Sunday, July 29, 2012

Spider-man, Turn Off the Dark
By: Franciney Horodyski


I honestly was not sure what to expect from this Broadway show; I mean, comic book, Spiderman, with music from U2 brought to a live stage. What’s next, Twilight, the musical?  I read some mixed reviews. I had to see for myself.

The first thing you notice when you walk into the theater is that they obviously go with the more comic book feel than the movie, with the scenery, so if you are expecting to see the movie live, you are going to be disappointed.  The backdrop is very simple, with cartoon drawings.  Then, out comes Peter Parker (Reeve Carney), and his explanation of Arachne, played by Katrina Lenk (Arachne was a young weaver, who was highly skilled at weaving tapestries. Her boasts soon reached Mt. Olympus, where Athena challenged her to a sewing competition. Arachne won, but Athena was unhappy. Athena told Arachne to punish herself. Before Arachne commited suicide, Athena turned her into a spider, to show the gods' powers. Arachne helps Peter Parker when the Green Goblin and the Sinister Six are destroying New York), along with high school students ragging on Peter.  The set design is cartoon-like, but fits the bill for the comics.  There is some dancing and singing and Peter and Mary Jane Watson (Jennifer Damiano) are faced with the same dilemma that they do not like their life. 

We see Dr. Norman Osborn (Patrick Page; Husband of Paige Davis) and his lovely wife engaging in song as they introduce the students from the high school on their field trip of the lab.  Peter is then bitten by the spider.  Next we see Peter literally jumping off the walls as he is hooked up to an apparatus that allows him to fly and jump freely in his room.  He then fights a blow up doll to get money for his new car, and this is where we see that Uncle Ben dies.

When Osborn finds out about Spiderman, he wants to indulge in the benefits of being super-human, hence the arrival of The Green Goblin. Green Goblin brings about destruction to New York City with the help of the Sinister Six, and Spiderman faces his quandary of being Spidey or being human and loving Mary Jane.  Obviously Peter chooses Spiderman and he wins. Everyone is happy, happy.

The singing was superb as the cast followed the music of U2.  The costumes were great, and the flying was spectacular.  Patrick Page did a fantastic job as the Green Goblin, adding humor and sarcasm to his character.  Reeve Carney and Jennifer Damiano were wonderfully in tune with each other, and their singing was right on key. 

If you love Broadway shows, comic books, and have children who are into Spiderman, I would definitely recommend seeing the show.  The children were dazzled by the high flying acts and the “spider webs” that fell upon their heads.  It is worth taking the trip to NYC.  


Photo by: Annie Leibovitz
I honestly was not sure what to expect from this Broadway show; I mean, comic book, Spiderman, with music from U2 brought to a live stage. What’s next, Twilight, the musical?  I read some mixed reviews. I had to see for myself.I honestly was not sure what to expect from this Broadway show; I mean, comic book, Spiderman, with music from U2 brought to a live stage. What’s next, Twilight, the musical?  I read some mixed reviews. I had to see for myse

No comments:

Post a Comment