Spider-Man fails to fly on stage

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NEW YORK - A preview of the US$60 million production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark - the most expensive musical ever attempted on Broadway - has brought tales of actors dangling above and audience twiddling thumbs below.

"Not even Spider-Man could avert this disaster. [It] was an epic flop," said the New York Post. "High-tech gadgetry went completely awry amid a dull score and baffling script."

Perfecting the aerial stunts, which involve sending performers zooming at high speed over the audience without a net, was a great challenge for director Julie Taymor.

Glitches brought the show to a standstill five times, once for six minutes when stage managers struggled to grab the foot of Spider-Man who got stuck.

- Independent