A few people walked out in the middle of Desperate Writers when I saw it the other night. I kind of envied them and would have followed if I were not stuck in the middle of the row. One couple who walked out were sitting right in front of me and moved to an empty pair of aisle seats right before the show started. I'm guessing somebody tipped them off to what was going to happen onstage.
I don't generally advocate walking out in the middle of a show, but if a writer/director/producer/whoever decides to not include an intermission then they better be prepared for that to happen.
When I saw Nine a group of old women left after Be Italian because they could not believe child molestation was allowed onstage. Yes, those were their exact words.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
I've left during intermission, but never with actors on stage. While I can't imagine ever doing so, I suppose if I were highly offended, maybe I would -- but it would take a lot for ME to be that offended.
I think being 'bored' or simply disliking a show is not enough to leave while the show is being performed, but I could understand leaving if you are truly offended by the material.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
The biggest exodus I ever saw was during Top Girls, which was unfortunate, because it turned out to be one of my favorite productions of that season. More than half of the mezzanine emptied out during the first act. I think I was the only person left in my row by the end.
Jerusalem had some obnoxious walkouts the other night. The lady sitting next to me lasted all of 20 minutes. She was coughing badly, so perhaps she did it out of courtesy, but the first thing she did after she sat down was take her phone and go to one of the outlets near the bottom of the mezz and plug in her charger, so...a wash as far as etiquette is concerned. The couple behind me left about 10 minutes before the first intermission after discussing out loud whether they should stay. (They couldn't wait 10 more minutes?)
I think walking out during a performance is incredibly offensive and distracting. Just because you do not like a material doesn't mean you should walk out while actors are performing in a show they didn't write and while other audience members are attempting to enjoy it. If you can't wait at most an hour until intermission once you realize you hate it, perhaps you shouldn't be in the theatre to begin with. Agreed -leaving during intermission is completely different and certainly understandable/acceptable.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
I vowed I would never walk out of a show that I paid for, but that came to an end when I HAD to leave at the intermission of the YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN tour. That was the most painful thing I have ever endured.
Id never walk out during an act unless it was an emergency.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
Recently at Arcadia: five people in my row left at intermission. And two separate couples left during the end of act two (there was at least 20 minutes left).
Updated On: 6/4/11 at 12:14 PM
Having not seen the production, and in agreement that it's tacky to leave during a show, I don't blame people for leaving Top Girls. I think it's a bad script.
Again, never with an actor on stage, but many, many times at Intermission.
Sometimes it's because I can't bear the thought of having to sit through a standing ovation, which every show now receives; other times, my guest and I will be chatting during Intermission and realize we've had a better time in those 15 minutes than we've had the previous hour...
bwaylvsong-- obviously you never attended a performance of Democracy with Richard Thomas. Good God, it was all we could do to stay till intermission. Don't know why we thought it would get better in Act II, but 10 minutes into the act we had to make a beeline for the exit.
Also, a more apologetic confession-- we left after Act II of August Osage County. Sorry to say we just couldn't care another minute about those cold loveless people. Yeah, yeah, we've heard how Act III really makes it all worth the journey. Our loss.
The ushers at Next To Normal said a good 20-30 people left, often crying or sobbing at the end of Act One and next came back for Act 2. They said this happened most every performance.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I've only walked out of a truly dreadful regional production of The Man of La Mancha, and waited until intermission to do so. Any other time was when I was only because I was desperate to pee.
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