Spider-Man: Turn Off the Director – New York Times
I’m sure I’m not the only comics fan who cringed when they first heard about the SpiderMan broadway production. Of course, it’s easy to say ‘I told you so’ after the fact, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was also a little curious about it. The biggest question I had, was WHICH version of SpiderMan was going to be used in the show.
When I ask which SpiderMan, I don’t mean red and blue costume versus black costume, or original versus clone – I mean was it going to be fhe serious comic fan version, or the mainstream public version?
The comic fan version of SpiderMan is darker, more serious and brooding, whereas the average public version of SpiderMan probably expects a lighter, almost humorous touch. When I heard it was a musical, I figured the broadway show was more likely toward the lighter end of the spectrum.Â
Now I haven’t seen the play, but what little I’ve read about it makes it seem that this SpiderMan takes itself pretty seriously, and that may be part of the reason that Broadway is beating up on Spidey. I’m not suggesting that a truckload of rubber chickens would solve the problem, but I don’t think the average playgoer is expecting a somber and serious Spiderman. In spite of the gloomy subtitle ‘Turn Off the Dark,” I think most folks would expect something along the lines of the early Stan Lee Spidey, with its tongue-in-cheek humor and never-take-itself too serious tone….
Maybe that’s the trick. Call Stan Lee to punch up the SpiderMan production! Excelsior!
