That's Entertainment

In November I wrote about this stupid new Spider-Man musical. Ironically my take on this was based on my total hate of "the Great White Way" but since people keep getting hurt in this play it may actually be worth seeing.

I believe this is at least the third instance of someone getting hurt while the show goes through its previews, and this guy got carried out on a stretcher. Maybe they are saving the really spectacular injuries and possibly death for the actual opening of the play, which is now being pushed back another month.

Mayor Bloomberg thinks it's all about getting the bugs out for a show that's going to be great! Think of how many people in NYC are hungry tonight and look what this idiot is talking about. Spider-Man. Great job Mayor Mike! Remember what the Bible says about heaven, the rich man, and that camel. What an ass.

Then the guy that is the President of the company that builds the crappy equipment they are using proceeds to blame the stage crew and the actor himself for the mishap. I agree, but he doesn't go far enough. It's the actor's fault for wanting to be an actor in the first place. Falling 30 feet is just a detail. Maybe this guy can talk them into adding a guillotine!

Finally, one of the actresses pours on the sap about a "light in her heart going out," and the best part is the guy fell and that was the end of it. They didn't even finish the show. Maybe they could go "avant garde" here and end the play with an injury every night? You could have a contest and let the audience guess exactly when the injury would occur. The winner could go on stage and get hurt along with the actors. Don't even think about stealing this idea!

Also wondering...what happened to "the show must go on?" Guy fell. So what? Use it baby. Personally I would love to see a show where ALL of the actors and a large part of the audience are hauled out of the theatre on stretchers after hurting themselves. Don't they say "break a leg?" I didn't know that was meant literally, but I'm all for it.

The producers of the troubled "Spider-Man" musical on Broadway said they have enacted new safety measures ordered by the government and will resume performances on Wednesday night.

A spokesman for "Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark," Rick Miramontez, said producers met with federal and state labor officials and the Actors' Equity Association on Tuesday to discuss additional safety measures after a performer doing an aerial stunt fell about 30 feet. He said the measures will be enacted immediately but did not immediately say what changes the show would make.

The production has been under investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration for several weeks, according to the agency.

"It's certainly going to be continuing as a result of the latest incident," said John Chavez, an OSHA spokesman. Chavez would not comment further on the investigation, but said a typical probe would involve inspecting the workplace, interviewing employers, workers and examining equipment and record-keeping to determine whether federal safety standards are being violated.

"Hopefully, they'll get all the bugs out," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday. "I'm told it's phenomenally complex, which is one of the reasons that it's going to be such a great show. We do have certain laws to make things safe, and we will certainly enforce the laws."

Scott Fisher, president of Fisher Technical Services Inc., in Las Vegas, which builds the equipment that does the automated and powered aerial stunts for the show, said the rope involved in the accident was clipped to the stage at one end and clipped to the performer's back at the other end.

"The stage crew would have been responsible for making the connection for hooking him up," said Fisher. "The actor is responsible for making the final check that he's good to go. It's sort of like packing your own parachute.

Actress Natalie Mendoza, who plays Spider-Man's evil love interest Arachne and herself was injured during the show's first preview last month, posted a Twitter message asking people to pray for the actor.

"Please pray with me for my friend Chris, my superhero who quietly inspires me everyday with his spirit. A light in my heart went dim tonight."

Miramontez said the fall happened about seven minutes before the end of the performance, and the show was stopped.

[Associated Press]