and the Edge are going to be sitting down with Taymor and doing much work on the score in the near future, considering that they have 2 concerts in South Africa next week.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 12:35am

I kind of find the fact that Bono and the Edge are just choosing to basically ignore the work that needs to be done on the score during this extended preview period (when would can and should be done) embarrassing. Like it's a back-burner project for them. At least Julie's there.

[willheim2]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 12:53am

i think it is fun that bono and edge have kept a low profile. it's a tiny little side project to them, they are so far above the noise they dont even hear it. 65 million is about 25 percent of their staging costs for this current tour.

i wish my little side projects could be things like working with taymor on a huge broadway show!

how many talented, gifted wonderful composers i know that would die to have this opportunity and would have done so much with it!

of course, these guys dont have much marquis value...

i hate typing on my friggini pad.

another day cone to an end

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 12:58am

billyboyA: Perhaps one day it we will meet. I have to say that I thought your review well written and intelligent.

[PReeves2]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 4:19am

it's all a tax write off to bono and the edge. going to be making plenty of money in years '10 and '11

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 7:11am

Brantley did not use the tech glitches to TRASH the show, he praised them as being the only entertaining and interesting thing to happen that night.

[julesboogie]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 9:38am

Billyboya, you're dead on. "Drinking the cool-aid" is a huge part of being an actor. If you actually think the show you're in is crap... we as an audience will read it all over your performance.


Frankly, Spidey is here to stay! The show is absolutely reviewer proof. Other shows would kill for the type of publicity this show has gotten(Spidey only had to maim). Also to have the time to build the word of mouth needed to make a show run at this capacity and ticket price. Do i think the delays were meant to give them that time... maybe not the first two. But do i think they realized that they could sell to capacity and at top prices, without opening/reviews/et.al? YES! I think they completely knew the reviewers were chomping at the bit to rip this show to shreds. I mean when you boast about how ground breaking you are, you paint a target on yourself! With those few extra weeks of word of mouth and blood lust, i bet advanced sales went thru the roof. People will be clamoring to see Spidey, come hell or Ben Brantley.

And now that the reviewers have been unmuzzled, Spidey can play victim. Its all so smart from a publicity/marketing stand point.

All that said, still haven't seen the show. But plan to eventually.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 9:42am

This show us not reviewer proof. It will sell for a while out of sheer curiosity, but there's only so long a show with horrendous reviews and even worse word of mouth can survive.

[julesboogie]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 9:54am

Disagree. There's never been any positive word of mouth. People are paying to see the fiasco. And tourists are paying to see a brand they know and trust. I dont think the reviews will have a thing to do with its closing. If it does close, then yes it could be because people lost interest. But again... we're so far in that i dont think reviews will have much of a sway. If the Spidey folks continue to play their spin cards right, i think they could rack up a healthy advance.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 10:08am

This is one of the funniest threads in a while!!

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 10:37am

How is the show reviewer proof? This show has gotten more publicity than any show in recent history and it's still not selling out.

[leefowler]

Posted: 2/9/11 at 10:40am

julesboogie, you're assuming that the interest in the show will sustain itself over a long period of time. But by the end of the year, Spider-Man will be passe, and people will stop caring. If this show had normal operating costs, I think it could run a while, but since it needs a million dollars a week just to break even, then it really doesn't have much of a chance.

For a 65 million dollar show to succeed, it has to be perfect. And Spider-Man isn't perfect.