Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 55

[nycserenade2]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 7:32am

prsnr24601 - Thank you for your very detailed and balanced review of the show. I was also at the show last night and I think you have made a lot of good points. My first reaction was also that they should have expanded the story in act 1 and cut the vast majority of the story in act 2, and I am someone who has never even seen a Spiderman movie so I don't know the story at all. The Shoe song was one of the most inane things I've seen on a Broadway stage (and I've seen a lot of inane things). And don't get me started on the first song of Act 2. I firmly believe that somewhere in there, that a good musical exists. And there were several songs that I found moving. I must say that I'm a U2 fan, so I enjoyed the music, but I kept hearing Bono singing it in my head (which was very distracting). It was clearly written for his voice and he could sing the heck out of it if he was on stage. I saw Julie Taymor right after the show ended and some woman was telling her how wonderful and beautiful it was. I wanted to say "no! don't give her that feedback!" Thanks for taking the time to write up a very fair review. I hope they are able to fix this show because I think that there are parts of it that are worth the price of admission and it could be something better than it is right now.

Updated On: 1/5/11 at 07:32 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 9:30am

The idea of having Arachne bombarde Peter's imagination is not a bad one, but it should not be drawn out over the entire second act. Like prsnr said, the audience will not care about happens if it is just in his mind. A song or two tops is really all that should be in Parker's mind.
While Deeply Furious makes no sense, I honestly think it I'd one the catchiest songs in the show. How is this number done onstage?

[steven22]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 9:34am

EvanK,

I was at that show lol

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 9:57am

While Deeply Furious makes no sense, I honestly think it I'd one the catchiest songs in the show. How is this number done onstage?

Arachne and her spider girls move around and put shoes on their various feet. Then they move to the newspaper set and trap Jameson in order to force him to assist in her plot to catch Spider-Man. But most of the number is just the women moving around in spider costumes trying on shoes. It's truly awful and has nothing to do with anything.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 2:32pm

I don't know if this has been posted anywhere, but I didn't want to start a new thread. It's pretty funny, though:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/nuclear-bomb-detonates-during-rehearsal-for-spider,18743/

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 2:48pm

Did they stop the show at all last night?

I'm seeing the show this evening. Should be interesting.

[tazber]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 2:51pm

I love The Onion.

[invisiblegirl322]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 3:23pm

They didn't stop the show at all last night. Ran pretty smoothly in my opinion!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 5:47pm

For anyone who is seeing the show tonight please report back on any changes that have been made. I'm guessing we will start to see changes since Bono and the Edge are in town and they have had a couple days off from performances to rehearse.

[yournamehere]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 5:59pm

Saw the Sunday 1/2 evening performance. To the person who had the insert in the playbill, they must've given you one from the matinee because my playbill did not have an insert and that was Reeve on stage.

I still don't know what to feel about this show. I feel like visually I loved the set and how cartoonish it was. I thought everyone in the production was incredibly talented and while the score wasn't really my taste (not much of a U2 fan) even that didn't bother me. Obviously, the flying was pretty cool and that went off without a hitch for my performance.

Before I type the rest, I will say I refrained from talking about Spider-Man before I saw it because: a.) I have a low post count and b.) I was actually giving it the benefit of the doubt and was SUPER excited to go see it.

That said... I still can't figure out what bothered me. While T.V. Caprio was incredibly amazing as an actress and singer, I couldn't help but groan every time she came on stage. Her story line from the beginning seemed odd and misplaced and like they inserted it just to show a new costume or have a song in the story. In the end her purpose became more clear (after thinking about it) but still, it seemed very drawn out. What I took away was she controlled all spiders and since Peter Parker is half spider, she could have some control on him too. It was as if she chose him to receive the bite (fate) because she made that spider bite him. I don't know if Athena made her the way she was so she would find no man (they only briefly mention this) at the beginning. So I may be inserting too much... and that isn't what the story if supposed to do. Also, it gave me an awkward moment where he's "dreaming" of her and I had two very small children in front of me. I looked to my cousin as if to say "are they supposed to be having sex" when the next line was "inside of me." Sure, the children didn't get it, but it was very uncomfortable.

I will admit I went mostly to check it out and because I love Jennifer Damiano. I feel as if the Mary Jane plot line was an after thought. When listening to Damiano say we get to see more of Mary Jane, I thought we actually saw less. She was pretty much standard and only showed up a little bit.

I'm not even a Spider-Man fan but I think if it took more of a purist approach to it, we'd have a better story that could've used all of the same spectacle. It should have been all about the Green Goblin - and songs like "I'll Take Manhattan" which I expected to be a big number to end the act was merely a little song before that quick to end scene.

I edited this because I read the person who did the review from 1/4. They pointed out many of the inconsistencies I saw with the show in a more eloquent way. One that bothered me is Spider-Man and Green Goblin are on top of the building, we are looking down, yet they fall up it into a pit? And the way they explain having this effect? The kids (our "Greek Chorus) just go "Well, that's cant happen."

(P.S. - I don't know who said this on here but I read before that during the ugly pageant it was basically Julie Taymor visually masturbating in front of us. I could not shake this thought the entire beginning of Act 2. Thanks.)
Updated On: 1/5/11 at 05:59 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 12:28am

What. A. Mess.

This show is seriously a disaster in almost every way. I just can't help but think there are some things that aren't meant to be musicalized...and Spider-Man is one of them. Jenn Damiano's voice is stronger than ever, and is wonderful to hear. The score has a very few nice songs...the rest range from totally unmemorable to terrible. There were three technical problems, one of which caused the show to be stopped for about 90 seconds or so (the lights didn't even come up). I'll delve into details with the technical problems if asked. The book is amateurish beyond belief. The Geek Chorus is incredibly annoying and the addition of the character Arachne is so pointless. But she does get to relish in the worst number I have ever seen on a Broadway stage. The damn shoe song. I literally felt embarrassed for them. I've experienced some bad theater, but nothing like that moment. What the hell!?! On another note, I actually liked Reeve Carney's voice, although I've seen better acting in middle school productions. There are some great moments, but they are way too few and far between. The flying is wonderful, of course, but there is too little of it. Certainly not enough to justify the ridiculous ticket prices.


I, for one, didn't really think this looked or felt like a $65 million dollar show. It definitely doesn't look cheap, but I'm not exactly sure where the $65 million went. Was it just me? The show is just a mess. They had a ridiculous amount of money, talent, and time to create something really special. I could go on for hours but I'll just let it be, because I feel like I'm beating a dead horse. There is absolutely no way the critics will be kind. One of the worst things I've seen on stage in a while.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 12:43am

Were there any changes implemented tonight? I was lmoat sure there would be. I think its odd that this sfhow has been in previews for over a month and has yet to make changes. I guess we will see sooner or later.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 12:48am

Based on what others have said, there weren't many/any changes.

This show is beyond helping, though. They literally have to scrap like 90% of it. They need, need, need to cut that shoe number though. It doesn't get much worse. Total camp in the absolute worst sense of the word.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 12:51am

When is Bono returning??? You would think he would want to be right there if one of the biggest complaints is the score.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 1:03am

^ He's there now. I've heard the music and I don't think the music is that bad at all. I think it's the story that needs the most help. That's just my opinion though. I think the second act needs lots of work. Arachne has four songs that are all about her anger and bombarding Peter's mind... it gets repetitive. I actually do like most of the music though.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 1:05am

Yea I'm going off more of what people i know who have seen the show and the attitude towards it on this board and from what I have um...heard haha.
I'm seeing it I believe in March so I'm still hoping that it gets together quickly.
But I agree, out of the two (book/score) it's the story that I've heard that needs the most work.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 1:17am

I love the music. If anything I hope that we get a cast recording out of this because I think they did a pretty good job with the score and there are several songs that will get a lot of play on my ipod. "Rise Above" especially.

[willheim2]

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

i liked the music too, but i didnt like it in the show, too many slow starting dirge songs, no good melodies.

i didnt see the 65 millinion on the stage either....

i am going to come back and see it after the real open to see wht they did to it.

and see some other stuff too!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 1:33am

CATSNYrevival - I love the music too. Rise above is absolutely stunning. There's a good balance between the rock music and nice slow songs. I love all of Arachne's songs. Even though Deeply Furious definitely does not fit into the story, its such a fun upbeat and catchy song. I honestly think they got the music for the show spot on, but the story is another matter.

[Hugh Panaro<3]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 1:39am

But no one is answering the most pressing question of the show:

Can YOU resist a spider kiss?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 1:52am

Depends on which spider is kissing me.

[shob]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 1:55am

Here are Remy Zaken's (Spring Awakening original cast member) thoughts on the show:

"Just saw Spider-man. Permit me to say a few things. 1) The cast is amazing and extremely talented (esp my friends Jenn, Gideon, and Alice)

2) The show is so incredibly visually stunning that I literally cried during the aerial scenes. It was beautiful, moving, and amazing.

3) The music is catchy and haunting. I've been humming it all the way home. MJ and Arachnae have the best numbers in my opinion

And by best I mean my favorite numbers

4) I hope people won't just take my word for it. See it for yourself.

Bottom line: in my humble opinion, I loved it. Couldn't have had a better time!!!"

Very brief. It was posted in a series of tweets. Just thought I would put it out there.

About the $65 million not being "visible"-I might be wrong in saying that an unusually large portion of it is probably spent on the "crazy" salaries. I don't remember how much the increase was on a typical weekly salary for a Broadway actor who does special "stunts". But the entire cast is pretty much participating in some high risk aerial sequence or complex dance number, yeah? I don't know how Broadway budgets are done at all, but I think it's safe to assume that the actors/dancers/crew are probably paid some good money for this show.

...sorry if I sound extremely ignorant. Correct me. I like to be enlightened. :)

About the music: I totally dig 'Behold and Wonder', 'Bullying By Numbers' is catchy (even though I would think they were singing 'Bling By Numbers' if I didn't read the title somewhere), 'No More' is a favorite sans the 'why do I need these stupid glasses' bit and awkward Watson household fight. 'D.I.Y World' is another catchy diddy, and 'Rise Above' is probably Parker's/Arachne's best song, in my opinion. Other favorites of mine are 'Boy Falls From the Sky', and 'Walk Away'. But 'If the World Should End', like other posters on this board, is most likely gonna be the "repeat" song on my ipod once the cast recording is made. And heck, I despise U2 music! Sorry if this is a lengthy rant on the music. My "theatre" friends would laugh at me if I brought this up in conversation at all; I need at an outlet somewhere.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 1:58am

Did you just copy/paste an entire email? I hope not. Creepy!

Is it from FB? Her blog? Links are fun.

[shob]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 2:04am

Twitter! :)

...and honestly, I copied and pasted. I'm a lurker.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 2:26am

I saw the show tonight. I won't do a full review, but I'll say that I'm glad I saw it. I sat in row C of the Flying Circle and the flying sequences made my heart pound. Bottom line is that the storytelling is so muddy and confusing. I was instantly reminded of Inception, but that made much more sense. The way it's presented right now is just so head-scratching. Man, if they just stuck with the story in the first act and fleshed it out, making that story the whole musical, it would have been great. It's a shame they couldn't open out of town. It has so much potential in my opinion. It could be a great show. I do hope they are implementing changes. I'd be excited to see what they are. For now, I can say I enjoyed myself because it really isn't horrible or terrible and it doesn't look like people are in danger of dying. There are amazing things happening at the Foxwoods Theatre. (Still, what happened to the stupidly written Geek Chorus in the second act?)

And if those sets and costumes (and everything technical, really) are ignored by the Tonys a la Addams Family...
Updated On: 1/6/11 at 02:26 AM