The Signal's Stephen K. Peeples -- New Batman Stage Show Swoops on Magic Mountain

nut-jobvillains Scarecrow and Ducard, the international terrorist.

Posing as cops, the bad guys yank an unsuspecting schmoe out of the audience and accuse him of pick-pocketing, for which he is taken away (backstage) by shrouded, sinister characters.

Scarecrow and Ducard try to whack Bruce Wayne, poison Gotham’s water supply, and kidnap brainy and beautiful Rachel Dawes, Gotham’s District Attorney and Wayne family spokeswoman.

Of course, Bruce Wayne somehow eludes the bad guys, and disappears. Moments later, Batman makes his entrance by swooping in on a bat-rope, and the battle of wits, wills and Good vs. Evil plays out.

In the fourth and final scene, the Batmobile blasts into the arena, Batman jumps out and wipes out Scarecrow, Ducard and a half-dozen ninjas, then rescues Rachel, who’s dangling from a second-story ledge. Our hero grabs the girl and rappels down a bat-rope to street level, where they jump into the Batmobile and roar off into the night to close the show, as the audience roars its approval.

Press and invited guests — mostly area youngsters — got a sneak preview last Wednesday afternoon. Director Alex Daniels explained to the audience it was witnessing a “working rehearsal” that didn’t yet include all the stunts and explosions he and stunt coordinator Banzai Vitale had written into the production. The actors’ choreography and timing of stunts and effects were still rough, but no one seemed to mind. It was cool to be among the first people aside from park people and the actors to see the show.

The seven-person team of actors on media day also performed all the shows opening weekend. Steve Hanneman played Batman; Adam Hart, Bruce Wayne. Brandon Loeser, Scarecrow; R.C. Ormond, Ducard; Eddie Nickerson, Falcone; Lena Baren, Rachel Dawes; and Chad Guererro, Thug. This lineup is onstage Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

By the Monday night show, most of the missing stunts and pyrotechnics were in place and were effective in helping to keep the adrenaline pumping throughout the show.

It was Monday-through-Thursday acting crew’s first show in front of a live audience. Brett Copes was Batman; Luke Darnell, Bruce Wayne; Dan Brown, Crane; Rick Marcus, Ducard and Scarecrow; Damian Foster, Falcone; Laura Jornberger, Rachel Dawes; and Chad Guererro returning as Thug.

At times, the actors’ dialog was difficult to hear over the music bed, and their choreography was a bit rough. The timing of a few effects was off, including the Batmobile’s dramatic entrance. Otherwise, it was a marked improvement over the media day rehearsal.

However, most of these are technical issues that won’t be issues for long. Monday night, Daniels and Vitale were perched next to the control booth at the top of the amphitheater’s seating, taking copious notes and discussing things to fix. They’re aware of all the above and more.

“We’re about 90% dialed in,” Daniels said after the show, as the audience filed out. “We’re still working on some computer problems. This is potentially a dangerous show, and we’re taking our time to make sure everything is safe as well as enjoyable for the fans. Come back often – it’ll keep getting better and better.”

The “Batman Begins Stunt Show” flies 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Four shows play Saturdays in the late afternoon and evening (times vary slightly), and three shows run Sundays starting 4 p.m.

Six Flags Magic Mountain is located at 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, just off I-5. Open daily 10 a.m.; closing hours vary. For more info, phone 255-4111 or visit sixflags.com.

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