Broadway's 'Spider-Man' bitten again

Natalie Mendoza, who stars as the villainous spider, Arachne, in the trouble-plagued "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark," has a concussion and will be out of the show at least through the weekend, Newsday's Linda Winer reports.

Rick Miramontez, spokesman for the $65 million musical, could not confirm if the injury was related to the high-flying, technically complicated show. He did say that Mendoza's understudy, America Olivo, filled in for her at last night's preview.

The much-delayed show, directed by Julie Taymor ("The Lion King") with music by U2's Bono and The Edge, does not open for reviews until Jan. 11. It has been under scrutiny since the first public preview Sunday, marked by technical mishaps, including one in which Mendoza hovered in the air while stagehands tried to get her down. During rehearsals, one actor broke both wrists during a stunt and another injured his foot.