Spidey Musical Opening Delayed For Third Time - It has been plagued by financial problems and a raft of injuries but now the Broadway production of Spiderman: Turn off the Dark has delayed its opening night for a third time.
Producers of the £41m ($65m) New York musical have said they need more time to fine-tune parts of the show, including creating a new ending.
Producers of the £41m ($65m) New York musical have said they need more time to fine-tune parts of the show, including creating a new ending.
Previously the date had been delayed until February 7 but lead producer Michael Cohl said critics will not be allowed in until March 15. He promised this is the final postponement.
The production has suffered from a series of incidents including a stuntman plummeting 30ft into the orchestra pit when his harness broke during a preview show.
Christopher Tierney suffered a hairline skull fracture, four broken ribs, a bruised lung, internal bleeding and cracks in three lumbar vertebrae during the accident.
In another incident an actor broke both wrists while practising an aerial stunt.
Spiderman: Turn off the Dark is the brainchild of the director of the Lion King Julie Taymor, with music by U2's Bono and The Edge.
Despite the much publicised problems with the show, it has not suffered at the box office and this week it had the highest weekly gross, knocking Wicked off the top spot.
Preview performances are selling out the 1,930-seat Foxwoods Theatre in Times Square almost every night.
In a statement, Ms Taymor said: "We are so grateful for the enthusiastic audiences who have been coming to see 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark' and we are dedicated to giving them the very best show we can."
The production has now broken the record for the most preview performances but once it officially opens it is considered frozen and no more changes are allowed.
The latest delay was anticipated by some as there has been criticism that it was lacking a big, spectacular finale.
Audiences at previews were also confused about the role of Arachne, Spiderman's evil love interest.
The show's massive costs - a 41-member cast, 18 orchestra members, complicated sets and dozens of daring aerial stunts, including a battle between two characters over the audience - mean the theatre will have to virtually sell out every show for several years just to break even.
The delay is likely to add fuel to a debate among critics about how to handle plays that have long preview runs.
Some have published their own preliminary reviews, breaking a customary rule.
Bono and The Edge have tried to put a positive spin on this latest setback.
"Working on this show has been one of the great thrills of our lives," they said.
"We'll continue working as long as they let us. We are looking for the extraordinary here, and we are nearly there." ( Sky News)
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