Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark is a new play that has been getting a lot of buzz. Probably because its a Broadway musical about a superhero. But maybe it could be the ridiculously large budget of ...drum roll please...... 65 million dollars. Take some time to lift up your jaw, I was shocked too. With so much bread and publicity backing the project, one would assume this must a sensational show. Well Jason Zinoman of Slate seems to think its some kind of epic... an epic fail.
This article describes Turn off the Dark as a mess. More importantly, it describes how this genre mash-up ends up "a comic book musical that seems to have no affection for comic books or musicals". I originally thought this was a harsh assessment considering the play adheres to the basic form of the original Spider Man story. But there's a twist that doesn't come until the second act - Arachne, the spider woman, a seductress. She selfishly vies for Spider Man's and Peter Parker's affection. And from what I've read, he wants her too. But of course as expected, Peter ends up with his wholesome Mary Jane rather than the sexpot spider lady. Surprised?
It's clear that creator Julie Taymor has no issue with toying with the norms surrounding genre. She allows the Spider Man we know to be seen while throwing in an artistic agenda that was unexpected. The show seems quirky and fun with Spider Man flying over the audience in some Cirque Du Soleil moves. I would be down to see it, but not because it is an eloquent blend of two genres I love. The combination sounds more to me like lamb and tuna fish than peanut butter and Jelly.
Check out the article for a full review. Its not all bad.
http://www.slate.com/id/2284320/
1 comment:
"(Peter Parker transforms from a nerd to a brooding hipster faster than he does from a man to a spider), of period (His Girl Friday or The Social Network?), and of style (comic books or Greek myth?)"
I personally would not see a problem with all this genre mash up. But then again, I never read the S.M. comics and therefore would not be insulted when hollywood or broadway or whatever tried to destroy my childhood memories. I can understand where the writer may be coming from though; brooding may or may not be a direct feeling of his, or maybe he's just trying to appeal to his readers. However, I say get over it and enjoy this possibly-upcoming genre.
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