Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 12

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:43pm

I will ask also, what is the "fashion show"?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:44pm

Well, I doubt he is writing for "us". Not everyone that pays attention to b'way is here at BWW.

[bk]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:46pm

As a couple of people have already pointed out, this show, like most shows these days, is a slave to its technical side. It's not like the old days, where shows could make huge and necessary changes, sometimes in a day, sometimes in a few days. On a show like this, without shutting down, trying to reprogram sets and lights and all the effects and flying simply can't and won't happen. Therefore, any work that's be done is going to be band-aid work on its existing technical structure. So, they can rewrite book scenes and dialogue and change and/or fix songs, but I doubt that the STRUCTURE, whatever that is, will change. If a few cosmetic book and score changes can fix it, then fine. Without having seen it personally, from what I've heard this evening from a friend, that won't be helping the much larger problems.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:46pm

Will there be a cast album?

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:47pm

A simple story should simply be told simply. That's my reaction to the first preview of "Spider-man." The story is one everyone knows and likes. It has two appealing characters one roots for. What could be simpler than to just tell their tale, following the plot of the movie, provide some dazzling aerial stunts and scenic design, some good songs, and a couple of laughs along the way.

But that's not what has happened here, and to me, at least, the show was a grave disappointment. I went in expecting an evening of high-flying excitement. Instead, I found a dreary bore.

The major problem is the focus. Instead of just telling the Peter Parker/MJ tale, the creators have grafted two other storylines onto it which add absolutely nothing and shift the focus from where it should be. The first is a Geek chorus who are supposedly creating the story on stage. All they do is squabble endlessly, and are without humor, charm, or interest. They add nothing but boring time. The other is the character Arachne of Greek legend, who by turns appears as victim, villain, and heroine. She has nothing but the most tenuous relation to the Spider-man story people expect or came to see. She actually becomes the major character in the second act. The creators may be more interested in her than in the PP/MJ story, but I don't think the audience is. Certainly I wasn't.

Which means there is still hope for the show. I would say cut out both the Geek chorus and Arachne entirely. Go back to the basic story, flesh out the two leads, make them more personable, and they can have a winning hand.

The score is more problematic. I found it frankly ugly.

The design is elaborate, with some striking effects, but overall I would say it's also not too appealing.

There is a lot more magic in "The Lion King" without flying effects than what was displayed here.


Updated On: 11/29/10 at 11:47 PM

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:48pm

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on this board....My, how the times have changed!

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/11/28/spider-man-turn-off-the-dark-spurs-broadway-blogging/

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:55pm

[NOW, WITH SPOILERS]

- The story begins by telling how Parker became Spider-Man and how the scientist guy became the Green Goblin. There's also stuff in there about a spider goddess of the greek, bullying at school, an interest in Mary Jane by Parker, Parker's uncle getting killed, and the introduction of the newspaper boss guy. Act I ends with the presumed death of the Green Goblin as Spider-Man saves Mary Jane.

Act II begins with a montage of villains. Then I have no clue what happens! There are a lot of spiders, there is a citywide blackout, the Green Goblin is back, Mary Jane gets trapped, Peter Parker runs on a treadmill, the newspaper boss guy does mean things and doesn't want to have sex with the spider lady, and it ends with Spider-Man not wanting to go have sex with the spider lady but he will give her a parting kiss on the forehead.

Oh, and I should also mention that there are four..."narrators," as I guess that's what they are? Four teenage geeks. They're part of the story and yet they are not. It seemed at one point like they were the writers of the comic series and coming up with new stories for the comic books to tell the fans? I don't know. Somewhere in Act II a villain says he is taking over and we don't see them again until curtain call.

- Yes, there was a villain fashion show.

- Yes, there was a song about shoes.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:56pm

"The Wall Street Journal is reporting on this board....My, how the times have changed!"

And not for the better. That was my point about Shendon. Now the WSJ is basing its content on message boards and tweets? I weep for decent reporting.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:57pm

Does Isabel Keating have ANYTHING to do?

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:58pm

Here's the NYTimes report on the night...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/theater/29spiderman.html?hp

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:59pm

Someone just told me the Times has also chimed in.

I have no problem with the WSJ piece. It is actually a report on what people are saying. They can't review it yet.

[A Director]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 11:59pm

I see the Broadway Vultures are in full flight tonight. After feasting on WOTV, they've dropped a load and moved on to Spiderman. Pity, what little lives you lead!

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:02am

Whatever.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:03am

After Eight- I could not agree more with your comments. Spiderman should be such an easy, simply story to tell. The Geek Chorus and Arachne absolutely need to go. They cause act 1 to be sluggish and boring, and act 2 to shift completely out of focus.

And you're right, the focus should be on Peter and Mary Jane. The addition of all the extra villains in act 2 were unnecessary and further stole focus. It would help if the Green Goblin could remain as the main nemesis. I felt like Peter got so lost in all the stupid subplots that I never got to know him.

This is totally fixable though! Cut the Geeks and Arachne (no I can't repeat this enough) and put Peter and Mary Jane front and center.

I too found the score to be severely lacking. I'm a casual U2 fan, and I don't think any of these songs came close to matching their radio hits. So many mopey ballads that never really soared, and no comedy numbers. The lyrics were without wit, charm or at times cohesion.

The book is truly the real clunker though. How did some of this dialogue make it to the stage?!?! It was poorly written drivel, but I there is certainly room to change it.

I do think there is salvageable show in there, and I don't even think it's that hard to find, given that Taymor is willing to make cuts and changes.

Slight spoilers. Random wtfs: The shoes sequence in act 2 with Arachne, the cold war army number in act 1 with Patrick and was Arachne having sex with Peter during the title song?? (Also why does Arachne have the title song? Why does she have so many/any songs? Is Arachne supposed to be the Aurora of this show?)

[Overkill]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:03am

A Director,

This "feasting" on Spider-Man has been going on since day 1. Not just tonight. If the show needs work or people don't like it, they are allowed to say so on a public forum. That's what this website is for. To discuss all things Broadway. That's why we're all here. Why are you here?

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:03am

"Does Isabel Keating have ANYTHING to do?"

Not much, unfortunately. She plays several small roles. Now here is a brilliant actress who, if given the chance, could inject much-needed vitality to an evening which sorely needs it.


"I will ask also, what is the "fashion show"?

It's a fashion show of various creatures in monster garb, the point of which totally eluded me.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:03am

But Shendon isn't 'reporting', it's a BLOG. (The WSJ is another story entirely. Shame on them.)

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:07am

Did Spider-Man not fight any of the villains in the "fashion show"?

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:08am

While I know this isn't the movie, but I feel like that's what a lot of people may equate this to. As in, they are expecting Spiderman to fight the Green Goblin and that be his main nemesis. I didn't care about Mary Jane in the movie at all. I wanted her to get the hell away from Peter Parker. In the musical's defense for not giving Mary Jane lots of stage time, maybe the creative team does not want the focus to be on that relationship but more so his "quest", for lack of a better word, to defeat the Green Goblin. I want nothing but the best for any new musical opening. I hope the creative team opens up their eyes and realizes these very valid complaints and very correctable mistakes.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:09am

The fashion show, or "ugly" show as one of the Geek Chorus called it was bizarre and overly long. It was mainly an excuse to show off some costumes. I too was confused, but thought it sprung from the Chorus trying to decide a new villain for Spiderman to fight. These were the options, but somewhere along the line they were all chosen and became the "sinister six."

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:10am

Arachne was utterly incomprehensible to me.

The show had four different "opening" sequences. Any of which could have opened the show.

The geeks need to go. completely useless. But i dont know if Arachne should be cut entirely. The opening sequence with the weaving was STUNNING. Gave us a greek myltological history of Arachne, and i thought that was a very clever "taymor" way of beefing up the story. But she shouldn't be such a central character. it does not make sense.

[BroadwayPhan]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:15am

I'm just curious...have there been many shows that have cut entire roles during previews?

And what happens to those actors....are they treated as if the show "closes" - only 2 weeks of pay...or are they paid out for the remainder of their contract...even if the role ceases to exist?

[leefowler]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:17am

I've been seeing musicals on Broadway for over 30 years, and this is one of the most complete disasters I've ever seen.

Don't tell me what you would cut...what would you KEEP? The dour songs? The horrific dances? The tacky book?

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:17am

Was the weaving the scene with the gold looking cloth that they showed on 60 Minutes?

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:26am

"Was the weaving the scene with the gold looking cloth that they showed on 60 Minutes?"

Yes. Visually, it was a very effective moment. Unfortunately, it introduced us to one of the banes of the evening, Arachne.