I cannot pretend to understand the drive to develop comic book creations into musical stage shows, but apparently there is a strong need to do so. Despite the negative reviews and infamy surrounding Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, an even grander extravaganza is under way starring Warner Bros. premier creation, the Dark Knight Batman.
The Batman Live show will transport the audience into Gotham City by building the fictional structures into the actual seating area. A massive holographic screen in the shape of the familiar bat signal will present 3-D renditions of iconic comic book moments as actors dressed as the heroes and villains of the printed page do battle in extraordinary stunt sequences.
… I still don’t get it, though.
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Batman poised to make his stage debut
Emily Shardlow
Last Updated: Apr 17, 2011Peter Parker’s alter ego certainly encountered some problems in his time. Almost as many, you could say, as Broadway’s Spider Man, Turn Off the Dark. The now notoriously problem-plagued production has become the most expensive theatre show ever, opening night has been delayed several times and there have been a number of cast injuries. All of this has been very well documented in the media.
So it perhaps comes as a surprise that another comic book superhero is winging his way on to the stage. Oh yes, Batman is going on a world arena tour, with the Batmobile (created by Formula One car designer Gordon Murray), Robin and the Joker in tow.
Although production costs of £12million (Dh72m) are far less than Spider Man’s £40m, Batman Live has been billed as a high-octane tour de force, with daring stunts, circus acrobatics and a dystopian Gotham City to boot. The action will, according to the creative director Anthony Van Laast, have something of a rock and roll edge, designed to enthral audiences. It isn’t, he has said, with a not so subtle nod towards the problems faced by the Spider Man show, a musical, but an action-filled stage extravaganza charting Dick Grayson’s transformation from orphaned circus performer to Batman’s trusty sidekick, Robin.
Batman Live will premiere in the UK in July, an event which will mark the theatre debut of the Caped Crusader, who first appeared in an issue of Detective Comics in 1939.
Batman is the rock star of this show and he dropped in looking every inch the 21st century Dark Knight, in a battle-ready suit of shining armour, wearing his traditional cowl mask, bat-winged cape and with trusty Robin by his side.
Preparing a night of mayhem for the world’s best-loved crime fighting duo are all the top Arkham Asylum breakout villains, including the Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Harlequin, Catwoman and the leader of the pack – the Joker.
The new look character costumes are based on the comic books drawn by legendary Batman artist Jim Lee.
A hot new Batmobile, by Formula One car designer Gordon Murray, is still under wraps.
The Arena will be turned into a mini Manhattan, complete with scattered skyscrapers and looming apartment blocks, covering most of the floor – with space for Gotham City seats, putting some lucky fans right next to the action.
“The stage thrusts out 100ft into the arena and we’ve filled the air space with helicopters, smoke, noise and bat signals,” said Es Devlin, set and props designer, who has worked for Lady Gaga.
A bat-shaped 130ft wide HD video wall will provide backdrops for Arkham Asylum, Wayne Manor and the Batcave, with special effects to blend comic book images with real actors, combining stunts, illusions and pyrotechnics.
Fans were warned to get there early, at least 15-minutes before show time when the set will come to life with dazzling images and a comic book city soundscape.
Anthony Van Laast, the creative director who choreographed the movie Mamma Mia! and is working on Broadway’s Sister Act, said a strong storyline was as important as the special effects.
“When Batman starts from 30ft up in the air and flies down across the arena, and we’ve done the flying test and I’ve seen what it looks like, it is absolutely amazing.”
Tickets are £20 to £45 subject to a booking fee, with eight shows in Sheffield from August 10 to 14. Buy in person, call 0114 256 5656, or book online at http://www.motorpointarena.co.uk or http://www.arenaticketshop.co.uk
The Daily P.O.P. 
This looks visually dazzling, but does the world really need yet another rehash of Batman and Robin’s origins — or another video game-style Arkham breakout that does little more than provide an excuse to introduce members of Batman rogue’s gallery and, if history is any guide, recap their origins as well? (With all those villains, how can there be time for anything else in a two-hour show?) Anyone who’s seen any of the Burton/Schumacher films, read any of the scads of Bat-origin retellings that seem to come up at least every five years in the comics, or just read a Wikipedia entry on Batman already knows almost everything they’ll discover in such a show.
Harnessing all that talent and tech in the service of a new story would be awesome. I’m reminded of “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” the first (and only?) theatrical release from the DC Animated Universe. It told a great new story instead of retreading old ground, and the results were terrific, at least in artistic terms. (I suppose the lack of follow-up theatrical releases suggests economic returns were less than stellar…) It’d be cool to see DC take a little risk and use the show to reveal something about Batman that we don’t already know.
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I totally agree that a fresh approach to an established character is needed. I guess financially it’s seen as a bigger risk than just representing a ‘best of’ story.
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