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BBC MUNDO RADIO
Bono gets standing ovation as cursed $70 musical finally opens
Last updated at 1:23 PM on 15th June 2011
- Ousted director Julie Taymor welcomed back in emotional scenes
- Star-studded guest list gives standing ovation to show
- But critics remain unimpressed by 'boring' show
A musical based on the hit comic book series Spider-Man finally opened to emotional scenes last night - nine years after work on the show started.
The production has been hit with a string of disasters since 2002 but the show's musical director, U2 frontman Bono, received a standing ovation as he declared: 'We had to save Spider-Man because Spider-Man has to save New York.'
Ousted director Julie Taymor even made a dramatic return to share the glory in front of a star-studded guest list at the Foxwoods Theatre in New York.
Emotional: U2 stars The Edge and Bono welcome on stage ousted director Julie Taymor for the opening night of the long-awaited Spider-Man musical in New York
Taymor was called from her seat in row 'T' to join the cast, crew, the new director and Bono and The Edge on stage.
The production's former director was then hugged by the stars and replacement director Philip William McKilnley.
Taymor told the crowd at the Foxwood Theatre: 'I just want to thank everybody especially this cast and this crew'.
Hugs: Bono embraced Taymor and told her that she looked 'hot'
On stage Bono said: 'We had to save Spider Man because Spider Man saved New York.'
Bono even told Taymor she was looking 'hot.' Then he thanked the audience for its patience.
The Edge joked that Bono talked him into working on Spider Man by telling him that Elton John took just three weeks to write The Lion King.
'He said we'd have it done in six weeks tops', The Edge said to laughter from those on stage and in the audience.
The full house who watched the show clearly enjoyed it particularly President Clinton and his daughter Chelsea and her husband Mark Mezvinsky who were sitting in prime seats on row 'N'.
A string of other A-list celebrities included Jay-Z, John McEnroe, Spike Lee, Vanessa Redgrave, Steve Martin, Matt Damon, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen.
'The biggest lesson I learned from this whole process is never to give up,' said Reeve Carney, who plays Peter Parker. 'There were many opportunities along the way for many of us to quit, but none of us did.'
'It was so great - it was like having your parents reunite,' said Carney on Taymor's return.
The opening night marked the pinnacle of the 'cursed' production which has suffered seemingly endless setbacks.
Original producer Tony Adams, who produced films such as 'The Pink Panther', suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 52, three years after starting production.
Reaching for the stars: Reeve Carney, who plays Spider-Man, appears onstage at the curtain call for the opening night performance
Stars: Reeve Carney, who plays Spider-Man, Jennifer Damiano, who plays Mary Jane, and Patrick Page, right, receive a standing ovation from the crowd
The tragedy came just days after he signed Bono and The Edge to work on the show. They said the death of Adams was like Nasa had 'burned down' and that they felt like 'two monkeys in a space capsule'.
In 2009 it was reported that the budget was out of control and the show would cost an estimated $1m to run. Stars Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming als left the show due to the delays.
Previews began in November 2010 but there were a number of injuries to the cast in addition to delays. Critics panned the early screenings.
And although the long-awaited opening night marked a major relief for the cast and crew, there were still grumblings from critics.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
'Two-dimensional characters, unapologetically bad jokes and the kind of melodious rock tunes that those under 12 might be familiar with from listening to their parents' salad-day favourites of the 1980s and '90s.'
Ben Brantley of the New York Times
'Not only are the songs forgettable, but they never succeed in generating any dramatic momentum - all they do is get louder.'
Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal
'Despite all the time and money that has have been lavished on it, Spidey actually turns out to be a bit of a bore.'
Charles Spencer of the Daily Telegraph
Ben Brantley of the New York Times wrote: '(The show) has become a straightforward children's entertainment with a mildly suspenseful story, two-dimensional characters, unapologetically bad jokes and the kind of melodious rock tunes that those under 12 might be familiar with from listening to their parents' salad-day favourites of the 1980s and '90s.'
The Wall Street Journal's Terry Teachout took aim at Bono and The Edge. He said: 'The score sounds like a double album of B-sides. Not only are the songs forgettable, but they never succeed in generating any dramatic momentum - all they do is get louder.'
Charles Spencer, writing for the Daily Telegraph, added: 'The show never soars into greatness, or leaves the audience in a state of disbelieving wonder. Indeed, despite all the time and money that has have been lavished on it, Spidey actually turns out to be a bit of a bore.'
The show's planned opening was initially set for Feb. 18, 2010, but financial issues forced producers to suspend work. A new opening was set for Dec. 21, but that was pushed back to Jan. 11, then again to Feb. 7 and then to March 15. 'Spider-Man' has broken the record for the longest preview period in Broadway history.
Producers finally intervened in March, firing Taymor and shutting down the show for four weeks to retool. Taymor was replaced by McKinley, who directed the Hugh Jackman musical 'The Boy From Oz,' in 2003.
Co-book writer Berger and newly hired playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who has written comic books and for the HBO series 'Big Love,' toned down the story's darker themes, and expanded the romantic angle between Peter Parker and Mary Jane.
Thought the script was much simplified in the new version - Taymor had co-written the original script with Glen Berger - a number of her signature touches were clearly in evidence. The mythical character she'd introduced to the story, Arachne, was one of the first to appear, and a visual effect that has swaths of saffron silk being woven under her got applause all on its own.
T.V. Carpio, who plays Arachne, said Taymor's return 'was so emotional - I was trying not to cry.' And Jennifer Damiano, who plays Mary Jane Watson, said it was 'really special' to have the original director back.
The actors expressed delight that they'd finally reached a point where they simply had a show to perform every week, instead of endless rehearsals and constant changes.
The writers: Ali Hewson with husband Bono of U2 and Morleigh Steinberg with husband The Edge of U2 attend the Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark Broadway opening night at Foxwoods Theatre in New York
Family night out: Cindy Crawford, her husband Rande Gerber, and their children, Presley Walker Gerber and Kaia Jordan Gerber
Celebrity fan: Helena Christensen was amongst the first-night guests at the revamped show
'I'm really looking forward to just performing the show every night,' said Damiano.
Added Patrick Page, who plays Norman Osborn and the villain he turns into, Green Goblin: 'We invited everyone this time, so it's, ''Come to our party - here's our work'',' said Page.
Earlier in the night, Taymor, Bono and The Edge were all smiles as they posed for photos on the red carpet.
'We were trying to do something that's never been done. And that's very hard to do. And we were right in front of everybody,' Taymor said on the red carpet. 'That's difficult.'
Spectacle: Reeve Carney as the web-flinging crusader in the rebooted show
Chemistry: Reeve Carney, left, and Jennifer Damiano perform a song from Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark during the 65th annual Tony Awards on Sunday
Iconic moment: The Spider-Man kiss
'These guys have persevered,' McEnroe said on the red carpet, before using a tennis analogy. 'It's like a long five-setter but they're still in it.'
Asked what he'd learned about putting on a Broadway show, lead producer Michael Cohl smiled. 'It's much more difficult than I ever expected,' he said.
Bono, too, said he felt humbled following in the footsteps of such iconic songwriters as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart and Irving Berlin. 'We found out it's harder than you think,' he said about writing a musical.
Spider-Man gets squashed by Broadway critics
Patrick Page, right, Jennifer Damiano and Reeve Carney appear onstage at the curtain call for the opening night performance of the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” in New York, Tuesday, June 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)
Julie Taymor and Bono appear onstage at the curtain call for the opening night performance of the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" in New York, Tuesday, June 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)
Broadway’s beleaguered musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has officially flopped after failing to impress critics on its opening night.
Producers temporarily shut down the show in March to overhaul the music and storyline and address safety concerns, following troublesome previews.
The curtain went up on the newly revamped show on Tuesday – attracting A-listers including Matt Damon, Robert De Niro and Liam Neeson – but the critics were far from complimentary in their reviews.
Ben Brantley of The New York Times rants: “(The show) has become a straightforward children’s entertainment with a mildly suspenseful story, two-dimensional characters, unapologetically bad jokes and the kind of melodious rock tunes that those under 12 might be familiar with from listening to their parents’ salad-day favourites of the 1980s and ’90s.”
The Wall Street Journal’s Terry Teachout takes aim at U2 rockers Bono and The Edge, who wrote the show’s musical numbers, insisting, “The score sounds like a double album of B-sides. Not only are the songs forgettable, but they never succeed in generating any dramatic momentum – all they do is get louder.”
Charles Spencer, writing for Britain’s Daily Telegraph, adds, “The show never soars into greatness, or leaves the audience in a state of disbelieving wonder. Indeed, despite all the time and money that has have been lavished on it, Spidey actually turns out to be a bit of a bore.”
Bono, who attended the opening with his wife Ali Hewson, had predicted bad reviews, admitting he is still “10 percent away” from being happy with the $75 million musical.
– WENN
In this theater publicity image released by The O&M Co., Reeve Carney portrays Spider-Man in a scene from "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark." (AP Photo/The O&M Co., Jacob Cohl)
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