Spiderman Preview Thread! — Page 34

What is it that you find silly about Scott's post, dramamama? Of course Taymor is never going to see the petition, but that doesn't make it any less mean-spirited.

Bono and The Edge are on a different continent. Yeah they are definitely here trying to fix the show.

Saw today's matinee. Not impressed. Sure, the flying is cool, but not enough to save the entire show. The visuals are always appealing. The score is weak, only a handful of nice melodies, and the lyrics are generally weak. The book needs an overhaul. Best performances come from Patrick Page and Jennifer Damiano (who sadly doesn't get enough stage time). America Olivo was very good as the understudy for Arachne. Reeve Carney is a weak actor AND singer.

There were two actual stops today. One in each act. Neither lasted longer than a couple minutes. There may have been other glitches throughout that I did not pick up on.

Pretty disappointing, but worth the $30 rush price.

Updated On: 12/5/10 at 07:55 PM

The rush seats were in rear orchestra, flying circle, flying circle box, and balcony. I think they had 22 or 24 seats. I had rear orchestra.

How much did you miss from the rush seats?

I saw the matinee as well. For the record, I had a rear orchestra rush seat- Z30. In terms of what you miss, basically you miss all of the landings in the flying circle and balcony. You can see the entire stage, including the top of it.

As for the show, it's a mess. Act 1 is marginally better than act 2. At least the storyline is coherent in act 1.

The score is very generic, with the only number I really enjoyed being Damiano's act 2 solo (though it's a very depressing song). The rest of it is just blah. The set is quite good, and probably a shoo-in for the Tony. The flying is impressive, but all but disappears in act 2.

Jen Damiano and Patrick Page are both talented performers that are completely wasted in this mess. America Olivo was fine as Arachne, but essentially does nothing but float around and go, "Laaaaaaaaaaalaaaaaaaaa." Reeve Carney didn't display any acting chops, but wasn't given a whole lot of depth (none of them are). However, I wasn't impressed with his voice at all.

The show's biggest problem, ironically, is Julie Taymor's ego. Yes, she's an incredibly creative woman when it comes to staging and design. However, she seems oblivious to the fact that the book and story in act 2 are a complete mess. The infamous shoes number needs to be cut. The act 2 opener feels like a cross between Aida's My Strongest Suit, with what actually amounts to a villain fashion show, but then all of a sudden becomes Stomp when a random guy comes out and starts drumming on a bucket. The Geek Chorus, who I actually didn't mind in act 1, disappears in act 2 for whatever reason (well, the "reason" is that the villains "take over" the show). There are also a number of plot holes in both acts- what happens to the boyfriend Flash? Didn't the Green Goblin die at the end of act 1? And then of course, the ending is the most anti-climactic, dumb (and cheap looking!) thing you could ever see.

I find it interesting that people often complain about the Disney shows being too "theme park." Spiderman makes The Little Mermaid look like Gypsy.

I am glad I only paid $30 to see it- it's worth that to see the flying and the set. I wouldn't spend any more than that however.

Taymor was nervously pacing in the back of the orchestra during the show, and several ran down the side aisle to go backstage, only to return a few minutes later. She appeared stressed. I can't say I blame her. This is a $65 million disaster up on the stage.

Updated On: 12/5/10 at 08:48 PM

nevermind adam's view answers my question

If you're no good Santa will leave Spiderman tickets in your stocking kids!

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adamgreer, I think one of the plot holes you mention is actually answered (ridiculously) when *spoiler alert" in Arachne's final song she explains that all of the villains, including the Green Goblin as they appeared after vanquished were all just "illusions" that she had created.

As far as Jennifer Damiano's second act ballad, I did think it was the musical highlight of the show, notably because she's the most talented singer allowed to do much actual singing, but the song itself struck me as quite a bore. At first I thought, "well this is the best thing we've heard all night." But then I STILL zoned out. I just felt bad for most of the performers I knew from other shows--her, Isabel Keating, Gideon Glick...such thankless roles for such talented people. Patrick Page, at least, gets to have some silly fun up there.

The role of Mary Jane is pretty much a waste, though there's no way Wood would have been able to sing nearly as well as Damiano (who is wasted, but is clearly the vocal highlight of the show).

The Goblin at least gets to have a little fun, and I could see Cumming being quite good in the role, though he'd take it in a very different direction than Page did, I'm sure.

Excellent. The first shill has arrived!

Hi Julie! How's previews going there?

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