3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Sept 12, 2016 8:38:40 GMT
I think I did it only twice, once was at Wicked and I know that I did it somewhere else but I can't remember where. Wicked was simply because I booked it for the lack of anything to see and do on a business trip to London, where I've been just a week before and saw everything new and needed to see. So I booked Wicked because the weather was typically sh*te (sometime in March).
I remember it was Rachel Tucker and Louise early in their run. I thought Rachel was really loud, angry and shouty more than necessary, and I thought, wow this Louise girl has a kick ass belt and really ought to have been Elphaba! You'd think I had a crystal ball. So sometime during intermission my friends texted me telling me that it's gorgeous outside and that they are getting drunk in the park. That's all I need to leave. Later, green bitch!
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Post by viserys on Sept 12, 2016 9:29:47 GMT
I only left twice at the interval - "A funny thing happened on the way to the forum" at the Open Air Theatre because I found it terribly unfunny and was bored and somehow worried myself into a tizz about walking back to the tube station late in the evening through the "dark park".
The other time was "Shakespeare in Love", though it had nothing to do with the show (au contraire, what was not to like with Tom Bateman and David Oakes), only with a terrible migraine that required me to crawl into bed as soon as humanly possible. I learned from an earlier mistake where I had tried to sit out a headache in a theatre - it was "Nine" at the Donmar Warehouse many years ago, where I got so sick suddenly that I had to barge past people in my row (luckily up on the Dress Circle) to rush for the toilet half-way in the second act. They would have allowed me back in, but I decided to call it a day and seek my bed.
I suppose it helps that I'm in London as a tourist, so it's not like leaving early would get me to my comfy own flat and creature comforts. If it's a choice between being in the hotel room by 9pm or sitting through the rest of whatever I'm seeing, I usually sit it out on account of "I paid for it anyway and who knows, something might happen"
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Sept 12, 2016 9:38:10 GMT
I've only ever wanted to leave a performance once, and that was for 'The Trial' at the Young Vic. I can't praise the cast enough, they were brilliant, but I just couldn't enjoy the direction, sound or lighting designs; it was all too aggressive for me. The only reason I didn't leave early was as it was a no interval play, had there been I definitely would have left.
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Sept 12, 2016 9:41:38 GMT
Never have, but on a few occassions I wish I had: Hamilton, Wicked Germany (only because of their strange translation) and Bat Boy.
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1,244 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Sept 12, 2016 9:46:30 GMT
Was tempted to leave at the interval of High Society tour at High Wycombe - Michael Praed and Daniel Boys, not good. Went outside at the interval for fresh air as was dozing off (like the man next to me), others heading for the car park, couple dithering about staying or not. I toughed it out as I was central second row ..
But I did walk out at the interval for Miranda Sings at the Leicester Square theatre. She has her fans, but I ain't one.
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Post by danb on Sept 12, 2016 9:47:34 GMT
I think I must be terribly rude then! If I've paid money for something, and I'm not enjoying it, why on earth would I stay 'til the end? Obviously I've only ever left in the interval (except once) but I was certainly very discreet. The other side of the respect coin is that as a customer I should be able to enjoy my purchase, and if the product or interpretation of said product is not of the expected standard, I should be entitled to bail out! (I would not ask for a refund though
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169 posts
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Post by jess173 on Sept 12, 2016 11:59:08 GMT
I never left at intermission, but I was tempted a couple of times. I really wanted to leave at Once and A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder. I stayed for both in hope something good might happen in the second half... It never did.
And I once saw a German production called "Der Schuh des Manitu". This was so horrible but I could not leave because I got the tickets for my birthday and the person that gave them to me was with me that night. So it would have been very rude in several ways...
I had to dash from wicked once because they had a technical problem with the set and there was an extra break because of that. The show ran late and I had to catch my train so I had to run for the exit right after the last note...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 12:18:17 GMT
I've only left once, at a local open air production of Sweet Charity. It's not my favourite and it was a good production, but it was freezing and I was ill, so I departed subtly at the interval.
There are a few productions I WISH I'd left...a really bad tour of Hobson's Choice springs to mind. But usually I tough it out on the ground of 'something might improve' or 'at least I can say I gave it a fair crack'
That said no judgement on those who do leave, personally I'd rather see the odd empty seat than have an audience full of people who would rather be anywhere else!
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Post by stuartww on Sept 12, 2016 12:23:50 GMT
Cliff The Musical....starring DJ Mike Read as the 80 year old Lord Cliff, looking back at his life through the power of virtual reality.
The only reason my companion and I walked in was because we had comps and had drunk a couple of glasses of champagne...
The only reason we lasted until the interval was because we were hemmed in by women of a certain age who were loving it...
How this made it to the west end, I do not know!
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4,799 posts
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Post by The Matthew on Sept 12, 2016 12:33:44 GMT
Cliff The Musical....starring DJ Mike Read as the 80 year old Lord Cliff, looking back at his life through the power of virtual reality. With the possible exception of "as" and "the", every word of that says "no". (Matthew looks it up.) Ah, it's a "written by, directed by and starring" show. Much becomes clear.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 13:21:54 GMT
I won't judge people for leaving - I've only been taken ill once, had to run for a train (or another show) a few times, and only left at the interval maybe half a dozen times. I will judge people for leaving if their doing so causes disruption to other audience members who may be enjoying the show, but if you're able to sidle out silently or even better during the interval, then go for it. You're not doing anyone any favours by staying, and it's not like they don't already have your money.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 13:57:07 GMT
I don't mind people leaving early. But I do mind them coming back in again and expecting the rest of us to have our view obstructed again. Have come across this a few times now. Another type, I'm afraid. Usually the bloke who has brought the lady-friend out to impress her. A night out to see a show, champagne in the bar beforehand, followed by dinner later on. There hadn't been time to buy up every bit of merchandise from the kiosk as the bell was ringing, but it didn't matter as he could nip out during a boring bit of the show to get it. Now that would really impress her...
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1,184 posts
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Post by joem on Sept 12, 2016 14:15:16 GMT
Some if you may have noticed there was a little irony in the original post. I can't blame someone leaving if they're ill, receive bad news or even if they just get fed up. But my point was that in sold-out shows, where many people have been disappointed by not getting ticketsm, it's pretty selfish to leave after ten minutes. A little research will probably narrow down the number of times you feel like leaving.
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893 posts
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Post by vdcni on Sept 12, 2016 14:18:41 GMT
I've never left mid show but have left at the interval due to illness a few times - annoyingly usually at good stuff that I'd have happily stayed for.
For sheer that was rubbish reasons yeah a hand full of times, some French farce with Belinda Lang at the Playhouse & Jane Eyre at the National recently. I feel there is something else but I don't remember.
I've rarely seen people leave during the show - the only one I remember was a couple leaving End Of The Rainbow at Richmond just before the interval as she was singing The Man That Got Away. They were in the middle of the third row so it was very obvious. At the interval I got out to discover they had done it in order to be first to the bar!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 14:22:08 GMT
But there really is no way of knowing for sure until you're already there. Everything about my personal bete noire One Man Two Guvnors sounded awful (James Corden? Richard Bean? Farce? TRIPLE YUCK) and although I resisted at first, the excellent word of mouth and West End transfer convinced me I really ought to give it a go, telling myself as I booked that I could always leave at the interval if it was everything I feared. And though I will forever bang on about it being a shoddy piece of writing and not liking it anywhere near as much as everyone else did, I nonetheless got enough out of it to not only sit through the second half but also give it another go after the cast change, just in case. (I have a very complicated love/hate relationship with theatre sometimes.) It's no more selfish to buy a ticket for a show that you fear you might not like than it is to buy a ticket for a show that you're expecting to enjoy heartily, no matter how well it's selling.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 15:00:13 GMT
But there really is no way of knowing for sure until you're already there. Everything about my personal bete noire One Man Two Guvnors sounded awful (James Corden? Richard Bean? Farce? TRIPLE YUCK) and although I resisted at first, the excellent word of mouth and West End transfer convinced me I really ought to give it a go, telling myself as I booked that I could always leave at the interval if it was everything I feared. And though I will forever bang on about it being a shoddy piece of writing and not liking it anywhere near as much as everyone else did, I nonetheless got enough out of it to not only sit through the second half but also give it another go after the cast change, just in case. (I have a very complicated love/hate relationship with theatre sometimes.) It's no more selfish to buy a ticket for a show that you fear you might not like than it is to buy a ticket for a show that you're expecting to enjoy heartily, no matter how well it's selling. Same. I very nearly left at the interval, but after being told for YEARS how GENIUS and FUNNY it was I felt I had to stick it out, and now I feel at least justified in placing it as my personal 'most hated' piece of theatre (aside I will conceed Edward Bennett, but just because I enjoy his face). I don't think it's 'selfish' or 'wrong' to buy a ticket for a show you might not be keen on, no more than it's right or wrong to buy a ticket for a certain actor. I've seen some utter gems on a 'I might not like it but...' whim, equally I've looked forward to a show for months and hated every second of it, swings and roundabouts. However, I now draw the line at anything involving Marti Pellow.
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1,244 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Sept 12, 2016 15:08:37 GMT
*shudder* Marti Pellow and Jekyll & Hyde ... Wimbledon Theatre. Right ->down<- there with All The Fun Of The Fair with David Essex.
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 12, 2016 15:37:43 GMT
Think that is fair if a cast member becomes indisposed, then they bring the stand by on, so if a audience member becomes indisposed then its only fair they can leave early. Same if people have public transport deadline to meet - that is fair too.
I have seen shows and have hated the first half, but persisted and it has picked up in the second half, also the opposite is true seen shows where I have loved the first half, but the second half has gone downhill.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 15:40:22 GMT
*shudder* Marti Pellow and Jekyll & Hyde ... Wimbledon Theatre. Right ->down<- there with All The Fun Of The Fair with David Essex. Lucky for me Pellow had been punched in the face in Cardiff so I missed him in that...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 15:41:13 GMT
*shudder* Marti Pellow and Jekyll & Hyde ... Wimbledon Theatre. Right ->down<- there with All The Fun Of The Fair with David Essex. Lucky for me Pellow had been punched in the face in Cardiff so I missed him in that...You're welcome.
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1,184 posts
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Post by joem on Sept 12, 2016 16:28:23 GMT
Think that is fair if a cast member becomes indisposed, then they bring the stand by on, so if a audience member becomes indisposed then its only fair they can leave early. Same if people have public transport deadline to meet - that is fair too. I have seen shows and have hated the first half, but persisted and it has picked up in the second half, also the opposite is true seen shows where I have loved the first half, but the second half has gone downhill. Yes. So why should it not be fair if an audience member decides to leave for another audience member to take their place? Like a substitute in football.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 12, 2016 16:44:06 GMT
Theatre, doesn't have the same offside rule.
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Post by The Matthew on Sept 12, 2016 17:47:35 GMT
So why should it not be fair if an audience member decides to leave for another audience member to take their place? Like a substitute in football. I don't think anyone's saying it's unfair for someone to take a leaver's place. What I take issue with is the idea that there are people who go to all the expense of paying for a show and all the effort of travelling to attend it in the expectation that they'll hate it so much that they'll leave early. Even if someone doesn't think they'll hate a show until after they bought a ticket, they're surely unlikely to change their mind in the last couple of hours before the show starts, so they'll either go in expecting to stay to the end or cut their losses and stay at home. I can't think of any circumstances under which someone would get to the theatre and then decide at the last minute that they're going to hate the show so much that they're going to leave half way through but nevertheless still go in to watch the first half.
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Post by longinthetooth on Sept 12, 2016 18:09:31 GMT
I once left a concert (well, gig really) early. To be fair, I had fainted and had to be carried out .....
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Post by loureviews on Sept 12, 2016 20:11:20 GMT
Cliff The Musical....starring DJ Mike Read as the 80 year old Lord Cliff, looking back at his life through the power of virtual reality. The only reason my companion and I walked in was because we had comps and had drunk a couple of glasses of champagne... The only reason we lasted until the interval was because we were hemmed in by women of a certain age who were loving it... How this made it to the west end, I do not know! The same Mike Read who wrote the dreadful Oscar Wilde.
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Post by CG on the loose on Sept 12, 2016 20:54:07 GMT
The most substantial interval bail-out I've seen was at the infamous 'Too Close to the Sun'... I was there on a 'papered' ticket precisely because of the absolutely dire word of mouth. Just how bad could it be?
Turns out, excruciatingly bad. But I stuck by the terms of my ticket and went back for the second half. I was in the minority!
Stalls were about 60% occupied in Act 1 and somewhere around 20% in Act 2. Had to feel for the cast doing their utmost to polish a turd...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 21:11:36 GMT
Why do you care?
If somone has paid for their ticket
And they want to leave
It's up to them
Nothing to do with anyone else
Up to 30% of GP and outpatient appointments are missed by patients mainly because they can't be bothered to attend or because they booked them and their illness improved
These appointments have been paid by the taxpayer
And many people complain they can't get an appointment at all when there are wasted ones
Please remember that the theatre profits don't suffer regardless of the sold seat having a bum in it or not
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Post by andrew on Sept 12, 2016 21:48:02 GMT
I will judge people for leaving if their doing so causes disruption to other audience members who may be enjoying the show, but if you're able to sidle out silently or even better during the interval, then go for it. I was very impressed on Saturday at the Old Vic 2 relatively old guys got up at different points to go to the loo mid-act, they both stood next to the standing room punters for the remainder of the act instead of going back to their seats. Even I probably wouldn't have bothered doing that.
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Post by Marwood on Sept 13, 2016 10:41:38 GMT
Totally agree with Parsley here, I used to stay to the end regardless, but over the last couple of years, if I don't like the play, I'll leave at the interval. Only done this a few times, and I've always waited until the interval (thankfully never been ill during a play).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 15:00:37 GMT
Even I probably wouldn't have bothered doing that. presumably meaning "standing for the remainder of the act" rather than "got up to use the loo"... In some venues that sort of behaviour is considered 'art' isn't it? (also many a festival goer has done worse I'd bet) Either way Andrew is too scared of featuring on this board to do either All that said, I once got ripped to shreds on Facebook when I posted about a Mother allowing a child to go to the toilet in the middle of a busy shopping street-I mean in the middle of the street. Aparently I just 'don't understand' because I'm 'not a Mother'...um I understand that it's a bit disgusting...
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