Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

I was so excited that my friend was able to get tickets for us to see 'Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark' broadway show last summer. All the hoopla surrounding the show's troubled preview period, and the sudden departure of director, Julie Taymor had made me wanted to see the show even more. With music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge, I was expecting a high octane entertainment summer blockbuster.

"No camera," said the usher as me and friends walked into the auditorium. All eyes were focused toward center stage with striking visuals of the web slinger and his nemesis and the blinding windows of Manhattan's skyline in red. 

Visually, the show was stunning. Street blocks flipped and unfolded as the actors weaved their way from one street to the next. There were scenes of the Brooklyn Bridge with the subway train running above, and not forgetting the Chrysler building arching up toward the audience as Spiderman and the Green Goblet  battled out on top of the iconic building.

Choreography of the fight scenes was another interesting element. The acrobatic aerial stunts and flying dazzled the crowd. Spiderman even dropped into the aisles, and showered the audience with his spidey confetti for fun.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the music score. The ballad "Rise Above" and the duet "If the World Should End" were good, while the rock songs just splattered like flat tyre at best. A friend complained that the show reminded her of an over-budget high school play at the second half of the first act. Two Korean ladies were sleeping at each other's shoulders in front of me.

"‘Turn Off the dark’ is a pop-up Pop-Art opera with a bit of rock ’n’ roll circus thrown in,” Bono wrote by e-mail in response to questions. Pop-Art? Rock 'n' Roll? Or Broadway Musical? It sounds like Mr Bono is as confused about the direction of the show as the 'Where's the Beef?' lady. 

After a record-setting investment of over $70 million, months of delays and previews, I think Mr Bono and the producers 'still haven't found what they are looking for'. 

As for my evening with my friends, we left feeling lousy.