Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
#1Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:12pm
Though the new Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, has been plagued by negativity, drama, and problems, I believe it is just the kind of show that Broadway needs right now. The musical is a very good attempt at recreating the modern musical theatre and Julie Taymor should be receiving much more recognition and praise then she is currently getting.
First of all, Julie is a genius, there's no use arguing that, as seen from the world wide success of the Lion King. She is attempting something so big for Broadway that some people are unable to understand her motives. The visions that she creates are far more superior than most of us are ever capable to achieve, as if some one of us are able to do better than an award-winning director. She is often blamed for situations that are out of her control. It just seems that people are blaming her in the absence of having other people to blame.
The music by Bono and the Edge may leave something to be desired but some of their music is very good and the lyrics can be applied to our daily lives as humans, such as Boy Falls From the Sky and Rise Above. Sure it may not be the best theatre music in the world but it matches with the shows theme and type.
I just feel that people are not giving Spiderman enough credit for what it has. It is just like Wicked was a few years ago. Some people didn't like Wicked's music or the show itself but it spiraled into the phenomenon that it is today. I'm not saying that that is what's going to happen with Spiderman but in a sense it is already a phenomenon.
So haters of Spiderman beware!!!
Hopefully some people agree with what I had to say and will appreciate the genius and excitement of Julie Taymor and Spiderman!
Every heart that bleeds will color your world red,
Your strength will be a vision beyond visibility,
That you can rise above, swing through the skies above
And you shall rise above yourself.
#2Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:19pmI guess being let go and becoming a pariah in the business really freed up Julie's free time.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#2Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:47pm
You know, when Glinda was dropped from the bubble for the 5th time during previews, I was ready to boycott that show! Good thing they decided to fire the director AND the book writer of Wicked, which ultimately saved the day. Interesting how they had someone directing and a DIFFERENT person writing the book. Is that an unusual situation in the theatre world? I thought that the director of Broadway shows normally just goes into rehearsals, wings it and whatever happens on stage BECOMES the book. Am I wrong?
". . . POP . . ."
Updated On: 3/12/11 at 03:47 PM
#3Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:54pmWelcome to the boards, Julie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#4Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 4:46pm
Thank you for your post Ms Taymor, but the problem with your argument is that unlike shows such as "Wicked" (which is only as big because it became a tourist attraction) everyone HATES Spiderman!
But, with all your new found "free time," rather than clogging up this site... I hear a few people are after a revival of "Carrie" maybe you could attack that? ...Atleast no more damage could be caused!
#5Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 6:20pm
WICKED is a hit because it does not rely on spectacle to draw a crowd. I know people on here would disagree with me, but the fact that I've seen many people walk out in tears tells me otherwise, but WICKED has characters people connect with (Spidey fails at this)
has a plot that makes sense and engages the audience (Spidey really fails with this)
and has a score that (for many people at least) soars and is filled with numbers that people actually remember when they leave the theater (again...Spidey bombs that part too)
And of course it has the bells and whistles that one will want to see in a big Broadway show.
Now, I am not saying that WICKED is flawless, it's not. It has it's share of problems. But TOTD has yet to achieve anything other then relying on press to keep it open.
And also, WICKED was in previews for what...three weeks? And had a budget that is a 1/4 of TOTD...and made changes to things that did not work.
Has TOTD done any of this?
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
Updated On: 3/12/11 at 06:20 PM
#6Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 7:29pm
Though the new Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, has been plagued by negativity, drama, and problems, I believe it is just the kind of show that Broadway needs right now.
So Broadway should be more about million-dollar spectacle?
First of all, Julie is a genius, there's no use arguing that, as seen from the world wide success of the Lion King.
Actually, making money is not an argument for artistic genius.
The visions that she creates are far more superior than most of us are ever capable to achieve, as if some one of us are able to do better than an award-winning director.
The great thing about art is that one does not have to be more skilled or talented than the artist to have an opinion on a piece, positive or negative. Everyone, by the participatory nature of an audience, has the right to express critical thought on an artist's work. Having the ability to do better than an artist is not a requirement.
She is often blamed for situations that are out of her control.
It mostly looks like she's being blamed for the book, the concept, the execution, and a refusal to alter her work. All of these things are within her control.
The music by Bono and the Edge may leave something to be desired but some of their music is very good and the lyrics can be applied to our daily lives as humans, such as Boy Falls From the Sky and Rise Above.
Lyrics being applicable to our daily lives does not make them intelligent, noteworthy, interesting, clever, or of artistic merit. You can write crap that is applicable to our daily lives as humans.
Sure it may not be the best theatre music in the world but it matches with the shows theme and type.
Music managing to emulate a particular style does not make it interesting, enjoyable, or intelligent.
It is just like Wicked was a few years ago. Some people didn't like Wicked's music or the show itself but it spiraled into the phenomenon that it is today.
That does not invalidate the opinions of those who believe Wicked is lacking as a show. Popularity does not bestow artistic merit. People are not required to think well of something because others enjoy it.
And for the love of God.
It's Spider-Man.
#7Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 7:34pm
fingerlakessinger may have a point but I dont think Spiderman devastatingly horrificly fails at all of these things. True it could make some improvements but its not the worst show in the world, others have been way worse (such as the almost non existent Breakfast At Triffany's and Merrily We Roll Along).
And the point isnt that Julie destroys everything, she tries to tranform it into something that forces the audience to change its perspective.
And for the record I love Wicked but many people I know hate Wicked to the same extent as spiderman (and Hanna from Hamburg makes a good point).
Every heart that bleeds will color your world red,
Your strength will be a vision beyond visibility,
That you can rise above, swing through the skies above
And you shall rise above yourself.
#8Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 7:41pm
Yeah but the point of the whole thread is to generate at least SOME positivity about the show, not crush it even more like Taryn did.
At least some people could appreciate the show a little more for what its trying to do (hence the name "Appreciation Thread").
Every heart that bleeds will color your world red,
Your strength will be a vision beyond visibility,
That you can rise above, swing through the skies above
And you shall rise above yourself.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#9Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:04pm
I would like to thank Taryn for saving me the time of doing a break-down of that original post.
"And the point isnt that Julie destroys everything, she tries to tranform it into something that forces the audience to change its perspective."
She sure did that here. She managed to make thousands of theatre goers believe they were seeing her completed vision, that only needed a 'little' re-working.
No one likes to be forced to do anything.
"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
#10Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:38pmi just hope like heck she decides to pose nude for playboy. i think that would be so hot. like all gummied up in a spider web or something.
#11Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:45pm
Wow ok. Maybe I shouldn't have started this thread. Just thought that someone in the world would have something positive to say.
Just forget everything I said.
Every heart that bleeds will color your world red,
Your strength will be a vision beyond visibility,
That you can rise above, swing through the skies above
And you shall rise above yourself.
#12Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:48pmIt's not that you had something positive to say about the show that has people barking at ya, it's the fact that you seem to have a total disregard to what is bad and what is good.
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
#13Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:54pmWell, that is what happens when you tell people they shouldn't have the opinions they have.
#14Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:56pm
True it could make some improvements but its not the worst show in the world, others have been way worse (such as the almost non existent Breakfast At Triffany's and Merrily We Roll Along).
UMMMMMMMMM. MERRILY has a score that those involved with Spider-Man could only dream of having.
bwayfan7000
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/09
#15Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 9:29pmI'm definitely with ljay on this one...you can't compare Merrily with Spider-Man at all in terms of quality (or Merrily with Breakfast at Tiffany's, for that matter...)
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim
#16Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 9:32pm... so does this mean we can start an appreciation thread for Carrie, too?
#17Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 9:36pmWords cannot describe the anger you just made me feel by comparing Spider-Man to Merrily We Roll Along.
#18Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 9:52pm
has a score that (for many people at least) soars and is filled with numbers that people actually remember when they leave the theater
I personally think Wicked has one of the worst scores Broadway has ever seen - that's just my opinion though. I would take Spider-Man's score over Wicked's score any day. I know I am in the vast minority, but I actually like Spider-Man's score.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#19Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 9:59pmSee...it's difference in opinions. I am in the majority who love it (I mean, I think with it's vast success it's safe to assume that most like it.) But I just don't see TOTD's score reaching that level.
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
#20Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 10:07pm
wow just re-read my post...it made no sense haha.
I think TOTD's score is tuneless, and fails to connect with anyone on an emotional level. I guess that's what I was trying to say.
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
#21Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 10:07pm
Since this is an appreciation thread, then I appreciate that Julie Taymor will no longer be director of Spiderman TOTD and that she is taking her incoherent script with her.
"So haters of Spiderman beware!!!"
Is that a threat? Girl PLEASE!!!!!
#22Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 10:09pm^ Exactly. Even though I personally don't like it, I have no problem with the fact that others like the score, and a lot of people do. You are right though, everyone is going to have different opinions on music from shows. :)
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#23Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 10:15pm
:) That's what makes Broadway fans the best types of fans haha
Love4Theater...you are very right. Talk about finding the silver lining. I would LOVE for her to be a set/costume designer for another show...just make sure she does not step ANYWHERE near the script, the director chair, and the check books.
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
#24Spiderman/Julie Taymor Appreciation Thread
Posted: 3/12/11 at 10:21pmI would love to see Julie Taymor take on the visual and technical aspects of pretty much any project. Her creativity is out of this world and she knows how to create some of the most stunning visuals ever seen on a stage. When it comes to writing a story though... let's leave that to someone else.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
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