"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" Finally Opens on Broadway

Every preview performance of the revamped "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" has met with standing ovations. In turn, the troubled show has finally opened on Broadway at last.

The belated opening effectively cut the post Tonys Off-Broadway Season (the time of usually about two months following the awards ceremony when nothing new opens in the theatres) to a mere 48 hours. With refocussed storyline, some new backgrounds, some new costumes, new music, and tighter safety standerds, the show seems poised to benefit from the post Tony Awards lull and reach a level of success to mirror its difficulties. Opening night on June 14, 2011 was a star-studded and joyful night that, to the pleasant surprise of all, featured Julie Taymor as part of the final curtain call.

On June 9, 2011, Bono paid Taymor a visit, the first time they have spoken since Taymor left the show back in the Spring. This initiative toward making peace seems to have been a success. Taymor joined the cast, Bono, The Edge, et al., onstage for the final curtain call and amicable kisses were exchanged. Taymor herself appears to hold no animosity toward the creative team she worked with on the project for nine years.

The original cast recording for "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" was also released on June 14, 2011. The Rolling Stone magazine gave it a rather favorable review in their latest issue. They said that "if you're hoping for train wrecks on the soundtrack, you'll be disappointed, because Bono and the Edge know their songwriting, even as they tone it down for the ill-fitting medium of the Broadway show tune. For the most part, the songs come off as slightly vague sketches for U2 songs. The theater-trained singers sound stiff when they try Bono-worthy emoting." In the end, they seem to give the music their approval.

Most of the reviews of opening night seem ironically to now criticise the show for not being the mess everyone has read about and is now being touted by some to be too tidy. Guess you can't please everyone.


Resources:

Joe Dziemianowicz, "'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' gets boost from Tony Awards shout-out, set to finally debut on B'way", June 14, 2011, NYDailyNews.com.

Patrick Healey, "As 'ËœSpider-Man' Opens, Its Former Director Shows Up. And a Former President.", June 15, 2011, NYTimes.com.

Evie Nagy, "'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' Reboot Escapes the Train-Wreck", June 14, 2011, RollingStone.com.

Rob Sheffield, "Various Artists, Music From "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark", June 14, 2011, RollingStone.com.