What is with the obsession of RUNNING TIMES?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:32pm

Gladys posted a really interesting observation regarding Seafarer, a show I am not aware of, and the very next post is "What is the running time?"
Seriously? Is that how you decide what shows to see? So it is 5 and half hours without intermission! If it is good you won't even notice. If you have a bladder problem go before hand and wear depends.
I realize people have to schedule things in their lives, but is that REALLY what you are most interested in? The RUNNING TIME?

I realize people have to schedule trains and all, but come on, if you want to see it badly enough you will find a way to stay until the final curtain.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:35pm

I'm more concerned with who gets standby positions on 2nd national tours.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:37pm

Or what the show curtain looked like or who signed at the stage door...

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:43pm

Or, if the new lobby cards had arrived...

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:51pm

Dont get me started on these kind of things guys! Why do most people make a night out at the theatre such a chore with questions questions questions. It never used to be like this1 Oh and all these ////// seating questions!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:53pm

If you come from out of town (like me) and are not staying in the city overnight, it's important to know ahead of time so you can plan your schedule accordingly. If a show has a running time of, say 2 hours, getting home doesn't present a problem. If it has a running time of 3+ hours, you know to book a hotel and spend the night. it's not meant in any disrespect to the show in question. If I have to book a hotel, I'll book a hotel; if I don't, I won't.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:00pm

I like to know the running time if I have plans with other people after a show. Last year my best friend vacationed with me in NYC and it was his first time in the city. Twice he went to a show alone and I needed to be at the theater to meet him when the show ended. I didn't want him getting lost in the city. With that said, running times do not affect what I see. If I have plans after a show, they happen whenever the show is over.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:02pm

If a show isn't that great and it's short, then its exactly that, not that great.

If a show isn't that great and is very long it is possatively dreadful.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:03pm

Instead of asking you can always go to one of the several wesbites that features the running time prominantly.

Updated On: 11/4/07 at 08:03 PM

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:27pm

Yes, but most people on here are not intelligent enough to do their own homework and find these things out for themselves. LOL

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:30pm

And it seems to be the most IMPORTANT thing to some people.
Yes, there are times when you need to know what time a show will get out, but often people ask this question as if nothing else matters.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:39pm

Oh I definitely agree, it's odd that people would think it's the msot important thing. I was just trying to look at it from another point of view and I must admit, I would have enjoyed A Moon For the Misbegotten a LOT more had it been shorter by the end of it my mind was off of the play and I was just getting itchy. Rent on the other hand is a show that I think is too long but its still one of my favorites and it doesn't really affect my experiance. So basically what I'm saying, at the risk of being repetative, I can understand why people care but I agree it is certainly NOT the most important thing and also people should be able to figure it out on their own.

[Sauja]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:39pm

When something is in previews, I like to ask because the times may change a bit (recent case in point: Speech and Debate was shortened by about 15 minutes). Now, I already had my tickets, but I asked so I could see if I wanted to plan for a drink after the show. And also, if something is in previews and no official reviews have come in, sometimes you like the safety of knowing you won't be stuck at something dreadful for hours. If I hadn't known The Farnsworth Invention were only two hours, I would have run screaming at intermission. As it was, I muddled through act 2, though, come to think of it, now I'm not sure it was even worth the short running time.

[Puppetguy]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:43pm

What's the run time on this thread?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:46pm

But that is the thing, the running time should have nothing to do with the QUALITY of a show or one's desire to see it. Would you rather see a crappy show that is only 90 minutes but seems like HOURS or a FANTASTIC show whose 4 hour running time flies by like nothing? If you go in knowing it is 4 hours, your expectations are going to be different, "This had better be GOOD, Damn it!" or, "How bad can it be? It is only 90 minutes!"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:57pm

Is the running time affected by whether or not a standby performs?

[EugLoven]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 8:59pm

I might be going out on a limb here... but what if these people AREN'T connecting running-time with quality? Maybe they just want to know.

What time they're going to get home? How dark outside? Others might like knowing there's an intermission.

Personally, while I don't like being obsessed with running-times, I also don't like walking home late on the streets of Brooklyn. Like to plan ahead.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 9:04pm

I think it is perfectly valid to be concerned with running times. I've never let the length of a play or film stop me from seeing it, but I have let the length of a play or film decide when I see it. I'll be in better shape to appreciate something three hours long if I haven't had eight hours of work before it.

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 9:16pm

Eugloven--very well said. The running time's not the most important thing, but you do need to know it, particularly if you're trying to coordinate train and bus schedules, set up an after-theatre dinner reservation, plan ahead, whatever. Ten minutes can mean the difference between getting home and missing the last train of the night.

And although running times are listed elsewhere, they're not always 100% correct. As someone mentioned, running times change in previews; they can also change depending on the lead actors, how fast the musical director is going, etc. I don't see why it's a big deal if someone asks about it here.

[Bwayfan4]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 9:17pm

Like Ed said, I am coming from out of town, so its kind of important that I have a general idea of the running time, so I know which bus to take home!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 9:59am

I usually want to know the running time when I am tryng to coordinate post-show transportation (depending on the city and situation), dinner reservations, or meeting with friends.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 3:31pm

I like to break it down to "cost per minute" so I can be sure I will select the show that gives me the biggest bang for the buck!

[Jane2]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 3:52pm

I think asking the running time is a perfectly legitimate question. People have their own reasons for asking it, and it doesn't bother me a bit.

Of course, working in a theater is another whole story-we like short running times!