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.

There was a performance — certainly rare for a show that only officially opens tonight — plus a plug from Bono and The Edge.

There were jokes even about the ubiquity of Spider-Man jokes.

Host Neil Patrick Harris sang about how the superhero was facing “death-defying budget overruns” as a pendulum with a costumed Spider-Man draped over a ticker with an escalating dollar figure swung across stage.

One line suggested that Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark should be renamed Spider Man: Turn Off the Lawsuits.

Even Bono was making jokes, saying he and The Edge “used to be famous for being in U2”.

The pair bounced along on stage between awkward comedy, apology, compliments to the Broadway community and an assurance that the musical would finally open tonight.

“When I first saw the Tonys on our schedule, I just sort of assumed we had been nominated,” quipped Bono. “It appears we missed the deadline,” deadpanned the Edge.