Drinking before the Theater

[chad2]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 4:39pm

Who has ever gone drunk or "tipsy" to a show? Did you have to make many pee breaks during the show? Is it better to go drunk to a show like Xanadu, Mamma Mia or to a show like The Diary of Anne Frank? Does it matter?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 4:44pm

getting a sherry enema works best.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 5:43pm

After a few Strongbows, I was pleasantly buzzed when I went to see Closer to Heaven in London. I had another at intermission just to get through the Act II, which was a teensy bit of a mistake (though it made viewing the show far more tolerable). I totally embarrassed myself when chatting with Sandra Bernhardt after the show.

Live and learn.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 5:55pm

Depends on the nature of the show. If it's a drama, serious comedy, Shakespeare, Stoddard or whoever, I go light until the end, then either celebrate or drown my sorrow in drink. If it's of the lighter vein, a drink can make the mood merrier. I always make a point of knowing where the lounges are before the show so I can strategize. Too much drinking beforehand is not the best thing to do in any situation for a variety of reasons -- it can make you drowsy, die to go to the restroom (like the first act of Oklahoma -- Laurey's Dream can seem interminable), befuddle your reason etc., etc. I've learned that the hard way.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 5:56pm

I highly recommend it, unless it's a show with high drama. Everything feels warmer and fuzzier when you're tipsy.

[Craww]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 5:58pm

I wish I'd been drunk for Legally Blonde.

I went to Rent tipsy once, but it was worn off before the second act.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 5:59pm

Yeah, me too. On both counts.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 6:18pm

I can think of a few shows where I wished I'd gone in tipsy.

Irish coffee after Les Miz took the sting away a little...

[Hank]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 6:21pm

Stop drinking about half hour to 45 minutes before curtain and go pee, then go again just before curtain (there's usualy no line then), and you should be alright.
During intermission, if there is one, the lines are a mile long, and there's a big difference for males and females.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 6:24pm

I've had a glass of wine or two before a show at dinner, but nothing crazy. I'd probably need to pee too much.

[MaryMag]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 7:01pm

Updated On: 2/9/09 at 07:01 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 7:01pm

No one should drink at any time--ever!

[Act0r721]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 7:09pm

Ditto on the wishing to have been drunk during "Legally Blonde."

They need to air that on a Thursday night, I would totally have a "Legally Bacardi" party.

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 7:24pm

I shouldn't share this, but.....A friend and I did some...uh..herbal refreshments before seeing Spelling Bee. I didn't feel it too much....well, we were feeling a tad happy and signed up for the on-stage part....and I GOT PICKED! I think it helped me not to be too nervous, and no one could tell....but my throat was REALLY dry and I was worried about being able to talk when I got up to the mike. It was OK though.

I'm a big SA fan and like sitting on the stage, but I always have 2 to 3 glasses of wine beforehand, because I get a tad nervous up there!

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 7:44pm

During my drinking days, I had four martinis before dinner and then went to see AMADEUS. I stayed awake, but lost my sense of comprehension of this brilliant play--what a waste of an evening at the theatre. I no longer drink at all--yes, I am a recovering alcoholic.

Updated On: 10/30/07 at 07:44 PM

[kyle.]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 8:15pm

If you think about it, one thing drinking does for most people is heighten their ability to feel and experience emotions. So if you go see a wonderful play or musical while tipsy or pleasantly drunk, most people will have an easier time getting drawn into the characters, story, songs, etc.

I have only been to the theatre while tipsy/drunk 3 times, but I loved the feeling of watching a musical while all my emotions were in my throat.

Not that you should NEED a drink in order to cry or laugh when you go to the theatre - but it certainly helps!

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 8:18pm

I had so much wine at din-din I had to watch an entire performance of "Substance Of Fire" with one eye closed. Even with double vision, I was aware the play was superb though, and beat myself up mercilessly afterwards.

Not so with some Stoppard mystery thing starring Stockard Channing. (Again at the Beaumont, what is it with me and that barn?) I tried for about half and hour, but was not hooked, threw in the towel, and much to the chagrin of my colleagues, allowed myself to totally pass out.

Now Ms. Channing, being one of my favorite actors, years later, when pressed for "a bottom" at an AA meeting, I used this episode as an example of how low I had fallen. Needless to say, it didn't resonate with anybody. (Mind you, it was some gay meeting in the bowels of South Florida.) They all believed their bottoms to be far lower than mine:
waking up and finding blood on their bumper,
not knowing how they had gotten home,
or who it was in bed next to them,
or where they parked their car.

Am I an elitist, if I find falling asleep at a Stockard Channing performance just as horrifying?

And was it alcoholism or Stoppard?

[Daniel2]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 8:50pm

Comden and Green shows are usually much funnier after a few drinks.

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 9:11pm

I love to go to the theatre a little tipsy. I try to get just to the point that I am very pleased wth myself, but I try to carry myself with dignity still. I rarely drink, and think to have only one drink is a waste of time, calories, and money. Now, give me three nice Cosmos and, say, a second row seat to something like, I don't know, maybe Raul's Company - nice night!

[scott68]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 9:30pm

I went tipsy to Urinetown, which was a definite good idea. I loved Spring Awakening, but having gone three times now (for a total cost of a little over $50, natch), it would take some liquoring up to get me there again.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 9:31pm

I went a little heavy on a sangria pitcher on Restaurant Row before a Wednesday matinee of The Woman in White. The whole thing was like a pleasant dream.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 10:04pm

I thought this might be about the actors in the show, but then I remembered they usually start halfway thru the second act.
Cheers!

[Katurian2]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 10:06pm

It depends on the show whether I want to tip back a few. I went into "Little Shop of Horrors" a little buzzed, and it was AWESOME- except that my friend and I couldn't stop laughing during "It's Just the Gas" heh. But for a more serious fare, I would never go impaired. I need all I've got to follow some of those productions sometimes.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 10:31pm

I always get two or three drinks before a show. It's tradition. Even if I see a play with like, my mom, we go and get martinis first. And I'm always knocking over old ladies in a mad psycho rush to get to the bathroom after act 1, that's also tradition. It's never too bad to the point where I think I'll have an accident though, because I just don't drink water or soda or eat anything that has salt before or after the alcohol, otherwise I'll retain it all and then I have to pee 5 times an hour.

Why go to the theatre drunk though? I think that's such a waste. Come on lame-o's, dance or go to a club, or be ghetto and harass people on the street, but don't go to the theatre, lol...

Updated On: 10/30/07 at 10:31 PM

[bkonbroadway]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 10:35pm

I now have a rule that I NEVER drink before theatre. Two reasons:

Reason 1. I feel like going to see theatre is a part of my job as an actor. I would not go to work drunk or want to be impaired in any way. I have to focus even if it's really bad. I want to know why it's really bad. I can't just see a show and discuss it with someone and have to say, "I don't know, I was kinda drunk."

Reason 2. I had a few beers with dinner before "Doubt" and I was in the middle of the row. There was no intermission and the scene changes were pretty fast. I had to pee SO INCREDIBLY BAD!!!! I have never felt the peeing pain so bad in my life. I got up and stumbled over pissed off people (they were pissed off with good reason) and I rushed to the bathroom and had to watch the rest of the show from the stairs to the balcony. The really awful part was that the scene that I missed was the ONLY scene that Adriane Lenox was in and she won the Tony for THAT SCENE ALONE!! I felt just awful!!

Do what you will, but I NEVER drink before a show.