Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 39

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/8/10 at 9:28pm

The fact that Spiderman has aerial doubles is no secret. It's revealed during the curtain call, when about 6 Spidermans take a bow together.

And by franchise, do you mean the Walt Disney Company, who now owns the rights to Spiderman (and the entire Marvel catalogue)? Because that sounds dubious.

[Kevn520]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:09am

People around me were laughing and looking at each other over how ridiculous the second act was tonight.

A group of teenagers were talking after the show, "and then there were those shoes! shoes! what the hell!"

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:18am

Haven't seen the show, but the sets are comic book pop-up sets? Ugh. That's so OBVIOUS.

And if Spidey has flying doubles why does he need an alternate? If Patti Lupone can punch out Evita 8x a week (earlier in her run).... then why does he need breaks?

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:22am

Hoping Natalie Mendoza get's well soon. She's gorgeous, and I'd love to see her in the show.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:35am

I did not know that Disney owns Spiderman... Very interesting.. Glad that Disney Theatricals kept far away.

[Justaguy2]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:38am

The Mouse didn't own Marvel until after this project was well underway. They seem to be staying out of it now too.....wisely it seems.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:57am

Did Patti ever do eight performances a week in Evita? I'm pretty sure she mentions an alternate in her book while doing the show out of town.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 2:06am

As somebody stated before the Disney-Spiderman connection at this point is really dubious with this show as this has been happening long before Disney bought the Marvel catalog (plus Sony still owns the movie rights). The only major difference has been that I have suddenly seen a lot of Junk Food T-shirts being sold at Disney World of Marvel characters. But wait until The Avengers movie to really see the Mouse label on a Marvel franchise (Iron Man 3 is the first movie to be under Disney control officially).

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 4:32am

I don't understand him having an alternative either.

(But I haven't yet seen the show.)

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 8:51am

1st off, Patti LuPone never did Evita 8x a week. Which, that's not detriment to her, but I'm just saying.

2nd, there aren't other Spidermans because Reeve can't get through the performance (which... he couldn't, when I saw it, but that's beside the point). It's because the "character" of Spiderman has to make costume and flying harness changes for some special effects sequences that would be impossible for one person to do.

The problem, for me, was--I got that sometimes they wanted you to know there were doubles. Like there's one point in a montage where three of them run across the stage in slow motion, so you get it's all a montage or whatever. However, often he'd make his entrance while the last double was still getting off stage. Once he swung in from the audience, landed just behind the proscenium stage left and then all of a sudden he was instantly upstage center. Does Spiderman also have teleportation powers?

[TheatreDork3]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 9:39am

OK! I finally got to see all that is Spidy-World last night. Even bought the Merch to prove that I was there because who knows how long this train-wreck will last.

I admit, that I have been closely watching the train-wreck like some kind of rubber-necking expert for a few years.

I even had the luxury of being in the same section as Julie Taymor last night, so I know we saw the same show. During intermission, while I was stretching my legs and flirting with the cute usher, I watched an amazing thing happen. The show's powers-that-be had a pow-wow right there in the lobby of the Flying Circle - and Taymor was clearly not a happy director. Maybe it was the "musical" joke that was met with more groans and sneers than laughs? Maybe it was the fact that the audience tended to applaud on the flying more than they did on the songs? Whatever was running through Taymor's head, she wasn't overly happy with something last night. (Just on the off-chance that Taymor or someone close to her reads this, don't have these pow-wows in public. I'm sure there's an office somewhere in that large building you could escape to quickly.)

The first act is a little drab in places. Visually amazing! I will giver the show props for a pretty cool set and special effects. But then, I got to sit through the first performance that made it through all the way without stopping. The first act was pretty much what I expected. The story was trite and the music reminded me of a bad Universal Studios theme-park show, but it did the job.

Thankfully, the cute usher I flirted with during intermission (if you read this, e-mail me!!), warned me politely about what was coming. Dear God! The warning really didn't do it justice. The whole Second Act seems like an after thought. Like the book writers basically ran out of ideas in Act One, so they just started throwing out every moronic and ill-conceived idea possible and someone in the writing room was like, "Great Idea!" Maybe they were ill or on some kind of mind-altering substance, but this show desperately needs someone to come in and say "No."

A couple of different times during the show I actually found myself bewildered. Again, when you watch a train-wreck or automobile accident, there's a minute when you can't turn your head. You just keep staring. You don't mean to, but you can't help yourself. After some moments or song in the show, others around me (the high school theater group from Virginia) applauded enthusiastically and I just sat there bewildered. I did applaud, but I felt like I was applauding out of sympathy and not out of genuine appreciation.

At the end of the show, I ran into Julie Taymor and genuinely thanked her for a fun evening. I admit, when it was all said and done, I had a lot of fun, but not always for the right reason. If you're looking for an interesting and mind-puzzling theatrical experience, I highly recommend seeing this show. If you're looking for a mind-changing or intellectually stimulating evening out at the theater, clearly the FoxWoods Theater isn't the place to go (too bad the old theater queen next to me in the audience hadn't gotten that memo before he bought his ticket).

[trentsketch]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 11:24am

So what you're saying, TheatreDork4, is that people shouldn't walk into Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark and expect the most soul-stirring, intellect-challenging show ever created in the history of the world? That a musical about a superhero might just be the one you go to for a fun night of spectacle as you would going to a standard superhero movie? I'm shocked that a superhero musical isn't the second-coming of Sunday in the Park with George or Carousel and a might be designed as a piece of entertainment.

Or maybe anyone with realistic expectations would have known a $65 million dollar show would be entertaining spectacle and not the kind of musical you debate at the weekly salon in Lord Fancypants' estate over champagne and canapes.

[leefowler]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 11:44am

Well, since the press release promises, "SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark will thrill the audience through a unique entertainment experience in ways never-before-dreamed-possible in live theater", then yes, I think someone might hope for something soul-stirring.

And don't put down Lord Fancypants. He serves delicious crumpets, and a delightful port. Sadly, he's going to have to sell Fancypants Manor, because of his large investment in Spider-Man.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 11:53am

The idea that superhero stories aren't, or don't have to be, emotionally and intellectually engaging is incredibly condescending. A good comic book story is a good story, and these characters last decade after decade for good reason. Longtime geeks and fans know this, and will be the most disappointed people in the whole audience if the show fails them in story and characterization.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 11:56am

Or maybe anyone with realistic expectations would have known a $65 million dollar show would be entertaining spectacle

I love an entertaining spectacle, but Spiderman isn't entertaining in the least.

[TheatreDork3]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:05pm

ScaryWarhol:

I completely concur. I grew up as a comic book fan. Those stories can be very engaging and captivating. The stories needn't be fluff nor superficial. Unfortunately, my new best-friend Spiderman, was both.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:06pm

What time are people getting to the theater to rush this show?

[Eos]

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

Jordan - I got there around 11:30 and there were already about 15 people in line. Less than I expected, but I still had to come back that afternoon for the cancellation line. I would shoot for closer to 10:00.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:19pm

What I have heard from the demos/synopsis of Jim Steinman's Batman musical sounded like it would have both bases covered - action and a more "serious" plot. Unfortunately, Spidey doesn't have the deep psychological underpinnings to really be anything more than a mutant boy. So, maybe this is a case of Julie & co. focusing on the wrong hero...

[robjohn99]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:29pm

Another quite cogent assessment of the state of the show (both positives and negatives);

http://jkstheatrescene.blogspot.com/2010/12/spider-man-turn-off-dark-5th-preview.html

- robjohn99

[rougeduck]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 12:55pm

So in conclusion, as of December 8 Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark is troubled but has it's delightful moments. And there are no more stops. I do in fact recommend the overall experience. Kay, here ma a long random list of what works and what doesn't! (spoilers ahoy!)



Spiderman has a horrible score, awkward scenes, images that are dazzling 60% of the time, a fantastic new character, coo coo stunts, a wonderful set, awesome fully realized aerial stunts, pointless characters, a better second act, great vocal arrangements, Arachne, horrible sound mixing, a lead unable to hit top notes, bad blocking, a fierce villain in drag, the worst musical number I've ever seen on stage (Bullying by Numbers), clever cardboard cutouts that make wonderful T-shirts, a gorgeous theatre, and appropriately downplayed ending, other songs that were the worst ever, captivating but underused masks, Arachne, a Goblin not fully realized and introduced and killed within 1 song, out of place direction, a song about how much spiders love shoes, great merchandise, nods to the original mythology and explicitly stating what is changes as not to piss off the fans, Arachne, an annoying but usually charming framing device, Patrick Page as the actual green goblin was so misused, exposition on Green Goblin's terror and relationship with spidey in awkward rapidly paced scene, the piano sequence was classic but would have worked better if Goblin had a scene before that, the lyrics I did hear made about as much sense as the lyrics I couldn't hear due to awful sound, Spiderman's big debut scene was just back to back vignettes of how awesome Julie is at designing masks and sets and stuff, Mary Jane was dating flash the first act and then it was never ever mentioned again, damn I loved MJ and Pete's relationship in act 2, Arachne, slow motion without strobe lighting doesn't look good on stage, loved the treadmill/turntable thing, Gideon Glick you are so lovable, JJ and Arachne scene didn't work, wasn't Arachne's curse that she couldn't be in human form, her power of pheromones was only used once and they didn't work on the person she was trying to seduce, "Why is there a human ear on this newt?," reggae man out of nowhere, Arachne, the villain's costumes were all unanimously dope and tight, I swear to god I smelled weed in the theatre, all of the speaking rhymed which was cool, holy **** there is a man 5 feet above me, the fact that an audience member will get injured someday, alot of underused characters, I would like to be in the geek chorus please, I enjoyed the villain fashion show, damn did I love Patrick Page's characterization, apparently DIY means do it yourself and this is common knowledge, it's annoying when peter compares his home life to MJ's, a bunch of wtf characters, once again the lyrics made absolutely no sense, the sequence with Arachne's backstory is better than Peter's, everything is a popout comic book and I love it, can peter not have suspenders?, a tedious high school scene, a child abuse scene that just didn't work, uncle ben running in front of a car to be a hero, how could someone be bad at playing a loveable tasteful dork, Goblin and Doc Oc being combined into 1 character, damn the curtains make great t-shirts, forced perspectives :), Arachne, Peter and Goblin's battle over the audience just looked like he was riding on his back and not fighting him, loved the projections, random nonsensical army scene, I feel like David Cambell (the arranger and orchestrator) could definitely take a crack at fixing Bono's just awful score because he made alot of crap sound really good, Bouncing Off The Walls sequence was just adorable, and to end this list, a wierd sequence with an action figure climbing up a building.


Yes it was a mess but you realize that somewhere in the pigsty there is something unexpectedly beautiful that needs to be publicly cleaned for another 4 years for it to be fully realized, like Feeling Electric transforming into Next To Normal. Sadly they don't have that time so the final verdict is probably not going to be very pretty. But there is still a shred of hope.? I don't want to hate the show...so I don't.
Updated On: 12/9/10 at 12:55 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 1:13pm

http://www.ibdb.com/show.php?id=5083

ibdb seems to believe that Kiss Me Kate is playing the Foxwoods in January. Mmmmmmk......

[rougeduck]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 1:17pm

And it's a completely new production with a completely redone score by the broadway duo Bono and The Edge known for their recent work on the great white way. And Julie Taymor's direction is sure to be breathtaking. All the backstage parts are probably going to be puppets!

[TheatreDork3]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 1:35pm

Rougeduck:

WOW, you succinctly listed pretty much everything I saw last night. Your keen sense of observation and memory should be lauded by everyone. Now, if only we could get Julie Taymor to read what you posted.

[Sauja]

Posted: 12/9/10 at 2:34pm

An impressive post, rougeduck! Surprised to see you pick out "Bullying By Numbers" as the worst number, though. I mean...it's terrible. But what about "Deeply Furious?" Cause that one...I literally don't have words.