Spiderman Preview Thread! — Page 23

There is a difference between POTENTIAL and ACTUAL. Is there potential for ANY superhero story on broadway that isn't "dumbed down"? Of course. It has yet to be seen if THIS production qualifies.

Katurian, the post you address didn't say that it couldn't BE worthwhile, but only that the poster didn't want flash and dazzle to overwhelm what should be the center of (both movies and) broadway -- substance and character.

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And if a newspaper is treating a fanboy forum as a solid source of news, we really *are* in trouble... Tomorrow, you'll read in the WSJ that someone's proposing a revival of PRETTYBELLE, because someone here thought it was a pretty cool idea and started a thread to that end. Then half a dozen agents, looking to get their clients some easy PR, will chime in with "Why, yes, __________ is looking at the script and believes she can be a new voice to a new generation of theatregoers." Following that, a director who hasnt had a hit in years will angle in by announcing he's been "in discussions" with the so-far unnamed producers, and *that* gap will be filled by some third-tier OOB bunch looking for a Broadway hit. A company with the real estate sitting empty, now sensing a possible hit, will suddenly make one available... and before you know it, we have a $45-million-dollar produciton of PRETTYBELLE up for the 2012 season.

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It wasn't Shoshana originating anything in BKLY. It was Eden.

Ah yes, my mistake. I always get those two confused.

I always laugh at the argument that musicals (or films) light on story means they are being "dumbed down" for audiences. Fluff can be fun and entertaining and precisely what people need in their lives sometimes. And shows can be written for expressly that purpose. No apologies should be made for that. It doesn't mean anything is "dumbed down", it only means it is being written for an audience that may not include your own personal preferences. And that is ok. There are plenty of other types of shows.

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The hype seems to taking on a life of its own to such a degree that it has lost all disconnect to reality. People are commenting on the splendor of the show, (and I wonder if they've even seen it), and making absolutely absurd assertions, like the following, on the editorial page, of all places, in today's NY Daily News. I don't know how to link, so I'll just quote the most egregious statement:

"It makes previous ballyhooed Broadway spectaculars look like mere high school productions."

Nonsense, absolute nonsense! I wonder if the editorial board at the News have seen the show, or have seen any other Broadway shows, or know anything about the history of stage design on Broadway. The fact is, "Spiderman" boasts some impressive scenic tableaux (the weaving scene, the spider webs, the train), but a lot of it is just plain ugly, and even worse, chintzy! The classroom scene, the two teens' houses, they look as if they are already a high school production. And in the number in which Peter is bouncing against the walls of the house, you can see the people's feet holding up the walls! Is that magical? Is that illusion? Is that spectacle?

And if the editors of the News had attended musicals like "Camelot," "House of Flowers," "Saratoga," and many others before, they would know what visual splendor was really about. On that score, "Spider-man" can't compare to any of these.

And the aerial fight scene was great. But the other flying effects were no different from what we saw in "Peter Pan." And as Cosmic Explorer pointed out, when you see the gears and pulleys, that reduces the magic a great deal.

I applaud "Spider-man" for attempting something large scale. But it isn't as splendiferous or as dazzling as the hype is making it appear.

The show's facebook page just posted this: (sorry if it was already posted here. I didn't see it)

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/11/30/2010-11-30_break_a_leg_spidey.html

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I totally disagree with seeing gears and pulleys destroys the magic. It depends on the stage craft. Take for example the Bunraku style Japanese puppets You see the three performers behind the characters however the puppets take on a life of their own and the power of the illusion forces your eye to make the puppeteers to disappear.
Seeing feet behind walls, People dressed in black manipulating scenery or objects, if done properly won't destroy the illusion at all.

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Another post from someone who was at the first preview: http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1233317#p1233317

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With people expounding their hate for this show and it's troubles on every theatre, comic book, fantasy etc website, Julie and team are going to have to pull off some amazing, miraculous fixes for it to do anything but flop with a loud thud!

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Does anyone know what the initial cost for The Lion King was? Just curious...

edit: Ah, nevermind. From this random site:
November 1997 – "The Lion King" opens on Broadway at the Disney-designed New Amsterdam Theatre; audiences exit into a store full of Disney merchandise. The musical has been sold out since opening and long ago recouped its estimated $20 million to $25 million cost.
http://wwww.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051208/news_lz1x08lktime.html

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Updated On: 11/30/10 at 02:49 PM

I am not re-reading this entire thread, so sorry if this is old news or was posted already but they've canceled a hell of a lot of previews according to Ticketmaster...

Spider-Man Ticketmaster

Updated On: 11/30/10 at 04:14 PM

Those performances were cancelled a few weeks ago when the first preview was delayed.

Who's going to the next preview? =)

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HAving only heard the show I can say that the only songs I vocally enjoyed were Boy Falls from the sky, walk away, and the second half or picture this. The show has a lot of very simple harmonies and they fall flat. Again these are my opinions based off me hearing the show. The dialogue was corny in a really bad way but the audience sounded enthused during the fights and flights. From a non visual stand point I have absolutely no interest in seeing it live.

Updated On: 11/30/10 at 07:06 PM