Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 28

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:46pm

I've had actors get concussions in far less physically intensive shows (with no flying). It happens. Any actor or dancer who goes into this business knows that injuries are bound to happen. Look at the recent accident at the Donmar where an actor almost lost an eye to a faulty prop gun.

[ALittlePriest]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:49pm

They chose to say Natalie Mendoza has "concussion" instead of saying, "Natalie Mendoza Hospitalized" That's some very crafty word spinning. Could you imagine how much more damage it would be if they chose that as the headline?

Can I just say that I'm sure Julie Taymor is now regretting bribing the state wire inspectors, instead of heeding to their safety recommendations.

UPDATE:
Michael Riedel's line is still busy, I wonder why? Updated On: 12/2/10 at 08:49 PM

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:50pm

its an occupational hazard.. sure this show is intense and has a rough history but it happens.. just the other day an actor fell during an easy number in ELF when i was there.. and that was ELF! unfortunately things like that will happen

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:51pm

Again...I am NOT denying that accidents do happen. Believe me, I broke my wrist during a show that involved no stunts or anything a few years ago.
My point is however, is that this show is something we have never seen on Broadway. They have people flying around in ways that is not very common in theater. The stunts in the show are pushing the envelope...and again this has been said by Taymor herself. And with 2 accidents already under their belt...they should be a lot more worried about what is going on.
Accidents do happen...and in this show, they are bound to happen.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:51pm

Again...I am NOT denying that accidents do happen. Believe me, I broke my wrist during a show that involved no stunts or anything a few years ago.
My point is however, is that this show is something we have never seen on Broadway. They have people flying around in ways that is not very common in theater. The stunts in the show are pushing the envelope...and again this has been said by Taymor herself. And with 2 accidents already under their belt...they should be a lot more worried about what is going on.
Accidents do happen...and in this show, they are bound to happen.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:51pm

OOPS Sorry...clicked "sumbit" to many times

Updated On: 12/2/10 at 08:51 PM

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:54pm

A commercial just came on for Spiderman as I was reading this thread. It oddly interspersed footage of the show with what looked like rehearsal footage, even a shot of Taymor looking cheery during rehearsal. It seemed odd because who aside from theater nerds knows what Julie Taymor looks like?

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:56pm

Please...in Taymor's mind...everyone knows who she is and what she looks like.

[hottieho13]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:56pm

but a concussion????actors do get injured all the time but this sounds very serious.ok,two other actors have gotten hurt in this show and now a third in such a close proximity to each other(i mean within weeks almost)and NOBODY is looking into this?this show is a lawsuit waiting to happen.what happens if one of the stunts go wrong and an actor falls on a audience member or (god forbid a fatality happens).i know you can say that the actors and performers knew what they signed up for BUT STILL this is just too scary now and it looks like no one is taking this seriously either.

[leefowler]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:57pm

That's okay fingerlakessinger, accidents happen.

By the way, even if her injuries aren't show related, it's still hard to lose one of your leads after two previews, especially in a complicated show like this. Just putting in the understudy probably took up most of today's rehearsal.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:59pm

True...I didnt even think of that. Especially during previews where things such as lines/lyrics change daily...
Well...except for this show
The convo most likely went like this...
Taymor: Hey Olivio! Your on! Let's get ya strapped up and up in the air!
America: Shouldnt I learn the new lines?
Taymor: ....what new lines?

Updated On: 12/2/10 at 08:59 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 9:02pm

"They chose to say Natalie Mendoza has "concussion" instead of saying, "Natalie Mendoza Hospitalized" That's some very crafty word spinning."

Is she hospitalized? If she isn't, then it isn't crafty at all. It's a simple fact.

"Can I just say that I'm sure Julie Taymor is now regretting bribing the state wire inspectors, instead of heeding to their safety recommendations".

Unless you can prove that's true, no, not unless you're willing to open yourself to a libel suit. Can we just stick to the facts as we know them, please? Besides, who are "the state wire inspectors"?

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 9:18pm

You can't have a libel suit over an anonymous, non-threatening message board comment.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 9:28pm

Sure you can, if someone is determined enough and you're traceable, and besides, libel has nothing to do with threats.

Of course no one will bother, but I think it's sleazy to suggest that bribery occurred, both on behalf of Taymor and "the state wire inspectors", whoever they may be.
Updated On: 12/2/10 at 09:28 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 9:38pm

Does concussion really sound better than hospitalized? Either way- this is totally shocking. All hope she gets better. What about Reidel's line being busy? Is there like a Reidel snark hotline we can call or something?


PS: Yes, you can sue for libel over an 'anonymous' message board comment if it is a) false and b) damages the reputation of the subject, but a single reference is probably not basis for the hostility proponent that usually comes with libel suits.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 9:58pm

I can concussion can happen very easily. It doesn't mean she fell from 10 feet in the air, it can easily mean she just bumped her head on something, or tripped and hit her head. It doesn't seem that serious if she is back on Tuesday, it may just be for precautionary measures or doctor's orders.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:07pm

Concussions can be something you get over very quickly, but they can also be something incredibly serious causing irrepressible or even mortal brain damage. It's amazing how light a hit on your head can result in a fatality or coma.

[ActingIsLovee]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:09pm

While the concussion may not be serious at the moment, I can't imagine flying around at 50mph would be good for someone right after a concussion...

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:20pm

Does she fly around at 50 mph? I haven't heard anything that says that she does.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:24pm

OK 47.5 miles an hour, geesh.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:24pm

Even the hanging could aggravate it. My bf got a concussion playing basketball a few years back, and he had to sit out for nearly a month before the doctors would let him play again.

Updated On: 12/2/10 at 10:24 PM

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:28pm

I have had a number of sports-related concussions and had to give up soccer in high school when I had three in a year. Everytime you have one, it gets easier to have the next. If she had hers in the show doing a stunt she's meant to do again every night, I wouldn't be surprised if it weren't the last time. The first one I had, I had to sit out a month, so I wouldn't think a doctor would let her go back long before opening, depending, of course, on the severity of the concussion.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:39pm

Sorry, SNAFU, it was a serious question. I know this actress flies, but is she in any of the high-speed stunts?

@Katurian: is your first sentence a typo? The way I'm reading it, it seems to contradict the rest of your post.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:44pm

Concussions are taken quite seriously these days. I've actually had three students so far this year be diagnosed this year alone. Each one is told not to do ANY sort of schoolwork as the brain just needs to rest.

I would imagine that if this WEREN'T show related, the production would be making sure that we all knew about it in a big way. They are (likely) figuring out the best way to spin this.

As far as WHO will protect the actors, the stunts were approved, so this will likely be claimed to be user error or other "not our fault" type of excuse.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 10:46pm

ghostlight- hah, I'm not sure what I was saying there! It's gone! X)