'Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark' Gets Mixed Reviews

Previews started this week for the most expensive musical in Broadway history, “Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark.” It took nine years and some $65 million for producers to bring the webbed superhero to the stage at the Foxwood Theater in Times Square.

The production has had a few difficulties. Safety concerns forced producers to delay the opening for months, and early performances were hampered by problems with the special effects flying apparatus that suspends actors and dancers over the heads of audience members.

Theatergoer Frank Toughill attended Wednesday night’s show. He said that “Spiderman “is a lot of fun, but the producers still have work to do. “It's different. It's not very Broadway, it's more cirque du soleil” said Toughill. “The flying is spectacular and it’s a fun show. I think if they get a couple more weeks of performances under their belt, they’ll be really be getting something good.”

Bob Smith said he felt “lucky” to have seen it. “It’s historic,” Smith said. “But it will be so interesting to see what happens in the next three months--how people in the theater and the critics react to it, and how they try and categorize it. It's going to be challenging.”

The score for "Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark" was written by Bono. The production is directed by Julie Taymor, who won a Tony Award for “The Lion King.”