Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 53

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/1/11 at 6:10pm

I've only heard the show, not seen it, but I do like Reeve's voice though. I agree about Natalie Mendoza making a bad decision by leaving the show. I did not realize what a big part Arachne was. She sounded great and had some of the best songs in the show in my opinion. She definitely could have gotten a nomination for her performance.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/1/11 at 6:11pm

I was just thinking, and I hope this doesn't sound crass, but when are they announcing Chris Tierney's official replacement?

As I recall an understudy can only perform for I think 3 weeks before they need a formal replacement, and given the extent of Mr. Tierney's injuries, I doubt he will be able to return to the show any time soon.

[p.s.]

Posted: 1/1/11 at 6:28pm

... Natalie Mendoza making a bad decision by leaving the show.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.

. . . ? . . .

p.s.

Do you think a crack upside her head might knock some sense into her?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/1/11 at 9:53pm

Well no, but perhaps one of her good friends should have given her a well-meaning slap across the face and said, "Are you crazy? You're going to quit? Don't you realize that even though the show sucks, you're good in it and this could be the start of a whole career on Broadway, but if you quit, no one will ever hire you for a Broadway show again? And do you really have anything better to do anyway??? Seriously, wait till the show closes in a year and then you can go help kids in India or wherever. Geez!"

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/1/11 at 11:29pm

Are you privy to Ms. Mendoza's charity work, or are you just reaching?

[HumATune]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 12:05am

Well no, but perhaps one of her good friends should have given her a well-meaning slap across the face and said, "Are you crazy? You're going to quit? Don't you realize that even though the show sucks, you're good in it and this could be the start of a whole career on Broadway, but if you quit, no one will ever hire you for a Broadway show again?

Or maybe one of her friends told her, “Your emotional and physical health are more important than having a career on Broadway.” Seriously, I can see how getting a concussion and then seeing a fellow cast mate who sustained career-threatening injuries could mess you up inside.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 12:11am

Or, perhaps the part is about to go through extensive revisions that don't include Ms. Mendoza. Not saying I know anything, but let's wait and see what happens in the next few weeks as the music and book go through what are hinted at as very substantial revisions.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 12:34am

B3TA07--she tweeted that she was going to India to help poor kids or something. I think that's very nice of her, don't get me wrong. I just still maintain that quitting the role was career suicide. Which maybe is what she wants. Maybe she is giving up on acting and is going to go start a church somewhere or something. And if so, good for her. But if she plans on continuing her acting career, she will have some difficulty.

And yes, HumATune, one's emotional and physical health are more important than anything. But come on. There are a million actors (myself included) who would grin and bear even more trials and tribulations to play a leading role on Broadway. The whole thing just pisses me off (obviously).

[HumATune]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 12:42am

The Distinctive Baritone, fair enough. I am not an actor, so I cannot relate, but I can see why one would have stayed in the production, and, why one would have left. Neither choice is wrong, or stupid, IMO.

[HummingAlong]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:20am

I totally agree with HumATune. Dependent on what she wants, neither decision is wrong. Not to mention, also, that very few of us here on the boards really know what the atmosphere is like for the cast. Or what changes are coming. It's all well and good to say that you'd stick through anything to be a leading lady on Broadway, but until one actually gets there, it's difficult to say what you'd endure for the opportunity. Although I imagine that at some point, the stress of not feeling safe can begin to trump the relative fame in any situation. (I say 'relative' because isn't it the blessing and curse of Broadway that you turn the corner from your stage door and no one even knows who you are?)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:41am

You both make valid points. And having recently looked at her IMDB page (I'm taking a lot of breaks memorizing lines for my little play here in Chicago) she does have a relatively decent film career going as well, so even if Broadway is kinda out of the picture for a while, she could possibly continue in film. She's drop-dead gorgeous without all that spider makeup

I wish her all the best. She has a lot of talent. I don't agree with her decision to leave but it's her life, and at least T.V. Carpio doesn't have to be in the Geek Chorus anymore, lol.

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:42am

Just saw it tonight. Had two stop twice for technical difficulties, but the cast and crew were very professional/light hearted about it. They even had the actors perform the Single Ladies dance while we waited XD

I'm not going to gripe much about the show, seeing most of my complaints have already been discussed in length. However:

**SPOILERS**

Did anyone else find the ending to be a BLATANT ripoff of Phantom of the Opera?

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 4:21am

To say she will never work on Broadway again is foolhardy. Everyone in show business knows the saying goes: "You will never work in this town again until they need you."

[willheim2]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 7:29am

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/opinion/02george.html?pagewanted=2

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 9:28am

How is the end a Phantom rip off? I didn't get that at all... because of the illusions?

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 10:08am

Willheim2 thank you so much for that link. I saw Via Galactica and it has haunted me for the many years since. It is a perfect article to compliment all the Spider-man madness. Unlike many here, I too wish Spider-man all the best and truly believe that it will pull through to become the spectacle Ms. Taymor and her team envision it to be.

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 12:36pm

The ending is a Phantom rip off because Arachne threatens to kill MJ if Spiderman doesn't stay with her. So Peter agrees, and kisses Arachne. Suddenly, Arachne changes her mind and says he broke the curse anyway, and let's him free to go with MJ.

Just kind of reminds me of the final trio in PotO

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 5:55pm

haha- ok, I guess that does make sense in that comparison. I wouldn't say so much that it's a rip off, so much as a pretty common and unoriginal plot point. At least the 'choose her or me' sort of thing. I can think of at least a dozen times it was pulled in the Spider-man universe alone.

[willheim2]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 9:36pm

i saw the matinee today, and am now on a plane back to la la land. i dont type well on my iPad, so please excuse the ypos.

i went with my sis and 11 year old daighter, and 15 year old son and wife.

i had expected to be surprised to the upside, because wwell frankely, all the negaticity on the board seems a bit much and the press and everyone jumping in on the show seems, well, too hard to believe, given the level of the talent involved.

i am sorry to say that i felt the show is just a trememndous misfire. i dont think it cqan be saved. the technical glitch others have mentied was in the bif fight scene in the first act. audience took it well.

tepid audience resnse thruout. nothing close to standing ovation. my daughter wondered what happenedn to all the villaains.

the only charaters that i felt were characters were the nwspaper editor guy and the green goblin.

the score, well, i liked the music well enuf but it is just wrong.l flat, no arc. nothing about it felt right to me.

i didnt understand why the first ten minutes had to be about arachne.

it seemed like a disjointed bunch of set pieces stitched awkwardly together.

no pathos. no humor that worked.

i loved the scen with the bank robber dudes who looked like they were inspired the the production of the ring of the neibelung thqt was in la la land last year.

the first fying sequence was thrilling.

our seats re the back row of the the flying circle, and they were fine.

band mix and auditoium sound waas pefect, amongst the best i have heard.

sets were amazing.

e scene where tge actor got injured has been estaged, no jump.

the geek chrous is prominent into the second act, which seemed to hang to getheer bettter than i rad here, maybe they are clearing it up.

the wjole thing was just boring. not enuf action. too many slow strting songs.

expositio that just dragged on and on.

i hope they make it a blockbuster. wew all need the work and it is good for every oth show in town.

aeg.

i also sxaw amerian idiot the night beforeer with bill jowe armatrong, i know this is off topic, thought it was great, he was amazingly real natural in the role, not showboasting, he knew his blocking and lines and inhabitied the character and the cast was grinning ear to ear and the audinece went nutao.

[suttonfoster]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 11:40pm

Okay so here is my long review of Spiderman, which I saw Tonight, Sun @7PM

If you have nothing nice to say about it, no need to say anything

Let me first say how much I've always been rooting for this show. At first, I was indifferent but with Jenn Damiano, Reeve Carney, Paige,etc.... being cast I really became a follower and was always rooting for it, so that could of had an effect on my reactions.

I also read a bunch of synopsis' on this show and all the posts on this thread.
My seats were first row balcony which were excellent. I could see the entire stage and all the flying. I would definitely recommend these seats or mezz. over orchestra.

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Okay here we go...

I think what shocks most people is this story does not really resemble the movie at all. I was expecting to recognize a lot of things but it really follows the comic books and I think it portrays a comic book actually really well.

The Geek Chorus to me worked. I enjoyed them (mostly Alice Lee, who was fantastic) and they were a nice break from all the adrenaline from the show. I don't know the whole hype of why everyone hates them, I think it works out really well.

The first act went by really fast. I think one problem is that the show tells too many stories and doesn't just focus on one. I also think they could cut the entire 2nd act and stretch out the 1st act into 2 different acts. 3 things really bothered me. Uncle Bens death was so quick and boring that it wasn't really significant at all. The fight scene between the Green Goblin and Spiderman was so anti-climatic. All they did was hang on to each other and swing over the audience. The way the Green Goblin died was lame, also. Spiderman basically just said that he was attached to the piano and then he died? It just ended. Fix those 3 things and you have a thumbs up for me for the 1st act. The songs were mostly passable. I don't understand why everyone is bashing the score in general. Cut and Change DYI WORLD and PULL THE TRIGGER and it should be ok. Also, the piano song in the end was ehhhh for me and didn't really make sense.

Second Act
I made sure to be very cautious in understanding it from everyones reviews. It was all ok until that damn SHOE SONG. Doesn't make sense, saw people leaving after it, just CUT IT. A fork in an apple would make more sense than that. The entire book after the shoe song needs to be fixed too. It's too confusing and stupid. THINK AGAIN, DEEPLY FURIOUS, LOVE ME OR KILL ME AND SINISTERO should be cut and changed, also. Other than that, the score was fine. The ending should be very climatic. It was stupid and I think everyone knows it and I think Julie will fix it.

CAST:

Reeve- Okay, here is my problem with him. To me Peter Parker is a dorky teenager. Reeve is hot. He just doesn't look like a tweeb. His voice is WAYYYYYY wrong for this part too. It's so rock-sounding and deep, just doesn't sound what Peter Parker should. Not only is it rock-sounding but he also sounded TERRIBLE. I rarely say that too but it seemed anything over the middle range of the voice just CRACKED! The Boy Falls from the Sky was GOD AWFUL. The only worse than the singing was the ACTING. It was laughable at times. To me, totally wrong casting and will DEFINITELY not be getting good reviews. I actually wish I saw the alternate.

Jenn- Again, she does a fantastic job in what she is given. At first I was kind of put off because something just seemed off. I then thought that I'm just used to her being a bitch on stage (w/ Natalie from N2N) so it took me a while to adjust. She does a fine job and was the best thing about the show. IF THE WORLD SHOULD END was my favorite song and her voice with it gave me the chills. Her acting was a little run-thru but I think once she settles into the role, she will have it down. Brava to her.

Patrick Paige- I may be in the minority but I HATED him. I thought his southern accent and annoying personality was terrible. His character and numbers were just not well-written and I really just didn't enjoy his performance.

TV Carpio- was on for Archane. She should definitely be the one to take over this role. After Jen, she stole the show. Her voice was unique and incredible. I really enjoyed everything she did and was really impressed with her performance, especially since she's just getting into the character.

The effects and costumes were some of the best I've seen on Broadway.

I was very entertained and really had a big smile on my face through the entire show and I don't think it deserves all the bashing it's getting. I'll just say this: I don't care who you are, what your background is, if you haven't seen this show with your own eyes you really have no right to bash it. That's my opinion, I hope you enjoyed reading it!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 11:49pm

I don't understand why everyone is bashing the score in general.

I agree. I like the score and I think it works just fine for the show except for a few songs. However, I really like THINK AGAIN and I hope it is not cut. As for deeply furious, it needs to be changed. I like the song and it is very catchy and energetic, but it doesn't work. If they can rework it and somehow just make it about Arachne's anger instead of about shoes, it would work. Thank you for the review!

[steven22]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 11:54pm

Saw the 2PM show. One of the ushers told me Matthew James Thomas is better than Reeve when she heard she complaining about Reeve not being on.

[rentheadca]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 12:46am

I don't really like Reeve at all. After I saw Matthew James Thomas on Wednesday I liked Reeve even less. Matt cracked like twice but I still liked his performance better than Reeve's :/

[steven22]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 12:47am

I've "heard" Reeve crack but today Matthew didn't.

[shob]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 12:49am

@SuttonFoster-A couple questions:

1. What is the purpose of 'Pull the Trigger'? I see people talk about it all the time on here and I'm a little curious.

2. What is going on during 'Picture This'?

3. How does Norman's wife die?

4. What is going on during the "Church" sequence?

5. The Green Goblin doesn't actually 'exist' in the second act, yeah?

I've only heard the show, if you know what I mean. :) Thank you in advance.