#1
Posted: 5/12/11 at 8:46pm
Well it's intermission and, well, it's a little different. Some new music, some new scenes, some cut stuff, some of the same. Still boring and completely uninteresting.
#2
Posted: 5/12/11 at 8:49pm
And wasn't the first act always the "better" of the two to begin with?
"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter."
Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.
#4
Posted: 5/12/11 at 8:49pm
Did anyone fall from the sky yet?
Updated On: 5/12/11 at 08:49 PM
#5
Posted: 5/12/11 at 8:50pm
It started at 7:30.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#6
Posted: 5/12/11 at 8:51pm
Lol.
No nobody has fallen yet. Maybe someone will I'm act two.
No nobody has fallen yet. Maybe someone will I'm act two.
#7
Posted: 5/12/11 at 8:53pm
I think it's SO much better. Still not totally engaging theater, but the book has undergone a complete overhaul. Few lines of dialogue are retained from the original book. Relationships are much better defined and characters are fleshed out. I'm in shock that they actually improved the book so much.
Now the bland score sticks out even more. At least the songs are set up in more coherent way.
Now the bland score sticks out even more. At least the songs are set up in more coherent way.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#10
Posted: 5/12/11 at 9:01pm
I agree that the songs are still weak (although I must admit the melodies aren't so elusive after seeing it a few times). I wish they had done equal improvement to the score as to the book.
Jen now has new colorful costumes and her friendship with peter makes more sense.
Jen now has new colorful costumes and her friendship with peter makes more sense.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#11
Posted: 5/12/11 at 9:02pm
I was composing the post below before I saw WhizzerMarvin's dispatch... Thanks, Whizzer, that's more like what I had expected to hear from folks tonight.
- - -
I realize the bulk of the major book changes will likely appear in the second act, but Jordan, you really didn't notice any significant change in the way the story is told; characters and plot lines are introduced? I didn't expect the score to change very much because all along it seemed that Bono was not admitting that the problems lay with his songs as well as the book and direction.
I'm greatly looking forward to reading your assessment at the end of the evening. Thanks for the dispatches!
- - -
I realize the bulk of the major book changes will likely appear in the second act, but Jordan, you really didn't notice any significant change in the way the story is told; characters and plot lines are introduced? I didn't expect the score to change very much because all along it seemed that Bono was not admitting that the problems lay with his songs as well as the book and direction.
I'm greatly looking forward to reading your assessment at the end of the evening. Thanks for the dispatches!
#12
Posted: 5/12/11 at 9:31pm
"No nobody has fallen yet. Maybe someone will I'm act two."
You're act two? Cool.
You're act two? Cool.
#13
Posted: 5/12/11 at 9:45pm
It's a typo. It happens. Especially when posting from a cell phone. I'm just grateful for the reviews.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#14
Posted: 5/12/11 at 9:49pm
Ha. Some people on these boards just need a little taste of their own medicine.
#15
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:01pm
He SAID it was different, just not that much better. He's allowed his opinion even if it differs with your hopes.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#16
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:12pm
Wow, so many b***chy theater queens vying to control one very small sandbox!
#17
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:17pm
No one asked you for your opinion.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#18
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:28pm
Thanks for that taste of my own medicine. Whatever that means.
Act two makes sense now but unfortunately it's just very uneventful. Peter fights green goblin and wins. Thats pretty much it with a couple songs that are actually nice thrown in and a couple of real stinkers. Arachne still has her song hovering over Peter which I'm glad they kept, but there's no point in having her in the show now, really. She serves no real purpose.
And I STILL have no idea where what has to be 100 million dollars now spent is on that stage. In all honesty, WONDERLAND looks better.
Act two makes sense now but unfortunately it's just very uneventful. Peter fights green goblin and wins. Thats pretty much it with a couple songs that are actually nice thrown in and a couple of real stinkers. Arachne still has her song hovering over Peter which I'm glad they kept, but there's no point in having her in the show now, really. She serves no real purpose.
And I STILL have no idea where what has to be 100 million dollars now spent is on that stage. In all honesty, WONDERLAND looks better.
#19
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:34pm
How are the credits distributed in the playbill? Is Taymor mentioned at all?
#20
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:39pm
Title page was in the Times today. Taymor is still credited with the book and with "Original Direction."
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/a-web-of-spider-man-credits/?ref=theater
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/a-web-of-spider-man-credits/?ref=theater
#21
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:40pm
"Special Thanks"
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#22
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:40pm
Well it feels like both a radically different show (because of the book) and the same show (because there is essentially only one new song). The book to act two does away with the fashion show and everything Arachne sang except Turn Off the Dark. There is a cohesive plot that makes sense, is linear and easy to follow.
The new song is for the Green Goblin called Freak Like Me. It was unfortunately weird and kind of cringeworthy. Much of the score is rearranged, re-orchestrated and sung by different people. Still this is not enough to mask the lack of theatricality in the music.
The show, imo, has certainly become respectable and decent, although never fully engaging or brilliant theater. I could go on for paragraphs about all the changes to the book, but could also try to answer any questions.
The new song is for the Green Goblin called Freak Like Me. It was unfortunately weird and kind of cringeworthy. Much of the score is rearranged, re-orchestrated and sung by different people. Still this is not enough to mask the lack of theatricality in the music.
The show, imo, has certainly become respectable and decent, although never fully engaging or brilliant theater. I could go on for paragraphs about all the changes to the book, but could also try to answer any questions.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#23
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:40pm
^
Since you mentioned it... who all sings what now?
Since you mentioned it... who all sings what now?
Updated On: 5/12/11 at 10:40 PM
#24
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:41pm
Has think again been cut?
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#25
Posted: 5/12/11 at 10:42pm
Exactly. The show isn't the jaw dropping train wreck it was before, now it's just a tourist musical that's not very good.
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