Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark had its first preview performance on Broadway Sunday night. Here are some initial reviews of the $65 million staged production, directed by Julie Taymor:
“All $65 million of the new Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” took flight on Sunday night at its first preview performance, but not without bumps. The show stopped five times, mostly to fix technical problems, and Act I ended prematurely, with Spider-Man stuck dangling 10 feet above audience members, while Act II was marred by a nasty catcall during one of the midperformance pauses.” – read more
“Basically, I think this show has potential. It needs to work on the plot. And I understand that this was a preview, and the first one no less, but there were long breaks during the show. I believe these should be fixed by the end, and once the are, this can be a good show. The plot seriously needs the most work, and they should consider cutting down on the Arachne scenes, as they often were drawn out and unnecessary. Also, those kids telling the story later interacted with the characters in the story, which doesn’t quite make sense. Once these things are worked out, this should could be stellar, just for the aerial work alone.” – read more
“It is, of course, far too soon to start talking critically about the show, and I wouldn’t dream of attempting to review the very rough draft I saw. It is difficult, though, not to feel that the producers are walking headlong into a PR disaster by showing a work-in-progress as palpably unready as this is; and while all may have been forgiven if the much-vaunted effects truly dazzled, they seemed to be in quite short supply and nothing that has not been shown by the likes of Cirque du Soleil and shows like Ka and O in Las Vegas. The second act may have only had one breakdown against the first act’s four, but that’s largely because it didn’t look like there was much to go wrong; the flying is largely confined to the first act. Or maybe the show was simply not ready to show off all the aces it had up its sleeve.” – read more
“Last night’s opening pre view of Broadway’s most expensive production ever, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” was an epic flop as the $65 million show’s high-tech gadgetry went completely awry amid a dull score and baffling script, theatergoers griped. Stunned audience members were left scratching their heads over the confusing plot — when they weren’t ducking for cover from falling equipment and dangling actors at the Foxwoods Theatre on West 42nd Street, some said.” – read more
“It was pretty to look at, the sets were unique and gorgeous. The actors did their jobs and are doing what they can with what they have to work with. But a terrible script by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger, and an awful convoluted story that makes Peter Parker a boring and wooden character, kills what could have been a unique and interesting theatrical experience.” – read more