Betrayal Seating Discussion

[CarmenA3]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 5:07pm

Starting the seating thread for Betrayal as there is much discussion regarding the $25 side seats. This thread can include discussion on any and all seats, including SRO.

To start the discussion (but by no means limited to these spots):
If you have sat in any of the $25 seats, can you add your experience here? A few of us have tickets for future dates and are concerned with early reports of very obstructed views. Let us know if you were in Orchestra/Mezz and your seat number (if comfortable sharing).

Updated On: 8/15/19 at 05:07 PM

[keen on kean]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 5:29pm

On the "other" thread there was some concern about not being able to see all three actors at various times. Here's my opinion.

I was in J-11 in the orchestra for which I paid $139, and naturally the view was completely unobstructed.  I would imagine being any further to the side might create a problem. BUT the main action is almost always fairly far downstage and close to the center so it may not matter as much as it first seems. The Venice scene is brought way downstage by moving the back scrim forward and lighting it very brightly.  One of the scenes in the flat has Jerry sitting upstage center, so that is problematic.

All three actors are onstage the whole evening but when an actor is not "in" the scene, that actor is not engaged or responsive to the scene - just there, standing, sitting, but not part of the action. Since that is the case, not seeing the actor is not critical to the scene itself.

I know that is not a perfect answer, but if the cost is an issue, don't let concern about partial view be the deciding factor. This is an amazing production. Best direction of a Pinter work I've ever seen.

[CarmenA3]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 5:41pm

Thanks Keen. It's helpful to know that the the "off" actor/ress is the one we may miss - which is not an issue IMO. Glad to know they moved some scenes downstage to make it as visible as possible.

[soulgrrl]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 5:53pm

Thanks for creating this thread.  THIS message below  posted courtesy EugLoven in the preview thread has worried me to no small degree since I purchased Right Orchestra Seats E10 & E12 for a steep discount in early September:

Well. after attending 1st Preview in the $25 seat (Orch E9)... 

Great acting...Great direction....Terrible seats.

I easily (easily!) missed 50% of the show.   The $25 are obstructed view. And I’m going to tell the box office attendants—who, honestly, I don’t blame because they didn’t even know about the deal until the last minute yesterday (as per the gent I bought from)

But they need to be honest: If you get the $25 seats, do everything you can to get as far back (probably Orch Row F) and toward the aisle as you can.  Otherwise, you *absolutely* miss 50% of the show. And I am *not* exaggerating (I literally didn’t see 1 of the 3 actors until Scene 4).

It appears EugLoven sat orchestra left.  Hoping someone might have insight if orchestra right seats in the same row are as badly obstructed per this feedback or is it doable?  Would prefer not to go through the hassle of switching seats if that's even possible at this point but will it be so unbearable to see the show in these seats?  Would be helpful to know in advance.  thx

[angoradebs]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 6:43pm

As I posted in the other thread, I have Orch Right D8 for Saturday. I will certainly be happy to share my experience if I attend (I'm 90% sure I will; however I'm flying in Friday and if my flight is delayed to the point where I can't see a show Friday evening, I will probably see something else Saturday evening). I may not be able to post until Monday, but I'll definitely share.

What's weird to me is that the telecharge seating charts appear pretty wonky. If I log into telecharge and view my order, below it is a seating chart with my seat highlighted. However, the seating chart on the order page is different from the seating chart that is displayed when you buy tickets. 

On my order page, they have me in the fifth row (first row has 2 seats, second has 3, then 5, then 6, and "my" row has 6, with me 3rd from the wall. If you go to buy tickets, row D is the fourth row (first row has 2 seats, second has 3, then 6, with row D having 5 seats, and D8 is second from the wall).

So that's weird. Anyway. I'll be disappointed if the view is as obstructed as EugLoven found it. I know the tickets are cheap, but I'd rather have spent my $36 elsewhere if that's the case. Maybe the row A mezz seat I previously had would have been better, but my eyesight is terrible so I like to sit close when I can. I do find it odd that the review was from E9 at $25, and E7 is $169. Do those handful of inches really make that much of a difference? I would be livid if I paid $169 and anything at all was obstructed.

[NievesG]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 7:36pm

Not sure if this was posted anywhere but at the theater now - box seats are selling for $25 as well.

 

(Edit: bad spelling!)

Updated On: 8/15/19 at 07:36 PM

[bekk99]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 9:33pm

I remember the box seats being an atrocious view for The Color Purple. Not sure for this one.

I bought H18 for 9/4 for $25 - will report back.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 10:53pm

I have Mezz A 25 & 27. Has anyone sat in those partial view mezzanine seats yet who can provide info please? I wonder how the boxes compare to the mezz. 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 11:59pm

Was there tonight and had B26 and 28. View were good from there although we may have missed a few signs that say "two years earlier" or things like that. The side front mezzanine seats were pretty empty, so we moved over and became more centrally located in the side section. Very good view. They even moved people down from the side rear mezzanine seats because the entire rear mezz was full. Weird that those were full while the closer sides weren't.

[NievesG]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 9:00am

Reporting from Mezz C26 -- excellent seat, nothing partial view about aside from the combined, oh, 30 seconds, the actors move too far stage left. Absolutely worth the $25. I do think this would be great to see as close as possible, too - looked like plenty of leg room in the front row orch!

I imagine that if this production was more involved regarding stage design, these would not have been very good seats. Given the spare nature of the stage, they were good.

I would like to address something keen on kean wrote -- while all of the actors stay on stage even if they are not in the scene, they are certainly in the scene (if that makes sense), such as when Emma leans over Robert to give something to Jerry. Robert is not "in" the scene but it is visually striking to watch this play out here and other times where this is employed.

A "view from my seat":

Updated On: 8/16/19 at 09:00 AM

[CarmenA3]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 9:47am

NievesG: Thanks for the report - I’m so glad the Mezz view is that good for the price! Our seats are the same for late August.

[Kea4]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 11:09am

I got tickets for B Seats 6-8. I was expecting partial view for those prices, but not expecting to miss half the show since it wasn't even marked as partial. For anyone who has seen the show: do you think it's worth seeing if I can move the seats further back? I'd prefer to be closer if I'll only miss a tiny bit less if I moved further back. 

Also, any chance the sightlines will get better after previews? 

 

Updated On: 8/16/19 at 11:09 AM

[Danielle49]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 3:52pm

Just picked up orchestra I20 for a date in September at $25 — the box office attendant said it was full view but I suppose I’ll find out

(Also, if anyone is interested in attending opening night, there were still some $59 tickets available when I checked.)

[Gabriel Hetland]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 3:59pm

My wife and I bought these exact seats (Mezz C26 and 28) for Friday Aug 23 8 pm show. Unfortunately we can't make it and would like to sell the tickets at cost, which including fees is $43 per ticket ($25 per ticket and then service and delivery fees totaling $36 = $86). If anyone is interested in purchasing these tickets - at cost - please email me (ghetland AT yahoo DOT com). Would love for someone to enjoy what appear to be very good seats for the price, and per this post not very partial view at all. -Gabriel

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 4:33pm

NievesG said: "Reporting from Mezz C26 -- excellent seat, nothing partial view about aside from the combined, oh, 30 seconds, the actors move too far stage left. Absolutely worth the $25. I do think this would be great to see as close as possible, too - looked like plenty of leg room in the front row orch!

I imagine that if this production was more involved regarding stage design, these would not have been very good seats. Given the spare nature of the stage, they were good.

I would like to address something keen on kean wrote -- while all of the actors stay on stage even if they are not in the scene, they are certainly in the scene (if that makes sense), such as when Emma leans over Robert to give something to Jerry. Robert is not "in" the scene but it is visually striking to watch this play out here and other times where this is employed.

A "view from my seat":
"

If this is the view from right mezz at the very far end of row C, and it was full view except for the brief period noted, I don't see how the $25 seats in Orchestra right which would have to have an almost identical viewing angle of the stage just lower, can miss 50% of the show. It just defies basic physics. Maybe there is some issue with orchestra left seats that doesn't present itself on the right. Hopefully we can get a report in the next few days from someone who actually sat in orchestra right to see if there is still some issue but until then, I'm not sweating it.

[Damiensta]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 1:49am

I saw show tonite. Even though I wasn’t in a partial view seat. I don’t think you will miss much. The play takes place center stage. I would consider partial in first 25 min ish Bc an actor stands against back wall as other two speak. But basically it’s just actor standing there And that would only affect right side seats. I don’t think would be any problem if you in left side of theatre.

i guess , we will wait till partial seating members go n see it.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 2:19am

Thanks. I’m specifically interested in view from partial view right Mezzanine A26.

[kmissa]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 6:46am

I had those seats (right mezz a 26-28) last night and the view was great. There were a handful of times there was an actor I couldn’t see, but you don’t miss much at all.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 9:52pm

kmissa said: "I had those seats (right mezz a 26-28) last night and the view was great. There were a handful of times there was an actor I couldn’t see, but you don’t miss much at all. "

Thanks, any idea if those same momentary partial views would also be evident from Left mezzanine A25? 

[angoradebs]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 10:14pm

So ORCH D8:

Is it partial view? Yes. Is it any more partial view than full price D6? Probably not, or at least not such a difference that I would pay the extra to sit in D6.

You do sometimes miss the actors who are not actually in the scene. There are very brief moments where you cant see the actor that is talking. I'm talking super brief moments that last one line. You do also miss some of the timeline signs (which really should be centered. It's dumb that they aren't)

Now the crux of the seating issues: the problem with these seats is that you miss a lot of facial expressions. Most of the scenes involve just two actors, who face each other. So you can see one actor's face and the other actor's back. Also the turntables are clearly meant to be viewed head on so I think from the sides your view gets blocked by another actor.

Left vs right really probably wont make a difference. Some scenes I couldn't see Hiddleston's face but I could see Cox's, sometimes the opposite was true. If you want to see Hiddleston perform the lunch scene (which is probably his biggest one) you'll need to sit house left, but you will miss Hiddleston in scene 2, which was a wonderful scene.

I also think those issues would be the same even if you were sitting in the full view seats left or right. This production is probably best viewed from as close to center as possible in order to see the most of the facial expressions. And they are important, a lot of the play is silent and revolves around watching the actors faces.

Also, there is almost no rake in the orchestra. I had a guy in front of me who probably wasn't really very tall, but he was at least taller than the women on either side of him and I had to do a lot of head bobbing to see stuff.

Finally, the seat was absolutely worth the 37 bucks. Just know what you are getting for that price. And like I said, I doubt D6'S experience was much different than mine and she probably paid 5x as much for her seat. Yeah she may have seen an actor standing dead still on stage left, but she couldn't see Hiddleston's face during the lunch scene, either.

Edited to add: the view from my seat site wont be too helpful for this production, as before the show starts the stage is a black void and blends in with the black walls on either side of it

Updated On: 8/17/19 at 10:14 PM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 10:33pm

angoradebs said: "So ORCH D8:

Is it partial view? Yes. Is it any more partial view than full price D6? Probably not, or at least not such a difference that I would pay the extra to sit in D6.

You do sometimes miss the actors who are not actually in the scene. There are very brief moments where you cant see the actor that is talking. I'm talking super brief moments that last one line. You do also miss some of the timeline signs (which really should be centered. It's dumb that they aren't)

Now the crux of the seating issues: the problem with these seats is that you miss a lot of facial expressions. Most of the scenes involve just two actors, who face each other. So you can see one actor's face and the other actor's back. Also the turntables are clearly meant to be viewed head on so I think from the sides your view gets blocked by another actor.

Left vs right really probably wont make a difference. Some scenes I couldn't see Hiddleston's face but I could see Cox's, sometimes the opposite was true. If you want to see Hiddleston perform the lunch scene (which is probably his biggest one) you'll need to sit house left, but you will miss Hiddleston in scene 2, which was a wonderful scene.

I also think those issues would be the same even if you were sitting in the full view seats left or right. This production is probably best viewed from as close to center as possible in order to see the most of the facial expressions. And they are important, a lot of the play is silent and revolves around watching the actors faces.

Also, there is almost no rake in the orchestra. I had a guy in front of me who probably wasn't really very tall, but he was at least taller than the women on either side of him and I had to do a lot of head bobbing to see stuff.

Finally, the seat was absolutely worth the 37 bucks. Just know what you are getting for that price. And like I said, I doubt D6'S experience was much different than mine and she probably paid 5x as much for her seat. Yeah she may have seen an actor standing dead still on stage left, but she couldn't see Hiddleston's face during the lunch scene, either."

Thanks for your detailed feedback.  I have D7, so I'm still waiting for someone to review from that seat.  I guess my view would be similar to yours.  The timeline signs seem to be the most important, yet easiest to correct.  I'm not a director, but isn't the timeline one of the more important aspects of the play?

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 10:37pm

angoradebs said: "So ORCH D8:

Is it partial view? Yes. Is it any more partial view than full price D6? Probably not, or at least not such a difference that I would pay the extra to sit in D6.

You do sometimes miss the actors who are not actually in the scene. There are very brief moments where you cant see the actor that is talking. I'm talking super brief moments that last one line. You do also miss some of the timeline signs (which really should be centered. It's dumb that they aren't)

Now the crux of the seating issues: the problem with these seats is that you miss a lot of facial expressions. Most of the scenes involve just two actors, who face each other. So you can see one actor's face and the other actor's back. Also the turntables are clearly meant to be viewed head on so I think from the sides your view gets blocked by another actor.

Left vs right really probably wont make a difference. Some scenes I couldn't see Hiddleston's face but I could see Cox's, sometimes the opposite was true. If you want to see Hiddleston perform the lunch scene (which is probably his biggest one) you'll need to sit house left, but you will miss Hiddleston in scene 2, which was a wonderful scene.

I also think those issues would be the same even if you were sitting in the full view seats left or right. This production is probably best viewed from as close to center as possible in order to see the most of the facial expressions. And they are important, a lot of the play is silent and revolves around watching the actors faces.

Also, there is almost no rake in the orchestra. I had a guy in front of me who probably wasn't really very tall, but he was at least taller than the women on either side of him and I had to do a lot of head bobbing to see stuff.

Finally, the seat was absolutely worth the 37 bucks. Just know what you are getting for that price. And like I said, I doubt D6'S experience was much different than mine and she probably paid 5x as much for her seat. Yeah she may have seen an actor standing dead still on stage left, but she couldn't see Hiddleston's face during the lunch scene, either.

Edited to add: the view from my seat site wont be too helpful for this production, as before the show starts the stage is a black void and blends in with the black walls on either side of it"

Thanks for the detailed review! I forget, did you originally have a mezzanine partial view? If so, do you wish you had kept it, or were you happy enough in the orchestra?

[angoradebs]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 10:44pm

Artman, I actually think you'll be able to see the timeline signs fine, they all occur on stage left, so they're really only obstructed from house right people. Also some seemed to be projected onto the front of the stage, but I couldn't see those well either. The timeline is super important, and luckily I have read the play and saw enough to piece it together.

Your view would basically be the opposite of mine - you'll be staring at the back of Hiddleston's head in scene 2, but at the back of Cox in the lunch scene (I lost count of scene numbers at some point). And there are other scenes where the actors move around a lot so it will be less pronounced. I would say it has the biggest impact on scenes 2, 3, and the lunch scene because in those scenes the actors don't really move so whatever your view is at the beginning, that's what you get for the whole scene. In other scenes they move around so it's less pronounced.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 10:51pm

Angoradebs, Thanks for the info.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 10:51pm

double

Updated On: 8/17/19 at 10:51 PM