Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 19

[Disneyland Magic Man]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:02pm

Someone made a comment a couple pages back saying we all should just root for the show and support it?

Why? Because it cost $65 million dollars? Because of the amount of jobs it employs? Because it's a new musical?

Well, if a show is bad, people should not support it. Broadway real-estate is highly limited, and you know what? A better show could easily come in that theater and employ a lot of people. AND be a new musical. And you know what, probably not cost $65 million dollars.

Until we have an endless supply of Broadway theaters, I don't think we should root for anything unless it's worth rooting for. I haven't seen the show, but from what I've heard about last night and witnessing this fiasco for year, I'd rather wait until something else books that theater.

And please, NO EXCUSE for a ready show last night. It WASN'T supposed to be the first preview, they should have had their act together, and you know what??? IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMANCE READY FEBRUARY 25th! All those posters around NYC guaranteed performances then. And the producers refused to admit it wouldn't open then till about... a week or two before that date to avoid giving anyone a refund?

Given the fact that they were supposed to present this to a paying audience in February, people should be seeing grand opera by now. Come on. The time from Feb till now is enough to rehearse and preview at least TWO other Broadway shows!

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:07pm

Does anybody know what role Gideon Glick has, or is he ensemble? Just wondering, since he was so cute and memorable in Spring Awakening.

[julesboogie]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:12pm

Crewdude, the feeling is mutual.

But i still have to disagree. hehe

By the time a review comes out or people have time to get to it, things have changed. Rehearsals start early the next day during previews. And usually the creatives have stayed after (previews) to discuss changes. You know that as an insider. So if someone reads something in the am that is changed by the evening, it is pretty obsolete info. And drastic changes can be made... now with spidey...i dont know. People here seem to think that its a wash and needs major revision. Can they make huge changes...who knows. But even in interviews with Patti and Sherri (SP). They both said that major changes were made daily to WOTV. I dont know, i just dont see how reporting on Spidey 1.0 is accurate when by the end of the week we're on Spidey 7.0.

Now as to the Frozen after opening idea. The understanding for review readers and reviewers is that the show will LARGELY stay the same. Now i understand changing bows or focusing a scene. Cause if one review sucks, theres a chance to fix it before the others critics come. But its believed that opening means finished product. (ie no new numbers/ etc.) Changing a show for a tour is common. Cutting time to get musicians out is cheap...lol. But those are isolated. *Side note* Did lion king end up doing that (as reported)?

Lastly anyone who doesnt question the Spidey brand name after the 2nd and 3rd movies is crazy. And thats from a true Spidey fan.

[julesboogie]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:16pm

and by 7.0 i meant 1.7.

[jaxel614]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:22pm

Opening night cancelled according to ticketmaster calendar...

[rorschach37]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:26pm

@jaxel
Opening night isn't cancelled (yet), they just aren't selling tickets to the public for that night yet.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:27pm

Fo rilz?

Does anyone read Brian Michael Bendis's ongoing title Ultimate Spiderman? Nothing I've seen has compared to the brilliance of that book, and I can actually see a good ensemble musical piece out of some of the arcs Bendis has written.

I remain optimistic-ish, but this really seems destined for failure.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:39pm

Even though this is a preview performance....people still have the right to dissect it. Esp. when the producers have made it out to be the best thing since sliced bread.
The general census is...
Book sucks
Score stinks
Visuals amazing

I think its gonna do well for a bit because everyone is gonna flock to see it, and then after people see how bad it is...it's gonna tank. Previews are virtually glorified rehearsals...the difference is though that you dont pay over $100 to see a "rehearsal". You pay that to see a finished or close-to finished product. A majority of the people in that audience couldnt even begin to tell you what the difference between the two are.

[peachesr]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:54pm

Is Julie Taymor even capable of putting her ego aside to make the necessary changes? It strikes me that, technical difficulties aside, what they really need to look at is the book and the score and if it's as a bad have people have said, they're going to have to do some major reconstruction. Frankly I'm just amazed that no-one sat in on those rehearsals and said 'no' to her at some point or even questioned some of her 'vision'.If they've got any sense they'll listen to what the audience are saying, here and in other forums, and try and apply it constructively.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:55pm

Everything about this thread is exactly as I imagined it.

All we need is a few sock puppets being shot out of cannons and the inferno is complete.

[leefowler]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 4:58pm

I feel like I'm the only one who thinks this, but I didn't really think the visuals were that amazing. This might because the book didn't work for me...to see a cool visual, not attached to anything significant, doesn't really seem that exciting. I was sitting in row C, in the orchestra, all the way to the right. I felt like I could see everything fine, but maybe if I was sitting in the center I would have an idea of what people are talking about.

To compare it to another Broadway show, as far as scenic design, I would say this is equivalent to something like "Shrek", another huge, expensive musical. But compare it to ANY Cirque show, like "O", or "Ka", and you'll see that the average ticket buyer, if what he's looking for is amazing visuals, can get much more bang for his buck by flying to Vegas and watching one of the Cirque shows.

Not to mention, that for all this talk about how amazing the flying is, there are maybe two minutes of Spider-Man flying around in Act 1, and none in act 2.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 5:05pm

Peachesr, no one says "No" to Julie. It has been tried. Doesn't work.

Julie's ego is huge, she has to have her hands in every aspect of the show driving her co designers and collaborators crazy at times. That is her MO.
I am sure there will be changes in the show but nothing really major. We will see.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 5:22pm

"All we need is a few sock puppets being shot out of cannons and the inferno is complete."



Will this do in the mean time?

Updated On: 11/29/10 at 05:22 PM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 5:32pm

New York Times is reporting that the Foxwoods Theater is looking around...

http://familycircle.typepad.com/family-circle/2010/11/spider-bites.html

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 5:46pm

The Foxwoods Theatre (or whatever the **** it's called now) is a notorious flop house. The theatre is good for extremely large productions, but it has almost 2,000 seats to fill on a nightly basis. If the show is no less than the best musical production ever mounted, chances are, it will go down in flames there.

Other than the revival of 42ND STREET, what show that has occupied this oft-renamed theatre that became a financial success?

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 5:50pm

Well they do have to look out for themselves... Julie gets to feel how Young Frankenstein felt when she was poking around!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 5:54pm

42nd Street closed before it recouped.

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:01pm

@MisterMatt

Wow...really? I didn't know that.

So it's official, the "" Theatre is 0 for 9 productions!

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:04pm

What no one has reported is that Stephen Sondheim was in attendance last night. He's going to write his own version...."Into the Web."

[Katurian2]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:06pm

Wow- that- for lack of a better word- is kind of shi**y about Foxwoods looking for a new show.
A) Who the heck leaked that?
B) Theatre owner is a clear douche and should have warned the Spidey PR team before he went doing this
C) The producers need to be wrangled for this show. There are so many leaks and anonymous tips, it's getting ridiculous. You'd think they'd want to STOP bad press about the show they've found money for, not get it with their own quotes.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:11pm

I really doubt that the Foxwood is looking for a new show already. After months of gutting the place and millions poured into it...I'm sure they are willing to give it at least a few weeks to see if they can sort their SH*T out...although after so many delays and a iffy preview...who knows?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:16pm

1. It's a RUMOR, so it's possible that no one leaked ANYTHING.
2. IF its true, the Foxwoods people dont owe Spider Man folks anything. They can't just replace them unless they fail to fulfill the requirements of their contract.
3. The producers WOULDN'T have to control this, it's not coming from them

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:21pm

Bono was out of town last night. Smart move

To pay obscene prices for something obviouly not ready is a bit much. Having said that, this was a once in a lifetime experience that only those attending can attest to.

It should be called SpiderMess. As stated above, they should have known what the weak spots were. Unfortunately, they were so obsessed with the sfx that the other problems took a back seat. They should just shut for until most of the problems are ironed out & than go from there. This looks like it is nowhere near ready. It may never be or it may just take a ton of time & effort to get it in shape. Time will tell.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:24pm

How suitable is the Foxwoods now for another, less extravagant show? Would they have to, again, renovate?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:32pm

This reminds me of the Broadway Theater

It was gutted for Dude & put back together again. It again was gutted for Candide & again put back togther.It is now a very handsome looking theater

There is nothing a good old fashioned hit will not take care of for the theater. I do not think Spidey will be it. If the Gershwin can do it there is no reason Foxwoods can't.