Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 72

[rorschach37]

Posted: 3/4/11 at 9:45am

I liked the Letterman performance. The lyrics aren't that bad, but I wish the song would build up more towards the end. The only thing I don't like is Reeve's Spidey jacket. That has got to go.


On an off note, does Reeve do matinees at all?

[Justin D]

Posted: 3/4/11 at 1:42pm

I a, trying not to expose myself to anything from the show before I see it, it is so rare for that to happen for me, so I am doing my best, but I did catch the performance on tv and for me anyways, the song has been stuck in my head eversince. I am looking forward to seeing the show and drawing my own conclusions next month.

[Bardolph]

Posted: 3/4/11 at 5:12pm

It is a brilliant, infectious song, but it's not sugarpop; it requires a few listens to really feel that soaring, cloud-ride transition from verse to chorus. I'm positive that's why they're exposing it in such a way...and planning the EP.

[yournamehere]

Posted: 3/4/11 at 5:20pm

I'm still surprised most of No More or Walk Away weren't the ones to be played.

[Idiot]

Posted: 3/4/11 at 5:56pm

Well, it's no longer a local disaster:

http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/spider-man-musical-slapped-3-workplace-safety-violations-25267

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/4/11 at 7:40pm

"BroadwayWorld.com has now been forwarded an email from the show's producers, Michael Cohl and Jere Harris, that went out to the cast and crew earlier today. The email thanks the cast for their patience, support and dedication during 'trying times' and notes that they are aware they're at a pivotal moment in the show's history and will be 'making some very difficult choices,' the results of which will be 'revealed by the middle of next week'."

This does not sound good. I wonder what the plan is.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/4/11 at 8:19pm

“it requires a few listens to really feel that soaring, cloud-ride transition from verse to chorus.”

What? Why would you have to listen to the song multiple times? Audiences don’t get that option in live theatre. If it doesn’t work the first time, it doesn’t work

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/4/11 at 8:33pm

If it doesn’t work the first time, it doesn’t work


That is a very good point. For a lot of audience members, the first, and possibly last, time they hear a song is when they are actually seeing the show. It needs to make an impression the first time.

[Bardolph]

Posted: 3/5/11 at 4:28pm

What? Why would you have to listen to the song multiple times? Audiences don’t get that option in live theatre. If it doesn’t work the first time, it doesn’t work

Right, and this is why very few songs from Broadway endure outside of that context. The songs are written to have the same impact as songs from commercials: immediate. So inevitably many are overly melodramatic, shallow, and disposable.

Whether or not Spider-man makes it as a musical, I think many of the songs will endure outside of the theatre.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/5/11 at 5:21pm

This argument about a score living or dying on its effectiveness the first time goes against many supporters of Sondheim and his ilk.

[rougeduck]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 11:31pm

I want to listen to TV singing think again....anyone have a way for me to do that?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 11:41pm

You could go see the show again.

[dave1606]

Posted: 3/10/11 at 1:01pm

Does anyone actually talk about the previews anymore? It seems to me that no one on this board has actually seen the show for weeks.

I saw the show last night and have to say, they have changed a good deal since the last time I saw it in early February. Was it ready for a March 15th opening? God no. Has it improved? Kind of.

First of all there were two big glitches. Goblin's steering mechanism failed and they stopped him flying after two rounds above the audience. Patrick Page did some cute ad-libbing, but the show halted for a good five minutes. (it was incorrectly reported on here that the show was canceled.)

The announced that they were going to have skip to the end of the scene because the flying was a safety issue.Really pretty disappointing as anyone knows that is one of the highlights of the show.

They have definitely revamped the Geek Chorus. They have a few better jokes, and some clarifying dialogue that helps things make sense.

Uncle Ben's death is clearer, though I would still like to see that relationship expanded. Still, this is an improvement.


The dialogue explaining arachne with some rear projections seemed new to me. I think her story at least makes more sense, though she still seems very disjointed with the rest of the spider-man story.


The ugly pageant at the beginning of the second act has been completely revamped. It is no longer really an contest, just more of a montage explaining how busy Spidey is balances work, school, family/MJ, and being Spidey.

Arachne now has a huge monologue at the beginning of deeply furious explaining her intentions and a *SPOILER alert wedding scene between Spidey and Arachne! Yes, that's right, they have managed to make deeply furious even campier.


I noticed some re-orchestrations of both Boy falls from the sky-new lyrics along with the song being completely re-staged.

Walk away also has a new bridge in it that I really liked.

The ending reprise of Rise Above has a few new choruses, and they awkwardly slow it down at the end.

Still, overall some improvements though not a masterpiece. Definitely needs be have the second act re-written though.
Updated On: 3/10/11 at 01:01 PM

[muchadoabout_me2]

Posted: 3/13/11 at 8:16pm

I saw the show for the first time today. I've been following this thread, and from what I can gather, there have actually been some changes that make things clearer. That being said, the show that it is right now has potential, and not much else. I really wanted Arachne to work. But then Act 2 came. That's all I can even manage to say right now. I will post some of my thoughts later tonight. I'm very curious to see what happens to this show within the next couple of months.

As for the particular performance today, Damiano was out and Kristen Martin was on as MJ. I was not impressed by her. She sang the entire score in a very weak head voice. Might have been nerves, but still, it upset me to not see Jennifer Damiano.

Also, Matthew James Thomas went on for Reeve for Act 2. I'm not sure what that was about, but given that intermission was only 15 minutes, I don't think it was pertaining to an injury on Reeve's part (from what I could tell, anyways.)

Overall, I found myself having a better time than I thought I was. Would I see again? Not like it is now. Do I think it still has potential, even with Taymor's contributions? Possibly.

[Billy Whiz]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 6:48am

This article appeared in today's Daily Mail in the UK.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1367378/Spider-Man-The-Flop-Bonos-40m-musical-caught-web-technical-chaos-scathing-reviews.html

[dramadude]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 11:58am

I saw the show last night for the first time, center orchestra. TV Carpio was out, both Paige Davis and Rosie O'Donnell were in the audience. Reeve Carney and Jenn Damiano were great! The actors are clearly not the problem with this show. The aerial work was great, with one exception in Act II when MaryJane was dangling from the side of the stage (not the bridge) from what I believe was supposed to be a comic-book rendering of the Green Goblin's arm. A wire was caught in the arm, so the show was stopped for a minute as Reeve and Patrick ad-libbed back and forth. Patrick excalimed that he was wearing green for St. Patrick's Day and the audience ate it up. It will be interesting to see the show come June, and I can only pray that they change the plot and get rid of Arachne completely.

[rougeduck]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:25pm

Was America on for TV?

[tazber]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 8:38am

AICN's Nordling reviews the current TOTD

[dramadude]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 11:20pm

America Olivo was the understudy for T.V. Carpio. Maybe she was nervous or it was out of her range, but she didn't fare too well when it came to hitting those Alto notes. The shoes number was still in even after I heard from a friend who saw the show that it was cut just two weeks ago.

[steven22]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 11:21pm

I feel terrible for America. Being overlooked when TV got the role full time.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 11:28pm

Well, at least she doesn't have to perform one of the most hated roles (by the audience) in history! That should count for something!

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 3:37pm

Has anybody been to the stage door after the shows? I wanted to know how long it takes Reeve to come out and whether or not he takes pictures with the people waiting.


Also, just double-checking...Reeve performs all the night shows right? And Matthew is on for the matinees?

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 3:59pm

Reeve does every show except for sat and wed matinees. Reeve usually comes out and talks to everyone and poses for pictures with people. He's very nice!!

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 4:29pm

Thanks for the tip! I am so excited to see the show!

[Bwaynerd]

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

haha i feel like spider man will stay in preview land and never open! lol