U2’s Spider-Man casts a shadow at Tony awards

A SLEW of acclaimed shows were up for Tony Awards in a remarkably competitive year, but a production involving rock band U2 that wasn’t even eligible still managed to cast a shadow — well, shall we make that a web? — over the proceedings.

On a night when the hilariously profane The Book of Mormon reigned supreme — capturing nine awards — the famously troubled Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark got attention both positive and negative at the Tonys and the oft-delayed musical turned out to be the elephant in the auditorium.

With its spiralling multimillion-dollar budget, chaotic backstage dramas, the firing of its creative force Judy Taymor and a stream of serious cast and crew injuries, the show was the running joke of the evening, sparking a torrent of punch lines that at times provoked a valiant but pained smile from Bono, the U2 singer who composed the score along with bandmate The Edge.