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'Spider-Man' on Broadway leaves audience (and cast) hanging
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The most expensive production to ever hit Broadway, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," left the audience (and the cast) hanging in its preview performance Sunday night (Nov. 28). The New York Post says the show's high-tech stunts went "completely awry," including wires dropping on the audience, scenery missing pieces and the show's star Natalie Mendoza was suspended helplessly in midair during the climatic end to Act I.As Mendoza finished the number "Rise Above" while suspended over the audience, a wire malfunction left her there -- for seven or eight minutes, while stagehands worked to figure out the problem. In the first act alone, the show was halted four times for technical difficulties.
At one point, Spider-Man himself (Reeve Carney) was left dangling above the stage as backstage crew members leapt at his feet to haul him back down to earth.
The theatergoers left the performance grumbling about feeling like "guinea pigs" and that the show felt like a "dress rehearsal." This was the first preview performance, with an official opening night set for Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. Hopefully the snafus can be worked out before then.
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Photo/Video credit: Vogue
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I honestly thought all these reports of a SpiderMan musical were a joke! You mean it's real?
Yeah, it's real. They had a feature on it on 60 Minutes last night.
The previews were pushed back 2-3 weeks to get the kinks out of the special effects. I guess they still have work. Can't say I blame the audience members who were upset about being guinea pigs.
Your site unprofessionally did not fact check the "guinea pig" outburt ... from one wacko woman in the orchestra ... vs. the balance of the audience booing her comment.
Shame on you!
Your post is completely unprofessional. The majority of the stops were no longer than two minutes, and they announced that stops were going to have to be made. You forgot to comment on how when one crazy woman made the "guinea pig" comment, the entire audience booed her. You forgot to mention how incredibly talented the cast is, and how all of them made sure to sign autographs and take pictures for every fan waiting. Reeve Carney (Spiderman) spent over an hour signing autographs, taking pictures, and talking to the fans. Try adding some of that to your article.
Your comment is completely unprofessional. You forgot to mention you are a shill for the production.
It's a preview show... they have them specifically so kinks can get worked out. It's nice that tickets are cheaper (and sometimes free, depending), but you know going in it's a dress rehearsal. They make sure to tell you anyway.
For $65 million, Peter Parker better be driving me home in a limo......
I agree that people going to a preview should know its a dress rehearsal. In fact, on stage even the opening night is commonly termed a "dress rehearsal." This was not opening night, it was just a preview. These people were watching a dress rehearsal because tickets are cheaper and they can have bragging rights. "I was one of the very first people to see this musical," and all that jazz. I'm sure that despite the expected and amusing difficulties the show went well and the people enjoyed the musical.
For crying out loud, the show is on a preview run, hence, kinks are still being ironed out. Those who do not understand and do not know what to expect on a preview better wait until after the show's opening night!
I agree that people going to a preview should know its a dress rehearsal. In fact, on stage even the opening night is commonly termed a "dress rehearsal." This was not opening night, it was just a preview. These people were watching a dress rehearsal because tickets are cheaper and they can have bragging rights. "I was one of the very first people to see this musical," and all that jazz. I'm sure that despite the expected and amusing difficulties the show went well and the people enjoyed the musical.