3,564 posts
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Post by showgirl on Sept 20, 2017 14:13:07 GMT
What is the big fuss about no interval for a two-hour show??? Does no one ever go to the cinema? And who cares if the theatre loses out on bar sales - art doesn't exist to service the interval concessions .... Have you bothered to read my explanation? Did you understand? If not, just avoid becoming middle-aged, never mind old! |
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Post by Jon on Sept 20, 2017 15:12:02 GMT
A little off-topic but for the umpteenth time, chaps, it isn't the issue of "bathroom breaks" (though please bear in mind that for some people it may be) but in my case, a different sort of physical discomfort due to a medical condition. But as others have pointed out, the longer the uninterrupted running time, the harder it is to remain focused. All I'm asking is that directors play (!) fair and announce as early as possible any plans regarding intervals and that theatres publish an approximate running time asap and allow people to amend/cancel their bookings, without a penalty, if necessary. Unless it's a revival, you can't expect a theatre to know the running time of a new play that far in advance, they might have a rough idea but until they see a full performance, it's unwise to publish a run time that might be wrong and I doubt Rufus is going to start harassing directors for if a play is going to have an interval or not if the director is still working on the piece. |
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5,691 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 20, 2017 15:56:27 GMT
What is the big fuss about no interval for a two-hour show??? Does no one ever go to the cinema? And who cares if the theatre loses out on bar sales - art doesn't exist to service the interval concessions .... A two hour show without an interval is cynical and self indulgent. Of course it isn't just bathroom breaks. The seating in most theatres is restrictive and you do need a break, a leg stretch or whatever. As for cinema, well to be honest, no I don't go anymore because I can get the movie at home in good time and there is so much disruption in a cinema with people taking breaks.....making noises.... |
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Sept 20, 2017 16:14:07 GMT
I've just started going to Liverpool's Fact and they're like luxury car seats, plush, reclining and with drink holders. It'd be easy to doze off. I'd given up on cinema but they do post-show talks and things and there are some great food places nearby which we're experimentally eating our way around beforehand... |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2017 16:53:36 GMT
What is the big fuss about no interval for a two-hour show??? Does no one ever go to the cinema? And who cares if the theatre loses out on bar sales - art doesn't exist to service the interval concessions ....What kind of madness is this??  |
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2,481 posts
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Post by zahidf on Sept 20, 2017 17:18:15 GMT
The national has a refund policy for credit, as does most non-commercial theatres when it may occur.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2017 20:48:02 GMT
I suspect some forum posters may be auditioning to present Front Row on BBC2.
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Sept 20, 2017 21:15:39 GMT
I suspect some forum posters may be auditioning to present Front Row on BBC2. If a middle-aged, male, moisturised media type like Coren can't hold it in for the average play-to-interval length then he should see a doctor, but 2 hours is pushing it for many people. My brother is 6'2" and broke his back a few years ago and 75 mins-to-interval in an old-style theatre seat is his limit. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 21, 2017 5:54:15 GMT
I suspect some forum posters may be auditioning to present Front Row on BBC2. If a middle-aged, male, moisturised media type like Coren can't hold it in for the average play-to-interval length then he should see a doctor Careful, I saw Coren in the street the other day and he exudes an air of aggression and anger, you wouldn't want to run into him outside a pub (or a theatre) on a Saturday night. |
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751 posts
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Post by horton on Sept 21, 2017 8:23:32 GMT
What is the big fuss about no interval for a two-hour show??? Does no one ever go to the cinema? And who cares if the theatre loses out on bar sales - art doesn't exist to service the interval concessions .... A two hour show without an interval is cynical and self indulgent. Of course it isn't just bathroom breaks. The seating in most theatres is restrictive and you do need a break, a leg stretch or whatever. As for cinema, well to be honest, no I don't go anymore because I can get the movie at home in good time and there is so much disruption in a cinema with people taking breaks.....making noises.... How exactly is it cynical? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2017 8:32:01 GMT
I don't know if this is precisely what Lynette means, but a lot of people view an interval-free show with suspicion, because it has been used in the past as a way to make sure people don't leave a subpar show at the interval. Putting in an interval is almost a way of saying "we trust that this show is good enough to make you want to see both halves".
Personally I think it depends on structure; where plays are written to have an interval, there's a rise in tension with an interval hook, then the tension level partially resets and rises again until the climax. Plays without an interval (and films, for that matter) are more likely to follow the traditional three-act structure (Set-Up, Confrontation, Resolution), and there's no easy or ideal place to inset an interval without putting a break in a dull place or taking the audience out of the middle of a section of rising tension.
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Sept 21, 2017 10:13:00 GMT
he exudes an air of aggression and anger He just reminds me of Rik in the Young Ones, especially with last night's ongoing, infantile Twitter insults to Shenton. |
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Post by lynette on Sept 21, 2017 10:27:57 GMT
I suppose back in the day they did Shakespeare and presumably all the rest in two hours with no interval but back then you could do a wee more or less anywhere and they sold you food all the time. And yes, it is a joke that they like you stay for the whole lot and an interval would tempt punters to leave ( we have all been there..) And I suppose they like to do that we are all in this together cultural experience thing. Ugh.
As for Front Row, well it is insulting that they have someone who doesn't go to the theatre to opine on it when we, us lot on this Board, go all the blimim time and can spout quite nicely on the topic, thank you v much. I'm not a fan of Mr C who has done v well; he has a lot of swear words at his disposal.
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Post by Jan on Sept 21, 2017 12:15:37 GMT
he exudes an air of aggression and anger He just reminds me of Rik in the Young Ones, especially with last night's ongoing, infantile Twitter insults to Shenton. It seems he went to weekly anger management therapy sessions for years. They don’t seem to have worked. He is part of a clique of media public schoolboy friends some of whom (Alexander Armstrong) have done much better than him. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2017 12:31:34 GMT
Regularly now, there are Captioned, Audio-Described and Relaxed performances of many productions, to make them accessible to more people.
I suggest that each production includes at least one Pausing performance, to make them accessible to the members of our community who have difficulty sitting for longer than a certain period of time.
A Pausing 74 performance would have a short pause every 74 minutes for people who have regrettably broken their back.
A Pausing 119 performance would have a short pause every 119 minutes for middle aged people for whom it's hard to remain focused.
A Pausing Phone performance would have a short pause whenever anyone felt the urge to use their phone.
In a diverse society, no one should be excluded from the theatre by the absence of pauses.
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4,155 posts
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Post by kathryn on Sept 21, 2017 12:37:37 GMT
I don't know if this is precisely what Lynette means, but a lot of people view an interval-free show with suspicion, because it has been used in the past as a way to make sure people don't leave a subpar show at the interval. Putting in an interval is almost a way of saying "we trust that this show is good enough to make you want to see both halves". Personally I think it depends on structure; where plays are written to have an interval, there's a rise in tension with an interval hook, then the tension level partially resets and rises again until the climax. Plays without an interval (and films, for that matter) are more likely to follow the traditional three-act structure (Set-Up, Confrontation, Resolution), and there's no easy or ideal place to inset an interval without putting a break in a dull place or taking the audience out of the middle of a section of rising tension. We were talking intervals at Hamlet last night, because the first act length varies so much between productions. I wasn't entirely convinced by the split last night - first half was much longer than the second half. We were just picking up momentum again when we got to the fight. It's a difficult thing to judge if the play hasn't been written with an interval in mind. Couldn't have gone without one, though! |
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 22, 2017 12:59:01 GMT
In a diverse society, no one should be excluded from the theatre by the absence of pauses. What about seals? They don't have pauses, they have flipperses. Even by your standard, TM, that's terrible. Why did the tomato go out with a prune? Because he couldn't get a date. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 14:43:13 GMT
Isn't that what the empty wine bottle is for in an interval-free show, no? There's a line to be had, there, about the narrow bottle neck, but I'm darned if I can think of it. Careful how tight you grip your bottle-neck? Creating your own vintage? I'll get me coat as well... |
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Post by loureviews on Sept 23, 2017 9:39:39 GMT
If Network follows the structure of the film I'm fine with it not having an interval.
I'm more intrigued by the eating on stage rigmorole that some audience members will be doing.
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Sept 23, 2017 9:51:41 GMT
I've got £15 near-the-front seats so I'm worrying a bit about having some diners plonked in my view! |
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Post by theatremad on Sept 27, 2017 12:04:14 GMT
Anyone been successful in ballot?
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Post by waybeyondblue on Sept 27, 2017 20:57:46 GMT
Anyone been successful in ballot? Very much so. The force is strong. |
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Post by Shoes on Sept 27, 2017 22:46:06 GMT
Anyone been successful in ballot? I have. I'm planning to get tickets for my parents but I'm wondering if that will cause issues with the cardholder not being present at the performance. |
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270 posts
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Post by littlesally on Sept 27, 2017 23:07:32 GMT
Anyone been successful in ballot? My daughter was successful and I’m her lucky plus one. |
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2,743 posts
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Post by n1david on Sept 27, 2017 23:09:57 GMT
I’m also lucky which does make me wonder what the demand level was... I have regular tickets for December but will try the food option too...
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