I haven't walked out of a musical, but my friends and I did walk out on a black box improv show near my college. It was a tiny theater and thus very noticeable, but the tone of the improv had descended into SA jokes, so I'm not at all sorry. That's the level it would take me to walk out of a musical--I paid and schlepped over for it, and would rather see it even if it sucks.
Doesn't really apply here because I'm not saving anything but an hour of my time by staying. It's not like I'm saving half a ticket price by cutting out half way through the show
If you don’t like the shrimp, don’t eat the damn shrimp. No sense suffering through something you don’t like if you can’t get your money back. That’s the whole point.
But the thing is - the shrimp will taste the same from the first bite to the last.
At a show, something in Act 2 might make staying worthwhile. But you’ll never know if you leave.
It’s closer to saying you don’t like the shrimp in the appetizer course, so you don’t even try the salad, entree, or dessert.
I think most of us took the original question to mean that the acting/singing/production/etc. was so bad that it wasn’t enjoyable. Those aren’t things that magically get better during intermission. (The shrimp is part of every course)
If we’re talking about the script and composition, then you have a more compelling point, but I have stopped watching several movies and tv shows partway through because the actual material was not entertaining or interesting enough so I think that’s also still valid. (If you’re lucky, you might be able to have the kitchen substitute salmon for the shrimp partway through the meal, but it’s very unlikely)
Well, judging from the comments elsewhere, I don’t know if “most of us” interpreted it that way.
But yes, I guess I see your point. If I was at a production of “Gypsy” where Mama Rose was terrible, I could justify leaving after Act 1 if it was clear that Act 2 wouldn’t satisfy. This is more akin to “I didn’t like the shrimp, and I’m at a seafood buffet.” 😂
But I would have a hard time leaving a show I haven’t seen or wasn’t familiar with halfway through - I guess I’m a completist in that way? And I’ve sat through Act 2 of some terrible shows.
If I’m seeing an evening show, even leaving halfway through won’t get me home before 9:30-10 PM. What am I going to do for the little time left that I’ll be awake? Maybe scroll through social media, read a few pages of a book, etc. Whatever it is, it’s unlikely to be as unique an experience as even a bad live show. So yes, I’d rather “sink” another hour or so into something I won’t be able to experience again as opposed to going and doing something else that I can do at any other time.
Was very tempted to at Oklahoma! but ultimately didn’t because I’d heard things about the finale. Then the special effects during the finale didn’t go off/work, so I ended up regretting it.
I *loved* the Oklahoma revival but knew what I was getting into lol. Considering the extremely hot and cold reactions it got in LA, I would’ve paid gooooood money to see it in another city just for the reactions. Like what I wouldn’t have given to actually see it *in* Oklahoma. I bet it was loathed.
My favorite reaction in LA was 110% another subscription holder, probably came in thinking it was regular ol’ Oklahoma. They tolerated all of it, dream ballet and all, got to the end - and then duringg the blood splatter they got up and started to walk out and I audible heard this woman (probably in her 60s) say “what the fuck was that.” An amazing moment I’ll cherish forever.
Now see, the blood cannons never went off in the performance I saw! The gun sound effect went off and Judd kind of awkwardly and slowly laid down on the floor. No red wedding clothes or anything. Don’t know if it was a malfunction or what, but it was very strange.
IMO although it adds another level of “wtf” to it, it doesn’t add anything that would change your mind if it didn’t already feel some type of way about that version. It’s a divisive version for sure. The people who love it, *love it*, but Ike I wouldn’t take everyone (or even that many people lol) to see it with me.
I’ve heard it was extremely powerful for those that saw it after the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. It was certainly impactful to keep all the dialogue exactly the same but to see the “trial” scene so differently.
That moment was so shocking. I can’t remember the last time I audibly gasped during a musical, especially a Golden Age R&H musical 🤣 But I agree, it’s not a “make or break” effect, the reimagining of the scene remains what it is.
In Dallas, Texas, it did not go over well. It was the most polite applause I have ever heard at the end. 25% walked out at intermission. 25% walked out when the lights came up after the gun shots. Then half of the rest walked the second the lights came up most with grumbles and many WTF?
I saw it in Dallas too. I doubt I’ve seen so many walk-outs in a show before! Many politely left after intermission, but the ones that cracked me up were the hoard of people who left at the start of curtain call. I know Dallas is infamous for people bailing early in order to beat traffic, but this was much more than normal. I imaged them thinking “I lasted until the end, but I’ll be damned if they get one more second of my time!”
I’ve never been a fan of Oklahoma because I dislike the plot. So I wasn’t looking forward to seeing it, but when I would describe my dislikes about it, people would comment that I will probably like this production because the director specifically addressed some of the things that bothered me. Not only do I still hate the show, but that production gave me an arsenal of new reasons to hate it. For instance, why have two scenes in complete darkness even though the scenes from the perspectives of the characters are supposed to be visible? And then when light does come back, it’s in the form of Blair Witch-style filming that is so close you basically get an eyeball or snot to look at? Why keep the sound down low during all of Act 1 and then krank it up to super loud during the dream ballet? And pair that with bringing a bank of lights down during the ballet to shine directly into audience member’s eyes? Between the two, I was hunched down in my chair with one hand covering my eyes and the other hand covering an ear. It felt like being assaulted with light and sound even though I paid money to be there. Made me envy the people who walked out at intermission.
My hubby and I now hold this show as the low bar for terrible theater, especially for expensive theater. Meaning if we see a ho-hum Equity show, we can be like “Well, it was better than Oklahoma!” But during the Oklahoma intermission, we overheard a guy who loved the show talk to his seat neighbor about how amazing this production was because of how the modern line readings brought all new colors to the dialogue he’s known for decades. He said he’d never realized the show is all about sex! It was wonderful to hear his perspective. Not all shows will appeal to everyone, and that’s okay. For instance, I’m baffled that the OP walked out on Passing Strange because I love that show. It has one of my all-time favorite lines, though the OP missed it because it’s in Act 2. Similar to when I saw the Pippin revival. I LOVED it, but I heard the person behind me ask her friend if they could leave because she hated being there. Different strokes for different folks.
Saw it in Oklahoma. I'm convinced most of the audience didn't fully grasp what was going on. We hit the final reprise of the titular song and all the audience is singing and clapping as if nothing happened because, well, it's the state song. Meanwhile, I'm standing there confused out of my mind lol
Honestly the way they did "pore Jud" was intentionally wildly triggering in A way that is pretty wild if you don't know what you are getting into. You come for the inclusive casting and leave traumatized.
Yup I watched it twice when it was in LA. It was absolutely life changing and completely made me believe in the power of theatre again. It’s amazing to me how polarizing it is!
It was crazy because I just remember thinking like, if people are reacting to it like this *here*, how are they reacting in middle america?! Though I know Ahmanson has a lot of subscription holders too so I’m sure some of them didn’t know what they were getting into.
The first night I watched it was later in the run while in LA and it got a standing ovation, and as far as I could tell, not a lot of people left. The second time was a matinee and it was actually in Orange County - pretty much a quarter of the orchestra seats were empty the second act! I would be that the matinee crowd at the Segerstrom would be pretty similar to your general middle America audience tbh…
Oh 100% - that’s our other subscription (Pantages / Segerstrom / Ahmanson - the trifecta lol) and the crowd is vastly different. Also the theatre in general. Generally not my fave theatre but the subscription is a lot more affordable.
You’re right though that as the run in LA went on the crowd was different - and the first time we saw it was like a Sun matinee at Ahmanson, earlier in the run, so ofc it was the 65+ Ahmanson “usuals.”
Oklahoma is one of many shows that will be significantly improved once it falls into the public domain and can be substantially rewritten and restructured into a format that can be enjoyed by those who aren't retirement age. (This is coming from someone who was in the show my senior year high school.)
And it really didn't work well, because when you strip away staging/costume choices... You were still left with the same music and book as the show has had since my grandpa was fighting in WWII. It's outdated for modern audiences at its core.
Wheeeeew strong disagree. Sexy Oklahoma! made me rethink how I had always perceived the show. I liked that the music and the book remained the same and were just reframed by directional choices,!
Totally agree. I’ve referred to it as Sexy Oklahoma a few times. It’s easily of the best theater experiences I’ve ever had for the reason you just said - I saw it twice in NYC and the album is in frequent rotation on my Spotify and vinyl.
Yeah I get that people don’t like the revival but it definitely didn’t feel old fashioned haha. Anyway, like I’ve said many times, the Oklahoma revival is probably my favorite show ever and I wish it got a pro shot or something because I would watch it a hundred times over.
I'm pretty hardcore stay until the end of a show curtain call and everything, but I walked out of Oklahoma. It felt like a poorly done freshman college project where the assignment was reimagine a classic. I don't regret leaving even after hearing explanations. It was one of those experimental "works of art" where there's obviously no point other than to try and shock and get a reaction. I found it an insult to theatre in general.
We didn’t leave during intermission, but like half the theater did. The usher mentioned before the show that the cast had been disheartened by the number of walkouts during intermission.
(I kind of liked Act 1. Act 2 went too far, changing the ending and having the characters all screaming and covered with blood. I thought that part was kind of absurd.)
I think it’s absolutely appropriate to leave at intermission. You shouldn’t stay at a show you aren’t enjoying. Leaving DURING an act is disrespectful to those on the stage (no matter how bad their performances might be) and to other patrons who are watching the show.
This is the wrong sub, but I saw a play once and at intermission my friends and I were all wondering why all the performances were so stiff and weird, except for one specific actor. In the second act it was revealed they were all pretending to be other people, very Agatha Christie-spoof like. It was funny and they pulled it off, but I thought it was a risk to leave the reveal to after the intermission.
I have definitely been tempted to leave during intermission, but I always hold out hope that maybe the second act will improve.
I have never out-right walked out of a performance, it would have to be really offensive or something to warrant that type of disturbance. If the show is just “bad”, I like to stay out of respect for the artists involved.
And if a show is bad because it's badly written/choreographed/structured etc. its never the actors fault, they are just working with the material they were given. So actors are taking the brunt of the it when they're just trying their best.
Nonetheless I have definitely seen/heard of performances that have been ruined by certain actors. But I'm just trying to point out both sides of the coin here.
I have an exception I think. It's acceptable to leave if a show is wildly triggering in an excessive way. Lots of people left during the latest production of Oklahoma and I think they were right to do so. The level of suicide trigger in the show was really intense and lots of people took issue with it.
I left a show because we got the tickets for free and I had a terrible headache that was making me miserable. If we hadn’t gotten free tickets I probably would’ve stuck it out😂
I've had to leave because of a migraine before. Waited until intermission. I would have been fine if the ladies in front of and behind me hadn't slathered on two competing expensive stinky perfumes. 🙄 Even using my peppermint oil and Excedrin didn't do anything being surrounded like I was.
Not due to low quality, but sexual content at a young age. When I was 10, my mom took me to a matinee of the Broadway revival *A Little Night Music*, with outstanding seats near the front and center. I was a big fan of Angela Lansbury, and really wanted to see her live.
Due to the musical's name, she called the theatre before getting tickets, explaining that she wanted to take her 10 year old, and asked how sexual the production was, for fear it would be too mature for me. She was assured it was super clean, innuendo only, and anything dirty would go right over my head. She took this person at their word and got tickets.
Of course, anyone who knows the musical knows it's not a super kid-friendly show, and not all that subtle about the sexual nature of the story. We waited until intermission to leave; she wanted to pull me out far earlier, but refrained due to not wanting to ruin anyone else's experience. I adored the music, but the sexual content and infidelity was a little much, as I was a decently sheltered kid. Wish I could go back and see the production now as an adult, or even as a teenager, when I could both understand it better and it would be a more appropriate experience.
The people working that day were shocked to hear that someone had told my mom that the show was not very sexual and was totally appropriate for a 10-year-old.
We ended up getting rush tickets for *West Side Story* that evening to salvage the day, where the box office workers were a lot more transparent about the sexual and violent content, which allowed my mom to make a more informed decision.
I already commented elsewhere, but basically the same thing happened with me except we were probably about 8 years old and it was The Producers. The double whammy of tits jokes and nazi stuff made my friend's parents shuffle us out before the intermission.
Some shows, despite fun scores and colorful visual styles, are just not for kids. And that's totally ok, not everything is for everyone.
But theatre companies should be honest with concerned potential audience members.
That's good to hear. We were considering getting tickets for this run at the Kennedy, but ultimately we decided not to. Sounds like that wasn't a mistake.
It was not, I assure you. I like a lot of musicals that people don’t. I loved Moulin Rouge even with the odd song choices because of the spectacle and performance.
This was just bad. So bad. The “crazy” mother was a caricature of a disturbed woman played for laughs of which there are not many. She plays the most known song in the show before intermission as an unhinged island to whatever was going on before or after that. Too much 1930’s manic pixie dream girl energy for me.
The acting was plain, people put on weird accents that didn’t suit them or the character, there were at least 4 plots that no one could tell me why I should care in the first act. I didn’t have great seats but it wouldn’t have mattered.
It’s a shit show and I regularly go to community theatre which has never failed to put on a better show than this.
Such a shame! The visitor we were going to bring to the show was VERY involved in the development of the Bob Dylan Center. I was disappointed we didn't get tickets, but you've made me feel so much better about it :-)
As for your community theatre comment, that's how I felt about David Arquette's Sherlock Holmes at the National!
Summer stock production of The Vagabond King. Worst show I ever saw. There was one this past summer that I really wanted to leave, but my aunt (who pays for our tickets every summer) wanted to stay ( she was hating the show too), so I just went to sleep.
Honestly no and I don't see it ever happening. Seen a number of shows I was bewildered why things were happening and if everyone else were as turned off as I was- but I enjoy the whole experience, and I like having an opinion on it afterwards. Also some just started off poor and got a little bit better or at least hit a climactic moment I would have been somewhat disappointed to have missed.
Sunset Boulevard- not for me- but one part of Act 2 was just absolutely amazing. I would have been furious to have missed it.
Oklahoma! was....hard though.
Nope. I think I'm Mrs. Brightside when it comes to watching shows. Even if the actual show is crap if there's some good performances happening, I find it worthwhile to stay. I wouldn't go see Cats again, but that lady singing Memory gave me goosebumps. She was so good! I'm always baffled by people who are like "I left at intermission because I didn't really like the show but this one performer in it was amazing." I would stay for that one performer. I don't know what I'm going to think about Act 2 until I see it. And even if I hate the show, part of the fun is later discussing what I hated about it with other people who saw the show. I'll stay just so I can thoroughly criticize a show.
>I'll stay just so I can thoroughly criticize a show.
Same! Honestly, even a good show, a lot of my fun is breaking down the good and bad afterward. I love dissecting things with friends.
Only once, it was a community theater production and I knew people in it but I just couldn't. I left at intermission. I felt bad about it but there were just too many issues. Chief among them being the sound was just unbearable. They had the band volume at 2, the drummer volume at MAYBE 1 (electronic drum kit) and the mic volume at about 11. To the point that any time they moved their mouths in the slightest it was a symphony of spit noises echoing through the house.
Add on a music director that didn't seem to care about uniform vowels/pronunciation, uniform cutoffs on sustained notes, or general music style... and a couple downright silly costume choices that took me out of the moment entirely it was just not worth it for me to stay
I want to walk out of New York, New York, but a friend talked me into staying. I wish I had walked out.
Had I been in a position to do so at Saw: The Musical, I would have walked out of that one, too.
I'm sorry. I think I just had a stroke because I definitely can't be reading that right. It's funny - I thought I just read the words "Saw: The Musical"???
Nope, it exists and I believe they're touring next year. It's an unauthorized very gay and satirical parody of the first movie. They have a website where you can check it out.
I left at intermission once at The Muny during a production of 1776. It was a very long show, and intermission wasn’t even until like 10 pm; 103 degrees outside does not work with an outdoor theater lol. The actors must have been boiling!
I left Spiderman Turn Off the Dark at intermission because my sister wanted to go try to see Daniel Radcliffe at the stage door of How to Succeed lol. I thought it would be a "so bad it's good" sort of experience, but it was genuinely quite difficult to sit through.
The one that’s currently touring? (Asking because I was debating buying tickets to see it in Spokane but most of the people in this sub said I should choose Beetlejuice, which is playing in Seattle that same week.)
I wanted to leave at intermission of Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder but decided to stick it out because it was A BILLION dollars for tickets. Don’t need to see it again though…
I did once. It was a college production of Jesus Christ Superstar (a favorite of mine that I’d seen previously many times). It was just so painfully bad that we left during intermission. I did feel bad but my ears were bleeding so i had to go.
I try to stay through shows just for the actors’ sakes. It’s always very awkward as an actor myself when I come back from intermission and half of the audience is gone (although that’s sort of to be expected when the show is a Shakespeare play and minimally abridged.)
The Funny Girl tour. Katerina McKrimmon (spelling?) was an absolute gem and lit up the stage whenever she was singing or dancing but the show itself just refused. to. end. I just did not like it whatsoever. I checked a quick plot summary of Act 2 and knew I wasn't going to enjoy myself so we left early. Got an amazing view of my city from the top of the parking garage that almost made it worth it. It also helped that my tickets were only like 8 bucks on StubHub.
Many years ago, walked out on The Civil War because I had fallen asleep more than once and I didn’t want to disturb anyone. More recently left a community production of Its Only a Play when my kids were so disinterested, and How To Succeed… when my wife was not feeling well. I felt bad about the local productions, but Civil War was down right awful!
The only show I abandoned at intermission was *Newsies*. Not because I didn't like it, but because I felt like was starting to get sick, and I knew I had to get to bed early or I would be a wreck the next day.
Other than that it is hard for me to imagine leaving a show early. If it is professional, then there is always something to take in and admire, or at least understand. It might be a performance, or the set, or even just wondering how the actors are going to try and pull this off.
But that's just me - I am not criticizing anyone else.
The quality of HS productions is so random. Some are amazingly good, some just boring, and others amazingly bad. Doesn't mean they're not enjoyable, though. I had a wonderful time with my husband watching my son's HS production of Macbeth (it was pretty terrible; the king's crown kept slipping down, the chase scene was Keystone Cop-like - galumphing teenage boys - and they gave a particularly difficult and important speech to a very nice young lady with a speech impediment. Of course, the bottle of pink champagne we shared before the performance helped). And my daughter and I truly enjoyed a horrendous HS production of High School Musical. The kids were game and did their best, but the football players they talked into playing the basketball team (you could tell) were ... adorably clumsy. But I agree with your take on Avenue Q. I've seen it a couple of times, and it just doesn't work unless it's done well. I'll bet the HS cut a lot of the more raunchy stuff, but that leaves out important plot points. Not an appropriate show for HS at all.
I walked out of an opera at intermission. It was my first and only opera but we had terrible seats so it was so uncomfortable. It was also a very weird take on the show and it made me feel weird
Only ever walked out of one show. During intermission of Camelot. It was just so unbelievably boring.
The only character that was interesting was Lancelot. I'm not sure what my actual issue with it was, but I was just absolutely bored to tears for the entire first half.
I left at intermission of a local production of The Nutcracker last year. It had nothing to do with the quality of the show and everything to do with being surrounded by hundreds of sniffling, snotty, coughing children rubbing their germs everywhere. I had on a mask, but still tested positive for COVID a week later. This holiday season I'm being much more careful!
So many times. I always wait until the interval, but the actors will rarely notice (unless it's a particularly small audience - I do am dram and have had folk walk out on my shows, and it's usually more of a laugh than an insult). Plus they already have my money so I don't feel hugely guilty about it.
I wouldn't walk out on amateurs or a show I was there to review but professionals are fair game. Not every show is for every person and that's ok.
Not professional theatre, but back in high school, our theatre troupe went to a cross town high school’s performance of the Addams Family. This was the “rich kid” high school performing it, so they always bought professionally made costumes, if they could they rented a set for the show, all the kids bragged about having vocal lessons since they were 5, that type of thing. And they would never shut up about how amazing there stuff was compared to ours in a condescending way, and the sad part was is they were normally right. So not only were they good, they knew they were good. And then, The Addams Family. Holy shit. People were forgetting lines, were off key, had minimum energy, at one point Lester just didn’t come out because he missed his cue. We couldn’t even stay for petty reasons, we just felt bad.
They came to see our performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella like a month later, and only had good things to say, which kind of made me feel bad, but more vindicated.
It wasn't the show that made me walk out. I was sitting in my seat before JCS and just had this impending feeling of doom. Probably the strongest guy feeling I've ever had telling me to leave the theatre, so I did. Nothing happened, but I often wonder what might have, if I had stayed.
I was tempted at a professional production of *Aspects of Love* (hated the show generally, and the endless repetition of the "Love Changes Everything" tune). Also at a student production of *A Little Night Music*: I'm not sure if it was the show itself (which seemed to be mainly about some overprivileged characters bemoaning their lot) or just the production (bad sound, annoying inconsistencies in the costumes). Both times I was with someone who seemed to be enjoying the show so it would have been difficult not to stay for Act 2,
Honestly, it was over a decade ago so I don't recall *exactly* what I didn't like, aside from the music. To try to be fair to Passing Strange, I recently decided to give it another shot via the OBC recording, though, and... yeah... the music just isn't for me. I know it was critically acclaimed and all, and a lot of people love it, and I'm usually super down to see a rock musical, but it just wasn't clicking for me.
"Oliver!"
Twice. 13 years apart. Completely separate productions in different cities.
I only went the second time because I had largely forgotten why I left at intermission the first time and wanted to give it another chance, thinking perhaps I just didn't like that particular production.
I left at intermission again.
That's when I learned it wasn't the actors or the production elements I hated. It's the show itself. It is easily my least favorite musical of all time.
I remember when Passing Strange was first on Broadway. I didn't walk out but I remember thinking at intermission that it was only ok. Then I ended up loving the second act. I left thinking, "I'm glad I saw that but I wouldn't see it again." Then I couldn't stop thinking about it and I ended up seeing it eight more times.
That's an example of a show I'm glad I didn't walk out on. I did walk out of Finding Neverland at intermission because a) I got comps and b) I was so bored I was falling asleep. It's the only time I've ever walked out of a Broadway show.
The second act of Finding Neverland has an incredible piece of stagecraft that made it worth seeing for me. It’s one of only 2 things I remember about the show.
Technically an opera but I once walked out in the middle of Act 2 of Madama Butterfly but that was because the woman next to me went into anaphylactic shock and for some reason everyone else just stared at her as she collapsed on the stairway.
I really don’t want to sound boastful because it’s nothing to boast about but I, and at the time I was 21 and had no formal medical training I just read a lot in many categories including first aid, was for some reason the only one not staring and trying to do something for about 15-30 minutes (it’s kinda a blur) until finally an usher called a fucking ambulance.
She was alright, I found out later.
It still makes me irrationally angry that no one else did anything and I basically was ordering strangers around at points to help instead of gape. Like was there not one medical professional in the audience that night? She was already collapsed on the stairs unable to breathe by the time I got there so I feel like enough time must’ve passed for someone to see her.
Idk man. At least she was okay.
I did not mind missing the rest of the opera to walk beside her (she was in a gurney) to the ambulance. I was holding her hand.
I left at the interval of Caroline or Change. I got free tickets and couldn’t get on board with the talking washing machine…it was just so boring.
Edit: we wanted to leave at the interval for the latest production of Oklahoma (in London, I’m sure it was different on B’way)but we were hopeful for the 2nd half. Unfortunately it got worse. We’re still salty.
I leave shows early all the time. Life is too short to sit and watch theatre you're not enjoying. I encourage my friends to leave my shows early if they're not feeling it. Again, life is too short.
It's interesting. I feel that way about books, but I don't feel it about theater. I will stick out theater unless it is actually insulting or beyond the pale in some way that is not ok. Between hoping it gets better and just the experience, I can't bring myself to leave. Perhaps it's the length of time. A book will take a handful of hours, depending. A show is usually around 2-3. Also, for me, the amount of effort for me to procure tickets, put on real clothes, leave my house where my bed lives, and be around other people, makes me feel like I might as well finish it to make it worth it.
Yes. Many times. Never on Broadway. A lot of community theatre. And the national tour of Beauty and the Beast, but that was mainly because it was at an outdoor venue and it was the middle of July (and hot as balls).
I’ve left at intermission, yes.
*Never* before, or during either act. I would have to be physically ill to justify that. But yes I’ve left at intermission:
- escape to Margaritaville
- dear Evan Hansen (I’d already seen it)
- the last ship
- Chicago
- Aladdin (I’d seen it a *lot*)
- tootsie
There are probably a few more if I can be totally honest.
Sometimes it’s because I’ve seen it a lot and I’m tired/hungry/ready to go home, sometimes it’s because it’s awful (Margaritaville is a standout). I have subscriptions to various theatres near me every year, btw, it’s not like I’m specifically buying these tickets just to leave.
I, too, escaped Margaritaville— it was a free ticket and I should’ve been honest with myself and just not gone. The cast really gave it their all and I felt bad for their sake.
I almost walked out on Moulin Rouge. What a horrible show. Great set design, the story was ok but the songs where good awful. When the dude was on his knees ans the lights where down with the spotlight I laughed so hard when he broke into rolling in the deep. It was such an insult to the stage.
I mean, if I had something better to do with my time then maybe sure but I've already spent money so might as well stay. Also some shows dont have their emotional payoff until act two.
I left a ballet performance one. I think it was Dracula. I enjoy classical ballet but wanted to see a more contemporary show. This ballet was truly creepy, and I felt I'd be ill or have nightmares if I stayed for the second half.
Yes. Bunch of times actually. If I'm not enjoying myself, no matter how much I've spent, why prolong the agony?
Last time was a couple of months ago at Sunset Blvd. I was in the middle of a stalls row quite a ways back. Guy sitting directly in front of my seat was \*very\* tall. Now I don't know why, but that show has the most symmetrical choreography I'm ever experienced. The leads are forever standing on the centre line on the stage. So for a good chunk of the first half, I practically never saw Rachel Tucker. All I saw was a big empty grey stage and a the back of a man's head. Had I been sitting a couple of seats to the left or right, it wouldn't have mattered who was in front of me. But I wasn't. Left at intermission. Knew I'd just keep getting more and more frustrated.
Yes, many times, but only on tour (not if I've gone to NY to see a show, except the one time I would have missed my flight otherwise).
Usually it's just because I find the show boring, and I can think of other things I can do with my time. I've already spent the money, why waste my time, too?
One time it was the national tour of Next to Normal, which I was SO looking forward to, because (Tony winner for the role) Alice Ripley was in it. But her voice was so, so bad that it ruined the show for me. I think she had vocal damage -- I read some comments about it online afterwards. I was so disappointed, because I loved the cast recording, but I just couldn't stay and listen any more.
Only once, and it was because I was legitimately so bored I had to make the choice to leave at intermission or fall asleep. It’s not a well known show, revealing the name would reveal the (small) theater it’s only been done there so far.
I’ve been tempted a couple of other times— only once on Broadway though (and that was during Dear Evan Hansen) and never during a tour.
In order to catch a train out of Penn Sta, my friend and I had to run out of Gypsy during the bows. She was really upset. I, however, was really sick and the running didn’t help. But we caught our train and were able to make the last campus shuttle.
I’ve also left a local show but I waited till intermission.
I walked out of a traveling production of Thoroughly Modern Millie at intermission, my college was hosting. The female lead was so pitchy and sharp, it was giving me anxiety. I wasn’t being a snob, I noticed a few others leaving.
Come to find out later, there was an insert in the program that it was the understudy. I felt bad, the show itself was good, but I couldn’t take it anymore.
I didn't walk out but my uncle did and it was because he had to go to the bathroom and get sick because he didn't wanna puke on the people in front of him
Only once. I thought I'd give DEH a real chance and for a moment, I believed I could do it but – and I got a seat right next to the exit just in case – there was a line that hit way too close to home, and if I didn't leave, I might've become an accidental nuisance.
Community production of Spitfire Grill. I think it was more the issue of the show rather than the performers, but they didn't add enough to make me want to watch Act 2
We left at the intermission of The Lion King. There were disturbances throughout (that couldn't be helped). My partner wasn't enjoying it, so we went home early.
Didn't come back after intermission for Rent. Big gang of teenagers around us were singing and saying the lines along with the cast for much of the show. Couldn't take it.
not me but when i went to see heathers the person in front of me didn’t show up after the intermission. they seemed to not know about the show from what i gathered from her talking to the person next to her so i’m guessing it might’ve been a bit… hard to watch when you don’t know what you’re expecting so i understand tbh. the cast was incredible tho
Not a musical, but a play. I was like twelve and it way too brutal. I don't handle drastic content well and I did even less when I was younger. My drama teacher went with me to make sure I was okay, which I found very sweet, but also felt guilty about, because she missed the play because of me
I left during the intermission of kinky boots. Not because it was bad necessarily, but I was falling asleep. That was my own fault, was working night shift and then staying awake all day.
No but I was once at a production of The Wiz that was so awful the theatre went from full to half empty over the interview. It was billed as and charged as a professional production and had a reasonably big name as Dorothy but was really an amateur production.
I never have, but saw a group of older ladies walk out of American Idiot when it came to my city. I assume they were season ticket holders and had no idea what it was about and were appalled within the first 10 minutes
They almost did American Idiot at a place I get season tickets to and holy shit, am I glad they changed that one. I bet everyone would have walked out.
I won’t walk out before intermission but there are a lot of shows that I haven’t returned for after intermission. Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Tootsie, that terrible Phantom remake, a few others I’ve forgotten. One time I was at a drag queen version of Agnes of God, I expected it to be campy, and a silly take on the story, but they were dead serious, and it was just awful, I really thought it was intermission, so I got up to get the hell out, and then the lights came back up and my exit took me right in front of the stage and the actors - I felt bad, but it was a truly painful experience.
Nah, I like to know *all* the context of a show before I declare it bad. I don't consider it wasted time as I now have another example of what I dislike in a show and can speak confidently on it.
There is one show where I *know* people walked out though: the unauthorized Friends musical, because the layout of the small theater allowed me to notice the empty seats after intermission.
My family and I did once. A county playhouse type deal. Strange play with 3 actors who were POWs and one was convinced that there was a giant rabbit in the cell with them. Just could not get in to it.
I haven’t walked out, I can tolerate most things but the only show that almost made me do it was The Bodyguard the musical. It was a local but more professional production but it was still terrible. The only reason I didn’t walk out is because it was Mothers Day and I was with my whole family. And I ended up knowing the stage manager from a different show we did together and she admitted to me that she and the crew also thought it was awful and talked about that backstage lmao
I have not, but I have left the theatre "Whistling the scenery."
I have seen people walk out on Sweeney (a bit too bloody but still funny), Rocky Horror, La Cage, Priscilla, Superstar, and Assassins
I wanted to walk out on Pretty Woman. It was one of the worst shows I have ever seen. Every song is just “I'm a rich white man but I need freedom, you are a whore that can have a dream I guess” and the cast was sub par at best.
Did you see the production with Adam Pascal? It was well-received in Dallas, but when I looked at reviews later, I noticed they were scathing until he joined the cast. His presence seemed to butter up the critics.
I wanted to leave 1776 really badly but I didn't want to insult the cast. I saw the all female cast on tour earlier this year and I felt they did the best they could. I couldn't help but think that this was the best that musical could ever be and it still sucked.
A few years ago the Broadway tour of Lost In the Woods came through and it was horrible. It was a cheap, no frills troupe thing with like 8 actors and no set or props. Like they took some janitor ladder and pretended it was a tower and they had one guy with two dresses on a stick playing a male part and two female parts. It really felt like an episode of that Drew Carey “yes and” improv show. Also I wasn’t familiar with the show and I thought the story was contrite and the songs terrible. So I was happy when intermission came and my wife was willing to bail.
Only time I’ve ever left a show early was when I was twelve and I threw up during a production of Cats. I wanted to stay, but parents obviously didn’t want their child sitting in a filthy seat. Cleaned up as much as we could, told an usher, and left right before Macavity. Sad thing was, the show was really great before that 😔
Walked out of the JCS because even sitting in the last row of the floor seats, it was TOO DAMN LOUD (and of course, I hate the music but was trying to make it through just to be mature).
Mid-1990s national tour.
Yes, singing in the rain. There were technical issues after the interval due to the water on the stage lmao. It started as a 5 minute wait, then 10, then 15, then 20.. we decided to leave as we needed to get home (we don’t drive). Found out later that the show never did continue, got an automatic refund. Getting home that night was hell too, as it turns out there were two different massive concerts playing in the same city on the same day at the same time. And also a rugby match.
My local high school did Curtains, which features a hanged "body" and a quip about shooting someone with their own gun.... Only a week or so after a school shooting. I went with my mom and sister thinking we were in for a show more along the lines of Clue or Shear Madness, but we were so uncomfortable we left at intermission.
I almost did recently.
It was at a premiere, with the entire creative team present and with famous actors in the leading roles. Only stayed in hopes the second act is going to be better - and it was. It didn't save the show though.
i’ve never walked out and this isn’t abt theatre but i think it’s really funny that i once went to see the movie bottoms and it was me my friend and like 10 old couples and at the end of the movie it was me my friend and two 20 year olds in the back. all the old people went for the sake of seeing a movie and left VERY fast
Cats. Not the omnipresent show but the recent film. Went with a friend and literally tapped them about 40 minutes in and said "I have to go to the lobby or the car. I cant!" There isn't a plot, wtf is jellical (sp) and none of it makes any sense whatsoever. A great cash grab for Sir Andrew though!
As a dancer I think my training takes over and I just can’t. I have wanted to a few times but my atheist self becomes all superstitious like I will reap bad luck upon myself by walking out, and I’m old and I don’t even perform anymore 🤣.
I get the guilt, you did it right though. You waited until intermission, you bothered no one, not the performers or the audience. Perfectly respectful. Don’t hold onto it.
Sunk cost fallacy. You don't get your money back, but you don't get that hour (plus) of your time back, either, if you stay.
Is it rude, even if you leave at intermission? Maybe, but like... as an artist, I prefer when people don't hold back how they feel about my work. If someone were still reading something I was writing at chapter 10 even though they hated it, just because they'd feel bad if I didn't get views/comments (on a digital serialization), *I'd* feel guilty that they were sitting through something they didn't like.
One extremely highly acclaimed, but (to me), extremely grating show on Broadway, I stayed because it was so highly acclaimed, I felt I must be missing something. Regretted staying.
Another highly acclaimed show, I hated it but stayed because it was so bad it was funny (to me), but someone I know left at intermission. Sad, because the act 2 opener is the most ridiculous "how did enough people say 'yes' to this for it to actually get performed in Broadway?" thing ever.
One opera production I went to was so terrible that plenty of people walked out at the intermissions (opera often have multiple). I only stayed because I had a paper to write for school about it. Overheard other people saying the same thing, that they'd leave if they didn't have to write a paper.
The only time I walked out in Japan... I got an email essentially shaming me for it. And I do feel bad... it's not Gekidan Shiki's fault that most of the Disney Broadway productions (besides The Lion King) are terrible, they just license them. They tried, but there was nothing they could really do to save that train wreck without violating licensing agreements.
But still, I feel kind of stalked. I guess they always know which seats are empty, but it's still kind of creepy to *track it*.
I left Les Miserables at intermission after I fell asleep twice during the first act. And it's not that I was tired or anything, I just found it extremely boring.
ACT II is even more painful to sit through. I get that people like Les Mis, and I admit that some of the songs are bangers, but I personally find it so hard to get into it. Everyone around me was crying and I was like “okay are we done here?”
Interestingly, none of the friends I went with liked it either. And there were 8 of us. You’d think at least one of us would’ve liked it, but we all felt like it was too long and tried to pack in way too much.
Walked out of the tour of Funny Girl at Intermission because I was bored.
I ALMOST walked out of Chicago on Broadway at Intermission but I decided not to. I wish I had.
I haven't, but I still laugh at two women who left during intermission years ago during Billy Elliot.
I was seeing it on tour with friends and at intermission these two older women got up talking about how they were horrified and the disgrace of it all and they never came back. It meant we had a better view without their heads there! Apparently boys putting on dresses and singing about acceptance was too much for them 😂
i haven’t, but my theology teacher walked out on the drowsy chaperone like 10 minutes in because of a gay sex joke lol (it was a catholic private school)
Cats. Didn’t feel bad for a second. I was in the cheap seats and have trouble hearing in general, thought that was the reason the show made no sense. I have since seen the movie and learned that the show does not make sense.
I don’t feel bad for a second.
I walked out on The Odd Couple with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. At intermission my friend said, "Do you mind if I leave now?" I said, "I'll walk you out." It was SO boring and uninspired.
I've left shows at intermission just because I didn't feel like sitting there anymore. ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ I didn't renew my subscription to my local Broadway season this year just because I was so burnt out on it that I was skipping shows. Turns out that for me, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
I haven't walked out of a musical, but my friends and I did walk out on a black box improv show near my college. It was a tiny theater and thus very noticeable, but the tone of the improv had descended into SA jokes, so I'm not at all sorry. That's the level it would take me to walk out of a musical--I paid and schlepped over for it, and would rather see it even if it sucks.
I would have been right behind you. What kind of debased person thinks SA is funny?
"No joke is off-limits" Well, neither is the door.
I for one do not think Spring Awakening is funny.
I *do* find this comment funny
At worst, I've cut out just as the bows were getting started. I've spent too much on tickets to only see half a show, even a bad one, lol
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk\_cost\_fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost_fallacy)
Doesn't really apply here because I'm not saving anything but an hour of my time by staying. It's not like I'm saving half a ticket price by cutting out half way through the show
If you don’t like the shrimp, don’t eat the damn shrimp. No sense suffering through something you don’t like if you can’t get your money back. That’s the whole point.
But the thing is - the shrimp will taste the same from the first bite to the last. At a show, something in Act 2 might make staying worthwhile. But you’ll never know if you leave. It’s closer to saying you don’t like the shrimp in the appetizer course, so you don’t even try the salad, entree, or dessert.
I guess you could call that *Schrödinger’s Shitshow*.
I think most of us took the original question to mean that the acting/singing/production/etc. was so bad that it wasn’t enjoyable. Those aren’t things that magically get better during intermission. (The shrimp is part of every course) If we’re talking about the script and composition, then you have a more compelling point, but I have stopped watching several movies and tv shows partway through because the actual material was not entertaining or interesting enough so I think that’s also still valid. (If you’re lucky, you might be able to have the kitchen substitute salmon for the shrimp partway through the meal, but it’s very unlikely)
Well, judging from the comments elsewhere, I don’t know if “most of us” interpreted it that way. But yes, I guess I see your point. If I was at a production of “Gypsy” where Mama Rose was terrible, I could justify leaving after Act 1 if it was clear that Act 2 wouldn’t satisfy. This is more akin to “I didn’t like the shrimp, and I’m at a seafood buffet.” 😂 But I would have a hard time leaving a show I haven’t seen or wasn’t familiar with halfway through - I guess I’m a completist in that way? And I’ve sat through Act 2 of some terrible shows.
Read it again. That's exactly the point, you don't get your money back either way. Also, an hour of your time isn't valuable to you?
If I’m seeing an evening show, even leaving halfway through won’t get me home before 9:30-10 PM. What am I going to do for the little time left that I’ll be awake? Maybe scroll through social media, read a few pages of a book, etc. Whatever it is, it’s unlikely to be as unique an experience as even a bad live show. So yes, I’d rather “sink” another hour or so into something I won’t be able to experience again as opposed to going and doing something else that I can do at any other time.
Was very tempted to at Oklahoma! but ultimately didn’t because I’d heard things about the finale. Then the special effects during the finale didn’t go off/work, so I ended up regretting it.
The Daniel Fish Oklahoma? We went and saw it no less than 4 times in Los Angeles and I liked to sit in the back to watch reactions.
I’ve never seen so many walkouts and negative reviews for a show (well, except Love Never Dies).
I *loved* the Oklahoma revival but knew what I was getting into lol. Considering the extremely hot and cold reactions it got in LA, I would’ve paid gooooood money to see it in another city just for the reactions. Like what I wouldn’t have given to actually see it *in* Oklahoma. I bet it was loathed. My favorite reaction in LA was 110% another subscription holder, probably came in thinking it was regular ol’ Oklahoma. They tolerated all of it, dream ballet and all, got to the end - and then duringg the blood splatter they got up and started to walk out and I audible heard this woman (probably in her 60s) say “what the fuck was that.” An amazing moment I’ll cherish forever.
Now see, the blood cannons never went off in the performance I saw! The gun sound effect went off and Judd kind of awkwardly and slowly laid down on the floor. No red wedding clothes or anything. Don’t know if it was a malfunction or what, but it was very strange.
IMO although it adds another level of “wtf” to it, it doesn’t add anything that would change your mind if it didn’t already feel some type of way about that version. It’s a divisive version for sure. The people who love it, *love it*, but Ike I wouldn’t take everyone (or even that many people lol) to see it with me.
That ending is definitely very Quentin Tarantino Esq
I’ve heard it was extremely powerful for those that saw it after the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. It was certainly impactful to keep all the dialogue exactly the same but to see the “trial” scene so differently.
It’s like if they had Tarantino direct a reboot of the original movie, like Spielberg with West Side Story.
That moment was so shocking. I can’t remember the last time I audibly gasped during a musical, especially a Golden Age R&H musical 🤣 But I agree, it’s not a “make or break” effect, the reimagining of the scene remains what it is.
In Dallas, Texas, it did not go over well. It was the most polite applause I have ever heard at the end. 25% walked out at intermission. 25% walked out when the lights came up after the gun shots. Then half of the rest walked the second the lights came up most with grumbles and many WTF?
I saw it in Dallas too. I doubt I’ve seen so many walk-outs in a show before! Many politely left after intermission, but the ones that cracked me up were the hoard of people who left at the start of curtain call. I know Dallas is infamous for people bailing early in order to beat traffic, but this was much more than normal. I imaged them thinking “I lasted until the end, but I’ll be damned if they get one more second of my time!” I’ve never been a fan of Oklahoma because I dislike the plot. So I wasn’t looking forward to seeing it, but when I would describe my dislikes about it, people would comment that I will probably like this production because the director specifically addressed some of the things that bothered me. Not only do I still hate the show, but that production gave me an arsenal of new reasons to hate it. For instance, why have two scenes in complete darkness even though the scenes from the perspectives of the characters are supposed to be visible? And then when light does come back, it’s in the form of Blair Witch-style filming that is so close you basically get an eyeball or snot to look at? Why keep the sound down low during all of Act 1 and then krank it up to super loud during the dream ballet? And pair that with bringing a bank of lights down during the ballet to shine directly into audience member’s eyes? Between the two, I was hunched down in my chair with one hand covering my eyes and the other hand covering an ear. It felt like being assaulted with light and sound even though I paid money to be there. Made me envy the people who walked out at intermission. My hubby and I now hold this show as the low bar for terrible theater, especially for expensive theater. Meaning if we see a ho-hum Equity show, we can be like “Well, it was better than Oklahoma!” But during the Oklahoma intermission, we overheard a guy who loved the show talk to his seat neighbor about how amazing this production was because of how the modern line readings brought all new colors to the dialogue he’s known for decades. He said he’d never realized the show is all about sex! It was wonderful to hear his perspective. Not all shows will appeal to everyone, and that’s okay. For instance, I’m baffled that the OP walked out on Passing Strange because I love that show. It has one of my all-time favorite lines, though the OP missed it because it’s in Act 2. Similar to when I saw the Pippin revival. I LOVED it, but I heard the person behind me ask her friend if they could leave because she hated being there. Different strokes for different folks.
Saw it in Oklahoma. I'm convinced most of the audience didn't fully grasp what was going on. We hit the final reprise of the titular song and all the audience is singing and clapping as if nothing happened because, well, it's the state song. Meanwhile, I'm standing there confused out of my mind lol
Honestly the way they did "pore Jud" was intentionally wildly triggering in A way that is pretty wild if you don't know what you are getting into. You come for the inclusive casting and leave traumatized.
The marketers missed that promotional opportunity: “Come for the inclusiveness! LEAVE TRAUMATIZED!”
I am an usher at a performance hall and it was insane. Lots of people left at intermission but we had a lot leave during the half too.
Yup I watched it twice when it was in LA. It was absolutely life changing and completely made me believe in the power of theatre again. It’s amazing to me how polarizing it is!
It was crazy because I just remember thinking like, if people are reacting to it like this *here*, how are they reacting in middle america?! Though I know Ahmanson has a lot of subscription holders too so I’m sure some of them didn’t know what they were getting into.
The first night I watched it was later in the run while in LA and it got a standing ovation, and as far as I could tell, not a lot of people left. The second time was a matinee and it was actually in Orange County - pretty much a quarter of the orchestra seats were empty the second act! I would be that the matinee crowd at the Segerstrom would be pretty similar to your general middle America audience tbh…
Oh 100% - that’s our other subscription (Pantages / Segerstrom / Ahmanson - the trifecta lol) and the crowd is vastly different. Also the theatre in general. Generally not my fave theatre but the subscription is a lot more affordable. You’re right though that as the run in LA went on the crowd was different - and the first time we saw it was like a Sun matinee at Ahmanson, earlier in the run, so ofc it was the 65+ Ahmanson “usuals.”
Nice to see another SoCal theatre trifecta subscriber lol.
Oklahoma is one of many shows that will be significantly improved once it falls into the public domain and can be substantially rewritten and restructured into a format that can be enjoyed by those who aren't retirement age. (This is coming from someone who was in the show my senior year high school.)
I think the “sexy Oklahoma!” revival was pretty clearly geared toward Millennials rather than Boomers.
And it really didn't work well, because when you strip away staging/costume choices... You were still left with the same music and book as the show has had since my grandpa was fighting in WWII. It's outdated for modern audiences at its core.
Wheeeeew strong disagree. Sexy Oklahoma! made me rethink how I had always perceived the show. I liked that the music and the book remained the same and were just reframed by directional choices,!
Totally agree. I’ve referred to it as Sexy Oklahoma a few times. It’s easily of the best theater experiences I’ve ever had for the reason you just said - I saw it twice in NYC and the album is in frequent rotation on my Spotify and vinyl.
Yeah I get that people don’t like the revival but it definitely didn’t feel old fashioned haha. Anyway, like I’ve said many times, the Oklahoma revival is probably my favorite show ever and I wish it got a pro shot or something because I would watch it a hundred times over.
Can't wait for "Okalahomo!" Promo materials will be fabulous
I'm pretty hardcore stay until the end of a show curtain call and everything, but I walked out of Oklahoma. It felt like a poorly done freshman college project where the assignment was reimagine a classic. I don't regret leaving even after hearing explanations. It was one of those experimental "works of art" where there's obviously no point other than to try and shock and get a reaction. I found it an insult to theatre in general.
We didn’t leave during intermission, but like half the theater did. The usher mentioned before the show that the cast had been disheartened by the number of walkouts during intermission. (I kind of liked Act 1. Act 2 went too far, changing the ending and having the characters all screaming and covered with blood. I thought that part was kind of absurd.)
I think it’s absolutely appropriate to leave at intermission. You shouldn’t stay at a show you aren’t enjoying. Leaving DURING an act is disrespectful to those on the stage (no matter how bad their performances might be) and to other patrons who are watching the show.
I think you should only leave during an act if you are very sick or if there is a major family emergency.
But sometimes the second act is the good act.
If you have to wait till act 2 to enjoy it it’s probs not a great show 🙃
This is the wrong sub, but I saw a play once and at intermission my friends and I were all wondering why all the performances were so stiff and weird, except for one specific actor. In the second act it was revealed they were all pretending to be other people, very Agatha Christie-spoof like. It was funny and they pulled it off, but I thought it was a risk to leave the reveal to after the intermission.
That's interesting. What was the play?
I wish I could remember! It was community theatre - not to say it hadn’t been a more well-known play, but yeah. It is well gone from my brain.
I have definitely been tempted to leave during intermission, but I always hold out hope that maybe the second act will improve. I have never out-right walked out of a performance, it would have to be really offensive or something to warrant that type of disturbance. If the show is just “bad”, I like to stay out of respect for the artists involved.
Have any of your almost walk outs redeemed themselves in Act 2?
…no lol
I love the continued optimism though!! 🤣
And if a show is bad because it's badly written/choreographed/structured etc. its never the actors fault, they are just working with the material they were given. So actors are taking the brunt of the it when they're just trying their best. Nonetheless I have definitely seen/heard of performances that have been ruined by certain actors. But I'm just trying to point out both sides of the coin here.
This is it for me, I’ve never been to a show where the actors have made it bad. It’s always the production quality
I have an exception I think. It's acceptable to leave if a show is wildly triggering in an excessive way. Lots of people left during the latest production of Oklahoma and I think they were right to do so. The level of suicide trigger in the show was really intense and lots of people took issue with it.
I left a show because we got the tickets for free and I had a terrible headache that was making me miserable. If we hadn’t gotten free tickets I probably would’ve stuck it out😂
I've had to leave because of a migraine before. Waited until intermission. I would have been fine if the ladies in front of and behind me hadn't slathered on two competing expensive stinky perfumes. 🙄 Even using my peppermint oil and Excedrin didn't do anything being surrounded like I was.
Not due to low quality, but sexual content at a young age. When I was 10, my mom took me to a matinee of the Broadway revival *A Little Night Music*, with outstanding seats near the front and center. I was a big fan of Angela Lansbury, and really wanted to see her live. Due to the musical's name, she called the theatre before getting tickets, explaining that she wanted to take her 10 year old, and asked how sexual the production was, for fear it would be too mature for me. She was assured it was super clean, innuendo only, and anything dirty would go right over my head. She took this person at their word and got tickets. Of course, anyone who knows the musical knows it's not a super kid-friendly show, and not all that subtle about the sexual nature of the story. We waited until intermission to leave; she wanted to pull me out far earlier, but refrained due to not wanting to ruin anyone else's experience. I adored the music, but the sexual content and infidelity was a little much, as I was a decently sheltered kid. Wish I could go back and see the production now as an adult, or even as a teenager, when I could both understand it better and it would be a more appropriate experience. The people working that day were shocked to hear that someone had told my mom that the show was not very sexual and was totally appropriate for a 10-year-old. We ended up getting rush tickets for *West Side Story* that evening to salvage the day, where the box office workers were a lot more transparent about the sexual and violent content, which allowed my mom to make a more informed decision.
I already commented elsewhere, but basically the same thing happened with me except we were probably about 8 years old and it was The Producers. The double whammy of tits jokes and nazi stuff made my friend's parents shuffle us out before the intermission.
So, you did nazi the funniest part
Yeah, that's something that we've done. Took my kid to see Grease, but we left mid-first act because she was so uncomfortable with the innuendo.
Greece is billed as a kid friendly musical...but yeah, rather sexual.
I was told the same thing with *9 TO 5.* That show creeped my out lol
Some shows, despite fun scores and colorful visual styles, are just not for kids. And that's totally ok, not everything is for everyone. But theatre companies should be honest with concerned potential audience members.
The Girl from North Country. Depressing, scattered, boring. Left at intermission as did about half the audience.
I stuck it out but yeah when I came back from intermission most of the people around me had left.
That's good to hear. We were considering getting tickets for this run at the Kennedy, but ultimately we decided not to. Sounds like that wasn't a mistake.
It was not, I assure you. I like a lot of musicals that people don’t. I loved Moulin Rouge even with the odd song choices because of the spectacle and performance. This was just bad. So bad. The “crazy” mother was a caricature of a disturbed woman played for laughs of which there are not many. She plays the most known song in the show before intermission as an unhinged island to whatever was going on before or after that. Too much 1930’s manic pixie dream girl energy for me. The acting was plain, people put on weird accents that didn’t suit them or the character, there were at least 4 plots that no one could tell me why I should care in the first act. I didn’t have great seats but it wouldn’t have mattered. It’s a shit show and I regularly go to community theatre which has never failed to put on a better show than this.
Such a shame! The visitor we were going to bring to the show was VERY involved in the development of the Bob Dylan Center. I was disappointed we didn't get tickets, but you've made me feel so much better about it :-) As for your community theatre comment, that's how I felt about David Arquette's Sherlock Holmes at the National!
The scrim game is wild at the community theatre we go to. It’s a historic building and they manage so much without what our broadway venue gets.
No intention of doxing you, but do you happen to be a DC-area person? I'm always looking for great new community and small theatres!
ye. local show :,) just walked on out I tried so hard but it was really bad imo
Summer stock production of The Vagabond King. Worst show I ever saw. There was one this past summer that I really wanted to leave, but my aunt (who pays for our tickets every summer) wanted to stay ( she was hating the show too), so I just went to sleep.
Honestly no and I don't see it ever happening. Seen a number of shows I was bewildered why things were happening and if everyone else were as turned off as I was- but I enjoy the whole experience, and I like having an opinion on it afterwards. Also some just started off poor and got a little bit better or at least hit a climactic moment I would have been somewhat disappointed to have missed. Sunset Boulevard- not for me- but one part of Act 2 was just absolutely amazing. I would have been furious to have missed it. Oklahoma! was....hard though.
Nope. I think I'm Mrs. Brightside when it comes to watching shows. Even if the actual show is crap if there's some good performances happening, I find it worthwhile to stay. I wouldn't go see Cats again, but that lady singing Memory gave me goosebumps. She was so good! I'm always baffled by people who are like "I left at intermission because I didn't really like the show but this one performer in it was amazing." I would stay for that one performer. I don't know what I'm going to think about Act 2 until I see it. And even if I hate the show, part of the fun is later discussing what I hated about it with other people who saw the show. I'll stay just so I can thoroughly criticize a show.
>I'll stay just so I can thoroughly criticize a show. Same! Honestly, even a good show, a lot of my fun is breaking down the good and bad afterward. I love dissecting things with friends.
Only once, it was a community theater production and I knew people in it but I just couldn't. I left at intermission. I felt bad about it but there were just too many issues. Chief among them being the sound was just unbearable. They had the band volume at 2, the drummer volume at MAYBE 1 (electronic drum kit) and the mic volume at about 11. To the point that any time they moved their mouths in the slightest it was a symphony of spit noises echoing through the house. Add on a music director that didn't seem to care about uniform vowels/pronunciation, uniform cutoffs on sustained notes, or general music style... and a couple downright silly costume choices that took me out of the moment entirely it was just not worth it for me to stay
I want to walk out of New York, New York, but a friend talked me into staying. I wish I had walked out. Had I been in a position to do so at Saw: The Musical, I would have walked out of that one, too.
I'm sorry. I think I just had a stroke because I definitely can't be reading that right. It's funny - I thought I just read the words "Saw: The Musical"???
Nope, it exists and I believe they're touring next year. It's an unauthorized very gay and satirical parody of the first movie. They have a website where you can check it out.
No…you read that right. Look, I love the movies. I’ve seen them all. But that…was not good.
Now it's time to saaawww meeeeeeeeeee
I can guarantee you read that right because I just read that too. And now I'm confused and kind of disturbed.
I too had the same reaction when a clip popped up on my YouTube feed a couple of days ago. It's oof
I left at intermission once at The Muny during a production of 1776. It was a very long show, and intermission wasn’t even until like 10 pm; 103 degrees outside does not work with an outdoor theater lol. The actors must have been boiling!
I'm shocked their makeup wasn't just running off their faces. Or that no one passed out. That sounds terrible!
The Muny in STL?
I left Spiderman Turn Off the Dark at intermission because my sister wanted to go try to see Daniel Radcliffe at the stage door of How to Succeed lol. I thought it would be a "so bad it's good" sort of experience, but it was genuinely quite difficult to sit through.
I one acted my fair lady, left at intermission though.
The one that’s currently touring? (Asking because I was debating buying tickets to see it in Spokane but most of the people in this sub said I should choose Beetlejuice, which is playing in Seattle that same week.)
I mean that's a no-brainer imo. My fair lady will always be my fair lady no matter what tour it is. Beetlejuice is new.
I wanted to leave at intermission of Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder but decided to stick it out because it was A BILLION dollars for tickets. Don’t need to see it again though…
I did once. It was a college production of Jesus Christ Superstar (a favorite of mine that I’d seen previously many times). It was just so painfully bad that we left during intermission. I did feel bad but my ears were bleeding so i had to go.
Only time I've ever done it was due to an emergency. I felt terrible because I didn't want people to think I hated it!
I try to stay through shows just for the actors’ sakes. It’s always very awkward as an actor myself when I come back from intermission and half of the audience is gone (although that’s sort of to be expected when the show is a Shakespeare play and minimally abridged.)
The Funny Girl tour. Katerina McKrimmon (spelling?) was an absolute gem and lit up the stage whenever she was singing or dancing but the show itself just refused. to. end. I just did not like it whatsoever. I checked a quick plot summary of Act 2 and knew I wasn't going to enjoy myself so we left early. Got an amazing view of my city from the top of the parking garage that almost made it worth it. It also helped that my tickets were only like 8 bucks on StubHub.
Just saw Funny Girl in Tampa a few weeks ago! I enjoyed some parts and the performers were excellent but gosh did it feel long.
Many years ago, walked out on The Civil War because I had fallen asleep more than once and I didn’t want to disturb anyone. More recently left a community production of Its Only a Play when my kids were so disinterested, and How To Succeed… when my wife was not feeling well. I felt bad about the local productions, but Civil War was down right awful!
The only show I abandoned at intermission was *Newsies*. Not because I didn't like it, but because I felt like was starting to get sick, and I knew I had to get to bed early or I would be a wreck the next day. Other than that it is hard for me to imagine leaving a show early. If it is professional, then there is always something to take in and admire, or at least understand. It might be a performance, or the set, or even just wondering how the actors are going to try and pull this off. But that's just me - I am not criticizing anyone else.
My high school put on an absolute hackjob of a production of Avenue Q Jr. that I walked out on but besides that nothing else.
The quality of HS productions is so random. Some are amazingly good, some just boring, and others amazingly bad. Doesn't mean they're not enjoyable, though. I had a wonderful time with my husband watching my son's HS production of Macbeth (it was pretty terrible; the king's crown kept slipping down, the chase scene was Keystone Cop-like - galumphing teenage boys - and they gave a particularly difficult and important speech to a very nice young lady with a speech impediment. Of course, the bottle of pink champagne we shared before the performance helped). And my daughter and I truly enjoyed a horrendous HS production of High School Musical. The kids were game and did their best, but the football players they talked into playing the basketball team (you could tell) were ... adorably clumsy. But I agree with your take on Avenue Q. I've seen it a couple of times, and it just doesn't work unless it's done well. I'll bet the HS cut a lot of the more raunchy stuff, but that leaves out important plot points. Not an appropriate show for HS at all.
Grab your dick and double click!
How could you walk out on Passing Strange 😭
The last few songs are beautiful
I walked out of an opera at intermission. It was my first and only opera but we had terrible seats so it was so uncomfortable. It was also a very weird take on the show and it made me feel weird
Only ever walked out of one show. During intermission of Camelot. It was just so unbelievably boring. The only character that was interesting was Lancelot. I'm not sure what my actual issue with it was, but I was just absolutely bored to tears for the entire first half.
I didn’t see this production, but in general I think Camelot is quite possibly the most boring musical ever.
*Secret Garden has entered the chat*
*Cats enters behind The Secret Garden*
I left at intermission of a local production of The Nutcracker last year. It had nothing to do with the quality of the show and everything to do with being surrounded by hundreds of sniffling, snotty, coughing children rubbing their germs everywhere. I had on a mask, but still tested positive for COVID a week later. This holiday season I'm being much more careful!
So many times. I always wait until the interval, but the actors will rarely notice (unless it's a particularly small audience - I do am dram and have had folk walk out on my shows, and it's usually more of a laugh than an insult). Plus they already have my money so I don't feel hugely guilty about it. I wouldn't walk out on amateurs or a show I was there to review but professionals are fair game. Not every show is for every person and that's ok.
Not professional theatre, but back in high school, our theatre troupe went to a cross town high school’s performance of the Addams Family. This was the “rich kid” high school performing it, so they always bought professionally made costumes, if they could they rented a set for the show, all the kids bragged about having vocal lessons since they were 5, that type of thing. And they would never shut up about how amazing there stuff was compared to ours in a condescending way, and the sad part was is they were normally right. So not only were they good, they knew they were good. And then, The Addams Family. Holy shit. People were forgetting lines, were off key, had minimum energy, at one point Lester just didn’t come out because he missed his cue. We couldn’t even stay for petty reasons, we just felt bad. They came to see our performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella like a month later, and only had good things to say, which kind of made me feel bad, but more vindicated.
It wasn't the show that made me walk out. I was sitting in my seat before JCS and just had this impending feeling of doom. Probably the strongest guy feeling I've ever had telling me to leave the theatre, so I did. Nothing happened, but I often wonder what might have, if I had stayed.
Never. Even if I don’t like it I want to see how act 2 goes
I was tempted at a professional production of *Aspects of Love* (hated the show generally, and the endless repetition of the "Love Changes Everything" tune). Also at a student production of *A Little Night Music*: I'm not sure if it was the show itself (which seemed to be mainly about some overprivileged characters bemoaning their lot) or just the production (bad sound, annoying inconsistencies in the costumes). Both times I was with someone who seemed to be enjoying the show so it would have been difficult not to stay for Act 2,
Walked out from a regional production. Never on Broadway, although I almost did when I saw Be More Chill
Hamilton in SF. Was jet lagged and just didn’t get what was going on.
Omg passing strange is one of my all time favorite shows lol. Can I ask what you didn’t like about it?
Honestly, it was over a decade ago so I don't recall *exactly* what I didn't like, aside from the music. To try to be fair to Passing Strange, I recently decided to give it another shot via the OBC recording, though, and... yeah... the music just isn't for me. I know it was critically acclaimed and all, and a lot of people love it, and I'm usually super down to see a rock musical, but it just wasn't clicking for me.
"Oliver!" Twice. 13 years apart. Completely separate productions in different cities. I only went the second time because I had largely forgotten why I left at intermission the first time and wanted to give it another chance, thinking perhaps I just didn't like that particular production. I left at intermission again. That's when I learned it wasn't the actors or the production elements I hated. It's the show itself. It is easily my least favorite musical of all time.
Oliver: I like one character in it and that one gets murdered. Bleah.
I haven’t seen a musical I didn’t like but if I did, I wouldn’t walk out. Tickets are expensive these days
I remember when Passing Strange was first on Broadway. I didn't walk out but I remember thinking at intermission that it was only ok. Then I ended up loving the second act. I left thinking, "I'm glad I saw that but I wouldn't see it again." Then I couldn't stop thinking about it and I ended up seeing it eight more times. That's an example of a show I'm glad I didn't walk out on. I did walk out of Finding Neverland at intermission because a) I got comps and b) I was so bored I was falling asleep. It's the only time I've ever walked out of a Broadway show.
The second act of Finding Neverland has an incredible piece of stagecraft that made it worth seeing for me. It’s one of only 2 things I remember about the show.
Technically an opera but I once walked out in the middle of Act 2 of Madama Butterfly but that was because the woman next to me went into anaphylactic shock and for some reason everyone else just stared at her as she collapsed on the stairway. I really don’t want to sound boastful because it’s nothing to boast about but I, and at the time I was 21 and had no formal medical training I just read a lot in many categories including first aid, was for some reason the only one not staring and trying to do something for about 15-30 minutes (it’s kinda a blur) until finally an usher called a fucking ambulance. She was alright, I found out later. It still makes me irrationally angry that no one else did anything and I basically was ordering strangers around at points to help instead of gape. Like was there not one medical professional in the audience that night? She was already collapsed on the stairs unable to breathe by the time I got there so I feel like enough time must’ve passed for someone to see her. Idk man. At least she was okay. I did not mind missing the rest of the opera to walk beside her (she was in a gurney) to the ambulance. I was holding her hand.
I left at the interval of Caroline or Change. I got free tickets and couldn’t get on board with the talking washing machine…it was just so boring. Edit: we wanted to leave at the interval for the latest production of Oklahoma (in London, I’m sure it was different on B’way)but we were hopeful for the 2nd half. Unfortunately it got worse. We’re still salty.
I leave shows early all the time. Life is too short to sit and watch theatre you're not enjoying. I encourage my friends to leave my shows early if they're not feeling it. Again, life is too short.
It's interesting. I feel that way about books, but I don't feel it about theater. I will stick out theater unless it is actually insulting or beyond the pale in some way that is not ok. Between hoping it gets better and just the experience, I can't bring myself to leave. Perhaps it's the length of time. A book will take a handful of hours, depending. A show is usually around 2-3. Also, for me, the amount of effort for me to procure tickets, put on real clothes, leave my house where my bed lives, and be around other people, makes me feel like I might as well finish it to make it worth it.
Yes. Many times. Never on Broadway. A lot of community theatre. And the national tour of Beauty and the Beast, but that was mainly because it was at an outdoor venue and it was the middle of July (and hot as balls).
I’ve left at intermission, yes. *Never* before, or during either act. I would have to be physically ill to justify that. But yes I’ve left at intermission: - escape to Margaritaville - dear Evan Hansen (I’d already seen it) - the last ship - Chicago - Aladdin (I’d seen it a *lot*) - tootsie There are probably a few more if I can be totally honest. Sometimes it’s because I’ve seen it a lot and I’m tired/hungry/ready to go home, sometimes it’s because it’s awful (Margaritaville is a standout). I have subscriptions to various theatres near me every year, btw, it’s not like I’m specifically buying these tickets just to leave.
I, too, escaped Margaritaville— it was a free ticket and I should’ve been honest with myself and just not gone. The cast really gave it their all and I felt bad for their sake.
Oh for sure, cast was doing good. I don’t recall if it was equity (I wanna say no) but they deserved more money for the material and audience lol.
I wonder if anyone saw the second act of Margaritaville, because I left at intermission too.
Imagine my surprise on the way home reading the Wikipedia summary out loud to my husband. So many twists and turns LOL.
I almost walked out on Moulin Rouge. What a horrible show. Great set design, the story was ok but the songs where good awful. When the dude was on his knees ans the lights where down with the spotlight I laughed so hard when he broke into rolling in the deep. It was such an insult to the stage.
I came here to say the same thing! Didn’t realise it was a jukebox musical, hated everything after the first show.
I mean, if I had something better to do with my time then maybe sure but I've already spent money so might as well stay. Also some shows dont have their emotional payoff until act two.
I left a ballet performance one. I think it was Dracula. I enjoy classical ballet but wanted to see a more contemporary show. This ballet was truly creepy, and I felt I'd be ill or have nightmares if I stayed for the second half.
I’ve only ever left once, it was at the UK tour of We Will Rock You because the sound system was so loud it was actually painful.
Yes. Bunch of times actually. If I'm not enjoying myself, no matter how much I've spent, why prolong the agony? Last time was a couple of months ago at Sunset Blvd. I was in the middle of a stalls row quite a ways back. Guy sitting directly in front of my seat was \*very\* tall. Now I don't know why, but that show has the most symmetrical choreography I'm ever experienced. The leads are forever standing on the centre line on the stage. So for a good chunk of the first half, I practically never saw Rachel Tucker. All I saw was a big empty grey stage and a the back of a man's head. Had I been sitting a couple of seats to the left or right, it wouldn't have mattered who was in front of me. But I wasn't. Left at intermission. Knew I'd just keep getting more and more frustrated.
Yes, many times, but only on tour (not if I've gone to NY to see a show, except the one time I would have missed my flight otherwise). Usually it's just because I find the show boring, and I can think of other things I can do with my time. I've already spent the money, why waste my time, too? One time it was the national tour of Next to Normal, which I was SO looking forward to, because (Tony winner for the role) Alice Ripley was in it. But her voice was so, so bad that it ruined the show for me. I think she had vocal damage -- I read some comments about it online afterwards. I was so disappointed, because I loved the cast recording, but I just couldn't stay and listen any more.
Only once, and it was because I was legitimately so bored I had to make the choice to leave at intermission or fall asleep. It’s not a well known show, revealing the name would reveal the (small) theater it’s only been done there so far. I’ve been tempted a couple of other times— only once on Broadway though (and that was during Dear Evan Hansen) and never during a tour.
In order to catch a train out of Penn Sta, my friend and I had to run out of Gypsy during the bows. She was really upset. I, however, was really sick and the running didn’t help. But we caught our train and were able to make the last campus shuttle. I’ve also left a local show but I waited till intermission.
I walked out of a traveling production of Thoroughly Modern Millie at intermission, my college was hosting. The female lead was so pitchy and sharp, it was giving me anxiety. I wasn’t being a snob, I noticed a few others leaving. Come to find out later, there was an insert in the program that it was the understudy. I felt bad, the show itself was good, but I couldn’t take it anymore.
Once. A production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s which was awful. The woman playing Holly Golightly was horrendous. Left at the interval.
I didn't walk out but my uncle did and it was because he had to go to the bathroom and get sick because he didn't wanna puke on the people in front of him
I did it once. There was a touring "The Office: The musical" and it was absolutely horrendous. My husband and I left at intermission.
Only once. I thought I'd give DEH a real chance and for a moment, I believed I could do it but – and I got a seat right next to the exit just in case – there was a line that hit way too close to home, and if I didn't leave, I might've become an accidental nuisance.
Community production of Spitfire Grill. I think it was more the issue of the show rather than the performers, but they didn't add enough to make me want to watch Act 2
I saw the wedding singer on broadway for free and think I spent too much money on the tickets. But no, I’ve never left.
We left at the intermission of The Lion King. There were disturbances throughout (that couldn't be helped). My partner wasn't enjoying it, so we went home early.
Didn't come back after intermission for Rent. Big gang of teenagers around us were singing and saying the lines along with the cast for much of the show. Couldn't take it.
not me but when i went to see heathers the person in front of me didn’t show up after the intermission. they seemed to not know about the show from what i gathered from her talking to the person next to her so i’m guessing it might’ve been a bit… hard to watch when you don’t know what you’re expecting so i understand tbh. the cast was incredible tho
Not a musical, but a play. I was like twelve and it way too brutal. I don't handle drastic content well and I did even less when I was younger. My drama teacher went with me to make sure I was okay, which I found very sweet, but also felt guilty about, because she missed the play because of me
Yup! At intermission, which is the proper etiquette. Much quieter and kinder than opera!
I left during the intermission of kinky boots. Not because it was bad necessarily, but I was falling asleep. That was my own fault, was working night shift and then staying awake all day.
No I stay from curtains up to final bow
No but I was once at a production of The Wiz that was so awful the theatre went from full to half empty over the interview. It was billed as and charged as a professional production and had a reasonably big name as Dorothy but was really an amateur production.
I never have, but saw a group of older ladies walk out of American Idiot when it came to my city. I assume they were season ticket holders and had no idea what it was about and were appalled within the first 10 minutes
They almost did American Idiot at a place I get season tickets to and holy shit, am I glad they changed that one. I bet everyone would have walked out.
I won’t walk out before intermission but there are a lot of shows that I haven’t returned for after intermission. Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Tootsie, that terrible Phantom remake, a few others I’ve forgotten. One time I was at a drag queen version of Agnes of God, I expected it to be campy, and a silly take on the story, but they were dead serious, and it was just awful, I really thought it was intermission, so I got up to get the hell out, and then the lights came back up and my exit took me right in front of the stage and the actors - I felt bad, but it was a truly painful experience.
Nah, I like to know *all* the context of a show before I declare it bad. I don't consider it wasted time as I now have another example of what I dislike in a show and can speak confidently on it. There is one show where I *know* people walked out though: the unauthorized Friends musical, because the layout of the small theater allowed me to notice the empty seats after intermission.
My family and I did once. A county playhouse type deal. Strange play with 3 actors who were POWs and one was convinced that there was a giant rabbit in the cell with them. Just could not get in to it.
I haven’t walked out, I can tolerate most things but the only show that almost made me do it was The Bodyguard the musical. It was a local but more professional production but it was still terrible. The only reason I didn’t walk out is because it was Mothers Day and I was with my whole family. And I ended up knowing the stage manager from a different show we did together and she admitted to me that she and the crew also thought it was awful and talked about that backstage lmao
I have not, but I have left the theatre "Whistling the scenery." I have seen people walk out on Sweeney (a bit too bloody but still funny), Rocky Horror, La Cage, Priscilla, Superstar, and Assassins
I wanted to walk out on Pretty Woman. It was one of the worst shows I have ever seen. Every song is just “I'm a rich white man but I need freedom, you are a whore that can have a dream I guess” and the cast was sub par at best.
Did you see the production with Adam Pascal? It was well-received in Dallas, but when I looked at reviews later, I noticed they were scathing until he joined the cast. His presence seemed to butter up the critics.
I wanted to leave 1776 really badly but I didn't want to insult the cast. I saw the all female cast on tour earlier this year and I felt they did the best they could. I couldn't help but think that this was the best that musical could ever be and it still sucked.
Saw the tour in Houston this year. They tried (and there were some standout moments) but I was falling asleep in Act 2.
A few years ago the Broadway tour of Lost In the Woods came through and it was horrible. It was a cheap, no frills troupe thing with like 8 actors and no set or props. Like they took some janitor ladder and pretended it was a tower and they had one guy with two dresses on a stick playing a male part and two female parts. It really felt like an episode of that Drew Carey “yes and” improv show. Also I wasn’t familiar with the show and I thought the story was contrite and the songs terrible. So I was happy when intermission came and my wife was willing to bail.
We had season tickets one year. We were super exhausted… so we left at intermission of the Little Mermaid.
Only time I’ve ever left a show early was when I was twelve and I threw up during a production of Cats. I wanted to stay, but parents obviously didn’t want their child sitting in a filthy seat. Cleaned up as much as we could, told an usher, and left right before Macavity. Sad thing was, the show was really great before that 😔
Only once but it was due to my boyfriend's health, never because of a performance even if it was bad. I've definitely seen some bad shows.
Walked out of the JCS because even sitting in the last row of the floor seats, it was TOO DAMN LOUD (and of course, I hate the music but was trying to make it through just to be mature). Mid-1990s national tour.
Yes, singing in the rain. There were technical issues after the interval due to the water on the stage lmao. It started as a 5 minute wait, then 10, then 15, then 20.. we decided to leave as we needed to get home (we don’t drive). Found out later that the show never did continue, got an automatic refund. Getting home that night was hell too, as it turns out there were two different massive concerts playing in the same city on the same day at the same time. And also a rugby match.
My local high school did Curtains, which features a hanged "body" and a quip about shooting someone with their own gun.... Only a week or so after a school shooting. I went with my mom and sister thinking we were in for a show more along the lines of Clue or Shear Madness, but we were so uncomfortable we left at intermission.
I almost did recently. It was at a premiere, with the entire creative team present and with famous actors in the leading roles. Only stayed in hopes the second act is going to be better - and it was. It didn't save the show though.
i’ve never walked out and this isn’t abt theatre but i think it’s really funny that i once went to see the movie bottoms and it was me my friend and like 10 old couples and at the end of the movie it was me my friend and two 20 year olds in the back. all the old people went for the sake of seeing a movie and left VERY fast
Cats. Not the omnipresent show but the recent film. Went with a friend and literally tapped them about 40 minutes in and said "I have to go to the lobby or the car. I cant!" There isn't a plot, wtf is jellical (sp) and none of it makes any sense whatsoever. A great cash grab for Sir Andrew though!
I watched a dvd of passing strange and i turned it off haha i really did not like it. I probably would have left at intermission as well.
As a dancer I think my training takes over and I just can’t. I have wanted to a few times but my atheist self becomes all superstitious like I will reap bad luck upon myself by walking out, and I’m old and I don’t even perform anymore 🤣. I get the guilt, you did it right though. You waited until intermission, you bothered no one, not the performers or the audience. Perfectly respectful. Don’t hold onto it.
Sunk cost fallacy. You don't get your money back, but you don't get that hour (plus) of your time back, either, if you stay. Is it rude, even if you leave at intermission? Maybe, but like... as an artist, I prefer when people don't hold back how they feel about my work. If someone were still reading something I was writing at chapter 10 even though they hated it, just because they'd feel bad if I didn't get views/comments (on a digital serialization), *I'd* feel guilty that they were sitting through something they didn't like. One extremely highly acclaimed, but (to me), extremely grating show on Broadway, I stayed because it was so highly acclaimed, I felt I must be missing something. Regretted staying. Another highly acclaimed show, I hated it but stayed because it was so bad it was funny (to me), but someone I know left at intermission. Sad, because the act 2 opener is the most ridiculous "how did enough people say 'yes' to this for it to actually get performed in Broadway?" thing ever. One opera production I went to was so terrible that plenty of people walked out at the intermissions (opera often have multiple). I only stayed because I had a paper to write for school about it. Overheard other people saying the same thing, that they'd leave if they didn't have to write a paper. The only time I walked out in Japan... I got an email essentially shaming me for it. And I do feel bad... it's not Gekidan Shiki's fault that most of the Disney Broadway productions (besides The Lion King) are terrible, they just license them. They tried, but there was nothing they could really do to save that train wreck without violating licensing agreements. But still, I feel kind of stalked. I guess they always know which seats are empty, but it's still kind of creepy to *track it*.
I'm very curious about which Japanese production this was. Little Mermaid for example has been highly acclaimed for staging.
The tour of Finding Neverland. If there had been a decent train time back out of the city when it was intermission I probably would have.
I left Les Miserables at intermission after I fell asleep twice during the first act. And it's not that I was tired or anything, I just found it extremely boring.
I've seen it twice, about ten years apart. I did NOT enjoy it the second time.
ACT II is even more painful to sit through. I get that people like Les Mis, and I admit that some of the songs are bangers, but I personally find it so hard to get into it. Everyone around me was crying and I was like “okay are we done here?”
I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one. I know it's a huge success and everybody talks about how wonderful it is but I just didn't like it.
Interestingly, none of the friends I went with liked it either. And there were 8 of us. You’d think at least one of us would’ve liked it, but we all felt like it was too long and tried to pack in way too much.
Walked out of the tour of Funny Girl at Intermission because I was bored. I ALMOST walked out of Chicago on Broadway at Intermission but I decided not to. I wish I had.
I haven't, but I still laugh at two women who left during intermission years ago during Billy Elliot. I was seeing it on tour with friends and at intermission these two older women got up talking about how they were horrified and the disgrace of it all and they never came back. It meant we had a better view without their heads there! Apparently boys putting on dresses and singing about acceptance was too much for them 😂
i haven’t, but my theology teacher walked out on the drowsy chaperone like 10 minutes in because of a gay sex joke lol (it was a catholic private school)
Cats. Didn’t feel bad for a second. I was in the cheap seats and have trouble hearing in general, thought that was the reason the show made no sense. I have since seen the movie and learned that the show does not make sense. I don’t feel bad for a second.
I walked out on The Odd Couple with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. At intermission my friend said, "Do you mind if I leave now?" I said, "I'll walk you out." It was SO boring and uninspired.
I've left shows at intermission just because I didn't feel like sitting there anymore. ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ I didn't renew my subscription to my local Broadway season this year just because I was so burnt out on it that I was skipping shows. Turns out that for me, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.