Of all the phrases I didn’t want to hear today, Julie Taymor’s statement in a presentation to Broadway ticket brokers that Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark isn’t a musical, it’s a "circus rock-n-roll drama," comes a close second to "Well, Mr. Bernardin, you didn’t NEED that pinkie toe." Let me be plain: I’m neither a musical guy nor a theater guy. (The on-stage explosions are never quite big enough for me, and I haven’t seen lasers on Broadway since Starlight Express.) But I am a comic book guy, and I’ve been following the development of a Spidey show with more than an idle interest.
Taymor’s involvement is a good sign — despite my previous statements, I did see The Lion King years ago, and thought it was magnificent — and music from Bono and the Edge amps my curiosity even more. Will I go, when Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark opens in January of next year? Probably. Something like this feels like it can go only one of two ways: phenomenal or absolutely disastrous — either of which will still be entertaining.
But at first blush, I don’t think I want "circus rock-n-roll drama" in my Spider-Man peanut butter. Do you feel the same?
More Spider-Man musical:
Bono, The Edge’s ‘Spider-Man’ musical opening on Broadway February 2010
Get ready for ‘Spider-Man’ the musical
Bono and The Edge writing songs for a ‘Spidey’ musical
‘Spider-Man’! The Musical!
Knowing Taymor, the use of “circus” is probably referring to the positive boatload of high-wire stunts likely to be unleashed, but it’s hard to shake the images of a bigtop tent, elephants, and clowns associated with the word. Perhaps aptly titled, but not sending the right signal, methinks.
LOL I must see this musical.
yea i agree- even though i will still see this anyway- “circus rock n roll drama” sounds f**kin ridonkulous! but i have just one more things to say… STARLIGHT EXPRESS! STARLIGHT EXPRESS! ARE YOU HERE? YES OR NO? THE STARTLIGHT EXPRESS ANSWER ME YES. I DONT WANT YOU TO GO- rusty you’re blind, look in your mind, im there, nothing new, the startlight express, is no more no less than you rusty, I am you and you and only you! I AM THE STARLIGHT!
Whew- sorry bout that! just had to get that off my chest…
This sounds terrifying and bad.
What else could she have called it that would have sounded any better? A toe tapping extravaganza? A rip roaring barn burner? It’ll be better than Cats? As a lifelong Spider-Man fan, I’m curious as hell to see this show…but just the idea of it sounds absurd no matter how you describe it? I don’t mind this description. It at least sounds like it could be kind of wild and exciting. Plus, that description takes me back to the years I spent dancing in my room to the Spiderman: Rock Reflections of a Superhero album.
A singing spiderman is totally absurd.
MK YOU ARE AN IDIOT…IT HAS BEEN REPEAEDLY STATED THAT SPIDERMAN DOES NOT SING AND TAYMOR STRESSED THAST THIS IS NOT A “MUSICAL” IN THAT SENSE OF THE WORD WHICH IS WHY SHE USED THE WORDS “CIRCUS – ROCK DRAMA’
Dear Jack, Couldn’t care less about it or about what you have to say.