Have you ever walked out of a show? Or seen others walk out?

Okay I don't believe in walking out of live theatre..well heck neither a movie.. but lets get back to the subject..

My best friend and I see shows all the time whether it be in NYC or here in LA. Last Year he went to see Big River at the Ahmanson. I was unavailable that night so he took a date. Now, I didn't tell him that it was a "sign-language" musical, but I thought I've exposed him to a lot of theatre so it won't be an issue. The next day he tells me how he walked out during intermission but that he was tempted to walk out during the first act. I was shocked. I would have just stuck it out and from the Tony's performance it looked intriguing at best.

So this past year we bought tickets to see The Black Rider. From what I had read and seen on the web, it looked amazing. Well during the first act the audience began to diminish. People got up and started leaving during the 3rd number!! I was astonished! My best friend at intermission says lets go! lol I wasn't going to leave, I was actually enjoying it. When we got back from intermission, half the theater was gone. Granted, this is a very 'avante garde' type of musical but I took it as a high art piece. So I've always wanted to see other peoples opinions on walk outs. any good stories? Am I crazy or is walking out during the acts just horribly rude!?

Despite the fact that it's my favorite book of all time, I was very tempted to leave during intermission of Little Women. I could not believe I was bored senseless because I was so excited about seeing the show. It's the only musical I've ever had to talk myself into sticking around for the second act.

---

Rent of course like all the old ppl when I c it leave the place.
And at a community thaetre production of Showboat most people left.

---

I would never leave a show, ever.

That may be a bit too much of extreme language, but I doubt I ever would. I feel like seeing theater is important, including (if not especially) bad theater because it will not only have at least some redeeming values but it will also give you a basis of which to compare other productions you see.

Its a shame you left Ring of Fire, yes it completely lacked a plot, but the performances were stellar and Cass Morgan's "Waiting on the Farside Banks of Jordan" toward the end of Act II was astounding, I was left in tears both times I saw it.

Updated On: 11/5/06 at 02:42 AM

I walked out of 'DIE, MOMMIE, DIE' when it played here in LA. Well, I left at intermission.

I had a freind in the show as well. I've never done that before or since.

---

I should also mention that I almost walked out of CATS at intermission..but I said to myself "I have to see memory" so I stuck it out. I enjoyed the 2nd act more than the first but that whole "opera" sequence was boring me to tears. If it wasnt for the outstanding cast in it.. i would've had left. Although I say it now.. I would never leave. No matter how horrific.. I saw sweet charity with molly ringwald for god sakes.. that takes courage!! :)

I would'nt think people would leave during wicked..its seems like the easiest of musicals to captivate a general audience.. i could be wrong

i played cello in Oklahoma! at the wallace bowl... which is a very large outdoor theater (seats about 2000) and during the last number (Oklahoma!) it started to rain... not very hard. We had a full house, but the time the song Oklahoma was over, almost half the audiene was gone!... 1000 people left in about 5 min! it was pretty insane

I wouldnt think of walking out a show, it would be just a waste of money and ticket. never have, never will. But on the other hand, I have seen other people walking out.

This was in the London Production of WICKED about a month ago. It was at the intermission, a middle-aged man was complaining about something and he looked ticked off, I couldn't hear it properly but all I saw him doing was going nuts in front of the manager and some of the ushers. Probably there was someone being rude somewhere near the Orchestra Seats or something. But in the end, he was escorted out of the Theatre and hadn't seen him since.

Updated On: 11/5/06 at 06:11 AM

Front row at Sweeney Todd, a group of older men and women walked past us to their seats. Halfway through the "hole in the world" section of "No Place Like London" I heard one of the men say, "I'm not gonna be spit on!" and he got up and walked out. Why the hell would you buy front row seats if u didn't want the whole experience?

I saw people walk out of "By Jeeves" (and I was tempted, but I won't do that). I also was really tempted to walk out of "Ring of Fire" (many people did), but I stayed and then....won tix to see it again. My husband loved it and so we went and...I really enjoyed it the second time. (I guess I knew what to expect (or not expect), relaxed and just enjoyed the show.

I forgot FAME ON 42ND STREET, which we would have gladly departed at intermission, but we knew someone on the production and recognized them in the audience as we were getting our coats together.

FAME ON 42ND STREET. Forgotten but never ever forgiven.

---

I have only walked out a couple of times and I would again if I have have paid for a ticket and find that the first act has not given me anything to appreciate. Sure I might miss out on a glorious 2nd act or that one knockout number in the second act but that would be my loss. And if a production cannot get its act together in act 1 it does not deserve to have support for act 2.

Also theatre is not a charity and some people get over-protective and precious about all this. We have no obligation to stay to the bitter end just to flatter the egos of a creative team/cast.

I would never walk out however if I am seeing a preview or if I had not paid for the ticket or if I was going to watch a friend etc in a production. But for commercial theatre where I have paid and I want to be entertained then it is my choice. In the same way I will not applaud an actor at the end unless I felt they have earned it (regardless of the quality of the material) though I have to say it rarely happens when I dont applaud.

Two we walked out of were Copenhagen & Stones In My Pocket

---