Spider-Man: Turn of the Dark | To see or not to see …

The enthralling tale of Peter Parker and his conversion to Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man is ingrained in us from childhood. Whether it is through flipping the pages of a comic book, seeing the classic film starring Christopher Reeves or by viewing animated renditions of the classic story, The Amazing Spider-Man has worked its way into the fabric of our Americana. Is there then any doubt that the next logical leap for the entrenched superhero was onto a Broadway stage? Well, logical or not, it’s a reality in Spider-Man: Turn of the Dark.

If there is anything that Spider-Man would be on Broadway it would be a rock n’ roll musical, because let’s face it, Spider-Man is bad ass and classical composition just does not embody his adrenaline-fueled lifestyle. Therefore it is only fitting that music and lyrics for the Spider-Man: Turn of the Dark theatrical production was done by Bono and The Edge of U2. Marked by musical numbers like “The Boy Falls from the Sky” and “Turn Off the Dark,” it is tunes like “Rise Above” that carry the benchmark U2 sound. As a whole, the album of the show’s tunes that was released in 2011 generally escaped the wrath of critics, unlike the accompanying show.

Originally set to debut long before its June, 14, 2011 opening, the Broadway show was besieged with technical problems, disgruntled and injured actors as well as financial setback from the beginning. The original director, Julie Taymor, left the production as it sank into more than $25 million into debt and repeatedly ran behind schedule. Luckily Michael Cohl was ushered in to clean things up and take the reins for some much needed fundraising. After a bit of rewriting, retooling and a dose of much needed patience, the production finally got up on its proverbial feet.

The critics’ reviews of the revised Broadway show were mixed at best. The Daily News commented that ““Spider-Man” isn’t a great, gourmet meal, but it’s a tasty diversion.” While New York magazine dubbed it “a hell of a lot better” than the original version. With such lukewarm reviews from critics you may be wondering if you should even go see the show after all … the answer is a resounding yes!

Simply put, Spider-Man: Turn of the Dark will go down in theater history as one of the most technologically advanced productions ever. With its acrobatics, costumes and visual effects, the show is in some respects a visual masterpiece. Regardless if you are giving in to your childhood dreams or passing the torch down to the next generation, do not miss your opportunity to check out the family-friendly show. While your conscious mind may rebel against the bad jokes and awkward dialogue, your subconscious will be entranced by this technological work of art.

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