'Spider-Man' stunt goes awry; is show in peril?

[marmar]

By HILLEL ITALIE
AP National Writer

Published: Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 - 12:16 am


NEW YORK -- The fate of Broadway's most expensive accident-prone musical is in limbo as producers try to rejigger their high-flying stunts in time to satisfy safety investigators and reopen.

Producers canceled a Wednesday matinee performance of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" after Monday evening's 30-foot plunge of a Spider-Man stunt double into a stage pit.

State investigators weren't sure whether the equipment, the rigging or the performer caused the fourth accident in the troubled show. Actors' Equity Association called it human error, but Leo Rosales, a spokesman for the state Department of Labor, said the cause was under investigation.

....(snip)....

The fall was the latest setback for the troubled $65 million show.

Conceived by Taymor and U2's Bono and The Edge, who wrote the music, "Spider-Man" has been more than eight years in the making. It has been plagued by delays, money woes and three other accidents, including one in which an actress suffered a concussion and another in which a performer broke his wrists in an aerial stunt. Its official opening has been postponed twice, to early February.

The huge costs - a 41-member cast, 18 orchestra members, complicated sets and 27 daring aerial stunts, including a battle between two characters over the audience - mean the 1,928-seat theater will have to virtually sell out every show for several years just to break even. The weekly running bill has been put as high as $1 million. (Tickets are $67.50 to $135 for weekday performances, $67.50 to $140 on weekends.) ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/12/22/3275077/spider-man-stunt-goes-awry-is.html#ixzz18qRwUwiA

[CBGLuthier]

1. What kind of defective mind considers this good entertainment?

At least The Lion King had some heart and The Producers was funny.

I bet the music kind of sucks too.

[meegbear]

2. Hasn't anyone figured this out yet?

Let's see ... Spiderman musical problems, Ireland in financial turmoil, Africans starving. What do these things have in common?

BONO! Nuf sed.

[DemocratAholic]

3. getting a lot of attention

because it is an expensive high profile production. one of the "accidents" someone broke a toe. these kinds of accidents are not that uncommon in this kind of production full of stunts. now the media is obsessing over it.

[Mojambo]

4. I've been hoping for this thing to fail spectacularly for months

Glad to see it happening.

Hope no one ends up getting seriously hurt though.