Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark @Broadway, New York
While in New York, I decided to go and see “Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark”, the famous rock musical with music and lyrics written by U2′s Bono and The Edge.
For those of you who don’t know the show, this musical is at the moment the most expensive Broadway production ever. And one of the most troubled as well: four cast members have been injured, one seriously. Three lead actors left. Flying scenes have regularly malfunctioned. Money nearly ran out at one point. Reviews have been terrible, and some actors were trying to get out of their contracts early.
Here the song ”Rise Above 1″ by Reeve Carney (singer/actor of Spider Man in the show) feat. Bono & The Edge as performed live on the American Idol finale:
Apart from the fact that, in my opinion, remains questionable the idea of a musical inspired by a comic book which originally has no correlation with music (and therefore it seems only a commercial move), I have to say I enjoyed the rock music composed by Bono and The Edge (even if I was thinking that some parts would have been definitely better sung by Bono himself).
Actually I didn’t find the show one of the best musical I have seen, the only interpretation that really impressed me was the one of Patrick Page (the actor playing Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin). As the New York Times stated: “Patrick Page, as the megalomaniacal scientist who becomes the evil mutant called the Green Goblin, provides the one reason for adults unaccompanied by minors to see the show”. We were also lucky enough to see the show the day of his birthday (April 27th) with cake on stage.
If you are curious about the show, just have a look here at this video: Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway.
Final curiosity: former President Bill Clinton, who attended the opening night performance and set next to Bono, his friend of many years, issued his own review through his foundation: “What an amazing and historic night on Broadway,” Mr. Clinton said. “New York has never seen anything like ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark.’ And I am very proud of them for not giving up, it was fabulous”.
Fabulous? I don’t know, but if it’s true that the producers of the show must deal with $1.2 million-a-week running costs, they definitely need a presidential support.
