Safety Inspectors Slap 'Spider-Man' Show With 2 Violations
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Along with some less-than-stellar reviews this week, the Spider-Man musical has suffered another big blow from state safety inspectors.
It's yet another chapter in the ups and downs of Broadway's Spider-Man show. While the box office rakes in the money, the production has racked up a new set of safety violations, reports CBS 2's Dave Carlin.
The producers of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" were slapped with two new safety violations by New York State labor officials Sunday, adding to the show's already notorious legend.
"It makes more people want to see it...in a weird kind of way," audience member Alma Shandra said.
"Any publicity is good, right?" tourist James Sheffield, visiting from London, said.
The citations from the state were issued for a trio of accidents, one of them caught on tape. Dancer Christopher Tierney plunged more than 20 feet off a platform at a show in December because his safety tether was not properly anchored.
CBS 2 was there when Tierney later returned to the theater as a member of the audience – with a steel rod in his back.
"I believe in the show," Tierney said. "I believe in everything that's done on that stage."
State officials say the second of the citations involved a pair of actors hurt while rehearsing a so-called slingshot stunt when the stage was out of position.
Members of Sunday's matinee audience worried that the show is too complicated.
"All the air and strings and the pulling and the fighting – it's pretty intense," Jenna Gibson said.
No fines were levied in connection with the citations, but state labor officials will come to the show unannounced for inspections.
A representative for the show's producers released the following brief statement: "The production is in full compliance of DOL guidelines and will continue to work with state officials to maintain the highest safety standards at all times."
"If they put the quality work there for them, and they inspect them and keep on top of them, I think they will be safe," Seham Nesheiwat said.
