I'm a little late to the game here, but I just returned from New York where got the ...pleasure? of seeing Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. I thought I would share my opinion.
First, as a Broadway show it was God Awful!!! It didn't really fit any kind of musical style, (rock or otherwise) and didn't work to create a new style it just kind of existed. But Reeve Carney, the guy playing Spidey, was quite good. He played a more chill Peter than I think most of us are used to, but I think it really fit the way the show worked out. Also, I met him after the show and he was pretty cool. The story stuck mainly to the plots of Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. That wasn't particularly a problem for me. I enjoyed the way the story was told. Some of the artistic additions worked, I think the best was the addition of Arachne, the seamstress who became the first spider. She kind of became Peter's spiritual guide throughout the show.
As fr the supporting cast, we saw MJ's understudy. I thought she was very good. I don't think anyone agreed but that's live theatre for you! I think the Green Goblin really took the show though. He was witty, he was funny, and he was downright diabolical! Gobby really had a dark place in the heart of every audience member. One really memorable moment: Gobby is sitting on the top of the Chrysler Building, Mary Jane is tied up and hanging in midair. In comes a green baby grand. Gobby sits at the instrument and begins to play. Gobby plays about four bars before he loses his temper and slams the keys. He starts over. This process repeats until Spidey swoops in for their final confrontation.
I think the most impressive thing overall was the technical design. Let me start by saying that seeing Spidey swing through the theatre and land directly in front of my face was the coolest singular thing that I have ever experienced. It's hard to describe the rest of it without being seen, which is too bad, it was the the show's WOW factor. I think another thing worth mentioning is the fight between the Green Goblin and Spider-Man that takes place over the audience. It was really, really awesome.
Overall, was this a great show? No, no it was not. Am I glad I saw it? Yes, yes I am. As a fan of Spidey I think it was worth seeing him in this format if only to get to say I did. If you get the chance, go see it. It's totally worth it. You just have to turn off that part of your brain that yells about continuity and take the show for what it is: Big Dumb Fun. NO, that's not what I look for when I read Spider-Man, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.
Last thing: If you do get seats, try for the front row of the mezzanine (the first balcony) They're the best seats in the house.
Perhaps Reeve Carney isn't the Spider-Man New York deserves... He's the hero it needs... So he'll perform... cause he can take it... And he'll sign autographs... Because he has to...
