Drowsy Chaperone with Intermission - Thoughts?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 6:32am

A theater group near my hometown was putting on a production of the Drowsy Chaperone. My friend texted me saying how much she was enjoying the show. I was confused when she told me it was intermission.

FYI, for those of you who haven't seen the show and/or aren't familiar with it, Drowsy Chaperone is usually a one act musical.

It kind of annoyed me to hear there was an intermission, considering the Man in the Chair's reaction towards the end of the show when he was interrupted by the handyman.

From what my friend told me, it sounds like they tried their best to transition from intermission to the second act (the Man in the Chair states how much he hates intermission, but doesn't he say that regardless?).

According to MTI, it is categorized as one act. I am not sure if MTI has options for those who want to split it into two acts; obviously the only logical time to have an intermission, if absolutely needed, is after Toledo Surprise. Having not seen the group's version of the show, it is hard for me to comment on the production itself; however, I did see it on Broadway and think it makes the most sense not to have an intermission.

Thoughts?

Another FYI - this group has a good reputation in my hometown, and they do put on high-quality productions. The group mostly consists of high school and college students. I have a feeling that intermission was intentional because that's what people are used to and expect.

Updated On: 8/4/13 at 06:32 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 7:00am

Artistically, I don't like the idea. The show has an "intermission" as part of the story, so if you take an actual intermission on top of that, plus the false start (of the wrong show) in Act II, it would be way too long and drawn out.

Financially, many theatres can't afford NOT to take an intermission, because it kills their concession sales, drink sales, etc., which represent a huge chunk of income. Some theatres won't do one-acts, for that reason. It's also why shows like 1776 and A Chorus Line have optional act breaks built into them, so they will be considered for production.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 8:13am

The college I work at did it with an intermission last year. If I remember correctly it happened at that point where m-i-c puts on the other record and goes to take a pee. The curtain comes down...intermission...curtain rises...Message from a Nightingale begins the second act.

It was licensed as a one-act. But the director inserted the intermission for all the reasons Besty states. No one in the audience seemed phased one way or the other.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 8:16am

besty said it all: most theaters need the intermission revenue. I don't know a single school or community theatre that doesn't put in an intermission for every show...including the Jr series from MTI.

I don't think the average audience member feels the difference, but I know I do -- but I totally understand why they need to. Most local theaters can only do their NEXT show if the current show makes enough money to pay for the production.

Posted: 8/4/13 at 1:59pm

no.

but you gotta make your money Updated On: 8/4/13 at 01:59 PM

[gchris11]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 5:51pm

As I recall the Broadway show had an intermission, correct?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 6:04pm

Not really. There's a brief bit where the intermission of the show-within-the-show falls, and Man-in-Chair says something about hating intermission while he's turning over the record, and then the "second act" begins with "Message From a Nightingale." It was a one-act as performed on Broadway.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/4/13 at 10:12pm

"Financially, many theatres can't afford NOT to take an intermission, because it kills their concession sales, drink sales, etc"

Didn't write this in my post, but I figured that was a major part of it.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 4:11pm

I saw this done in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Money was not the issue, concession sales cannot be more than $50. It may have been to accommodate many older bladders. But, the director just has weird ideas. She set the show in Mrs. Tottendale's house. Janet and Robert were about 50 and 65 respectively and Robert wore roller skates, but was pushed around the set in a wheelchair. Since the set is in Mrs. Tottendale's foyer, there is no bed and Aldopho wooes The Chaperone on a chair. There was no plane, so the super's joke went no where. During the flying number people came out on stage with cafeteria trays to mimic wings. I tried to talk "the man in the chair" about it afterwards, but he deflected my questions and I didn't press the issue and left.

The same director, changed songs in "The Sound of Music" to have "My Favorite Things" sung in the abbey and "The Lonely Goatherd" song in the bed with the kids during the thunderstorm.

So, the intermission was the least, of my criticisms. It was handled, by TMITC, starting the 2nd act by putting on the wrong record and excusing himself to go get a 2nd bottle of wine off stage (or maybe it was to go to the bathroom). So, the intermission didn't really break up the continuity.



Updated On: 8/5/13 at 04:11 PM

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 4:22pm

"The same director, changed songs in "The Sound of Music" to have "My Favorite Things" sung in the abbey and "The Lonely Goatherd" song in the bed with the kids during the thunderstorm"

Can that be done under the licensing? I know our local theatre company handled "Hair" with much older actors by making it a 'look back' at a tour of the show they were on 30 years ago. They were given a cease and desist.

Updated On: 8/5/13 at 04:22 PM

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 4:33pm

You can't legally change anything in the libretto from what you have paid for, unless they specify and supply alternative options, as a lot of shows do regarding language and mature content. But, most community theaters and high schools only get away with these bizarre artistic changes because they are so under the radar.

[Daphne2]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 4:48pm

My first Drowsy had no intermission but I can see where an audience would be ok with it. I can't think of another place to put the intermission. The "I gotta go pee" is probably the best place. Still prefer no intermission.

Updated On: 8/5/13 at 04:48 PM

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 4:59pm

"The same director, changed songs in "The Sound of Music" to have "My Favorite Things" sung in the abbey and "The Lonely Goatherd" song in the bed with the kids during the thunderstorm"

You obviously don't know the original stage version that well. That is how it is written.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 6:15pm

JohnyBroadway: You are correct. The times I have seen it on stage, it was done like the movie.

I agree with the movie, "My Favorite Things" does work better for the thunderstorm scene.

I did see the original cast of "The Drowsy Chaperone" on broadway and should have kept my comments on that show for the OP.

[Gink]

Posted: 8/5/13 at 8:44pm

My town just did this as well-they used the "pee" excuse for intermission to. It worked, there were a lot of silver foxes in the audience who probably needed to use the bathroom. When I saw it on Broadway--and tour--I recall the TMITC ate an energy bar or somehing like that when there might have been an intermission.

It was actually very funny in this production when TMITC left to pee and then rushed back to grab the record to stop the nightingale song. They did have a raffle and such at intermission.