Spider-Man: Train Wreck in the Dark

There's nothing to start off a blog like a post on a controversial topic. Truth be known, I don't think the topic is really all that controversial considering most people seem to be taking the same stance on it.


Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has brought Broadway to the mainstream media more than any show in the past several years. And it hasn't even opened yet. Between a 60 Minutes Special, music by Bono and The Edge of the band U2, and a budget of around sixty-five million dollars, it seemed that this show was destined to be over-the-top from day one.


Turns out the show has been wrought with problems from day one. The scheduled date for opening has been pushed back numerous times and there have been a string of injuries to cast members that are related to the technically extravagant wirework that is plays a major role in the show.
Monday night an actor fell around 20 feet and was injured seriously, including broken ribs and some internal bleeding. This seemed to be the final straw for many actors, bloggers, writers, and other theatre lovers. It was the latest in a list of injuries that includes two broken wrists to and actor, two broken ankles to another, and a concussion to yet another.
Some actors, like Tony award winner Alice Ripley, have taken to their Twitter pages to publicly attack the show's producers and director. Adam Pascal of RENT fame took to his facebook page to voice his anger with the show and the lack of safety for the actors.


While this isn't the first show to have injuries happen, it seems to most people that they are more than the "normal" and it has people up in arms. Director Julie Taymor continues to defend the show and after cancelling only one preview, the show is back to previews tonight.


Now my opinions are solely my own. And I'm not a professional of any sort. I don't act, sing, dance, or get paid to write anything. I'm purely a theatre lover. But it seems to me that if a show is having this many problems, you should can it. But I'm not stupid enough to think that will happen. The producers have way too much money invested in the show for them to back out now. The show will go on....but at what cost?


As for me, I won't see the show. Even with a free ticket. First off, Spider-Man was never really my cup of tea. Secondly, I have no desire to see a show that's been referred to as a "train-wreck" and that has cause serious injury to so many of it's actors. And I won't even let this post get into the lack of originality on Broadway.


So, in the event that someone actually reads this blog, will you go see it? What would your reasons be for seeing it (or not seeing it). I'm curious.