Much thanks to Annie Leibovitz and Vogue for bringing us this theatrical look at the theatrics of Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark, but now more than ever, we have our doubts that this show isn’t going to live up the hype.
Vogue has an exclusive look at some of the action, romance, and settings for the upcoming Spidey musical, that until now has been kept under wraps. In the article, we get our first look at Reeve Carney as Peter Parker, Jennifer Damiano as Mary Jane Watson and three main villains of the piece: Green Goblin, Carnage and Swiss Miss.
You can check out the rest of the pics in the gallery (below), but allow us to direct your attention to the stunt picture of Spidey, Green Goblin and Mary Jane. This seems to be a depiction of the staging that is causing all of the safety problems and has brought the show to another expensive halt. Apparently, the three characters get caught in an epic battle that sends them soaring above the orchestra crowd and places them right on a separate stage on the first tier balcony. The article explains further:
“To help create that immersive experience, Taymor turned to her frequent collaborator the brilliant Russian designer George Tsypin, who has a gift for haunting dreamscapes. He removed the orchestra pit and the proscenium, bringing the audience and the action together. (When Spider-Man makes his first entrance, he swings from the back of the set to the foot of the stage, landing mere inches from the innocent bystanders in the first row.) In one sequence, the fisticuffs between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin atop the Chrysler Building lead to Spidey├óΓé¼Γäós jumping off the ledge├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥and suddenly the scenery shifts to a forced perspective that makes us feel as if we are staring down the side of a skyscraper into the street. Next thing we know, Spider-Man and the Goblin are whizzing through the air over our heads, locked in mortal combat, landing on a platform attached to the first balcony. ├óΓé¼┼ôThe people in the cheap seats are going to get quite a show,├óΓé¼┬¥ says Taymor. If everything works, the audience should feel the vertiginous thrill of having landed in the pages of an expressionist comic book sprung to life. With a cast of 41 and no fewer than 37 scene changes, Taymor is clearly working hard to keep all the balls in the air. ├óΓé¼┼ôI know it├óΓé¼Γäós too much, but is that bad?├óΓé¼┬¥ she asks. ├óΓé¼┼ôSeriously, if you don├óΓé¼Γäót want to do something ambitious that├óΓé¼Γäós never been seen before, why do you bother?├óΓé¼┬¥
Sounds pretty awesome, but clearly has some logistics to be worked through before it is ready.
This thing is bleeding money, but maybe if they can keep the buzz up with spreads like this, they’ll be able to make some of it back.
Here’s hoping!
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