Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 23

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:06am

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.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:06am

crewdude, what I meant is that we come to this site to discuss theatre. We, individually, are not wrting articles for major papers about this preview. Those papers are coming here and to other boards and including our conversation in their articles. Even though a lot of people read news online, the WSJ and NY Times are also delivered to your door. BWW isn't.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:21am

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.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:25am

>> "s there potential for ANY superhero story on broadway that isn't "dumbed down"? "

Well, yes, actually. At its core, SWEENEY TODD is a "superhero story" -- in the vein of vengeance stories like the Punisher. *Anything* can be made into a good story... if it's written right.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:36am

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.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:51am

^Well said, Mister Matt, well said.

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 11:11am

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.

[leefowler]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 11:30am

Did you guys hear....They're going to do a revival of Prettybelle!

Sadly, I would be SO interested in seeing that...

And Angela is still around to star in it!

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 11:32am

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

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 12:16pm

From that article you posted...

"Never before has a show featured pyrotechnics so extravagant, they're rarely attempted outside Hollywood."

Umm the only pyrotechnics I recall seeing was Electros sparks and those were nothing more then some kind of enhanced sparklers.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 12:17pm

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.

[Taryn]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 1:03pm

Wow - I came here hoping to find out a bit about the show and am amazed by the vitriol being thrown around! "You'd think that after X months of previews and the ticket prices, etc. that this would be the best show ever!"

Actually, no one has said that. People keep yelling about how everyone shouldn't expect perfection, and no one has said, "Why isn't this perfect?"

There are gradations here. People want to see a show that is ready for a paying audience, not a technical rehearsal. People don't want to pay the same price for a technical rehearsal as they would for a locked-in performance. This is not asking for perfection.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 1:47pm

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

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 2:00pm

Honestly....it doesn't sound like the person was there as nothing he said was anything we hadn't heard from all the articles and tweets.

What the heck was this? "one consumer reported he bought tickets for one preview, in fact the producers sold him a discounted pair of tickets, and then canceled the performance and refused to replace the tickets with comparable seats at the same price for another performance, no refund"

Actually sounds like "crewdude".

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 2:08pm

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!

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 2:11pm

I dont get it...
I always thought that the main purpose of previews is for the producers to put their product in front of a live audience to gage their reaction, hear what they like and learn what they hated?
So far...a majority of people like the effects, while most hate the score/book.
So why are some of these people so up in arms about people saying they didnt like it? Would it be a problem if they loved it?

[Raspberry]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 2:49pm

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

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

[billynj]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 3:58pm

3 people stopped me today asking me about this show, I said give it time Sunday was the first time anyone has seen it anywhere they were all shocked they thought the show had opened due to all the press stories

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 4:14pm

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

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 4:20pm

1/11/11 is their reported opening night, no surprise they aren't selling tickets. It has been mentioned they were canceling matinees.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 4:20pm

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

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 4:23pm

Those were cancelled at the same time they announced the last delay.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 4:26pm

Who's going to the next preview? =)

[crewdude]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 6:32pm

Hey dramamamma

"Actually sounds like "crewdude"."
really? really? Listen closer. Nope doesn't sound like me.

Don't understand where this quote you posted is from about some ticket scam. But do you really think that if i knew anything about some shiz like that happening at any show that I wouldn't have already written about it on here myself?

Jeez. Being new on this board is worse than being the new kid at school.

[Orangesaretuesdays]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 7:06pm

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