Batman VS Spider-Man: Singing and Swinging.
In New York, Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark, a big-budget Broadway musical based on the cult Marvel Comics character, is about to go on a three-week hiatus before it reopens with a new creative director. Meanwhile, here in the UK we'll soon see our own comic book-based live show get underway.
While Spidey is facing $65 million of repair, tens of millions of pounds are going into Batman Live, which is set to tour Manchester, Glasgow, Sheffield, and Birmingham, before arriving at London's O2 Arena from 24th August.
With that in mind, we thought we'd look at some of the dos and don'ts of staging a live superhero spectacular.
1. Don't make it a musical.
“Ours isn't a musical,” says Anthony Van Laas wisely. The creative director of Batman Live has enlisted classically trained composer James Brett to create the score. Brett composed and conducted the music for numerous Hollywood blockbusters and the spectacular Walking with Dinosaurs at the O2.
The Spidey show, on the other hand, boasts a soundtrack written by U2's Bono and The Edge. While the Dublin pop-rock duo may have an impressive history of churning out fantastically popular songs and albums, one can't help think that The Edge wasn't as concerned with the music as he was having his alter-ego associated with Spider-Man.
The Batman Producers have it right; with this sort of production a score is the way to go. Batman swinging around Gotham City while the mellifluous melodies of 'Vertigo' jangle in the background doesn't sound like it would strike fear into the hearts of the criminal underworld.
2. Don't kill the cast.
More people have been injured during Turn off the Dark's creation than a production of Pirates of Penzance performed on a bouncy castle. With real swords. And flying piranha.
Five people have already been seriously hurt; two stunt doubles, one actor, and two actresses. The second actress to be injured was the replacement for the original actress who suffered a concussion during the first preview performance.
Hopefully the outfits for Batman Live will be sturdy enough to help the Dark Knight avoid significant injury. Designed by Jack Galloway (who also did the frocks in The Lion King and Spamalot), they certainly look bad-ass, if a little Schumacher-esque.
3. Stay true to the comic book.
One of the major criticisms being leveled at the Spidey musical regards the plot. Slate critic Jason Zinoman described it as a "comic book musical that seems to have no affection for comic books or musicals."
What bodes well for Batman Live is the fact that Van Laas hired comic book author Allan Heinberg to write the script. Heinberg has written for both Marvel and DC comics, and has a genuine understanding and fondness for Batman and the source material.
Much like our cape-wearing hero, until now Batman Live has been wrapped up in mystery, but at last week's media launch we got a glimpse of some stunning costumes and pyrotechnics that have us convinced that Batman Live has the potential to be an epic, dynamic experience. It may even impress some of the more obsessive comic book fans. But we'll wait and see.
Adam Dolan.
Click here for Theatre in London
Click here for Things to do in London
Add an event
Frieze Art Fair to launch new section for young galleries in 2012
Frieze have today announced details for the 2012 edition, their tenth art fair in London. Taking place...