A lead actress in Spider-Man, the most expensive Broadway show ever produced, suffered an injury during its first performance and will be replaced for a short period, a producer said on Friday, compounding the show''s problems in its previews.
"Natalie Mendoza suffered an injury...and, on doctor's orders, will be out of the show for a brief time," lead producer Michael Cohl said in a statement.
The New York Times reported on its website that Mendoza, who portrays Arachne, suffered a concussion on Sunday when she was hit by a rope while offstage. She was allowed to perform on Wednesday, but has now left again.
The $65 million Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, with music created by U2's Bono and The Edge, was stopped at least five times during its preview performance on Sunday, including while actors were suspended by wires above the crowd.
The production has had its opening delayed several times after running out of financing and experiencing technical problems. It does not officially open until Jan 11, and while previews generally are a time for shows to fix problems, most do not experience as many glitches as Spider-Man.
