Helen Hayes seating for Appropriate

I read a comment posted on the NYTimes review of the play Appropriate at the Helen Hayes owned by 2nd Stage company. The comment complained pretty vociferously about the partial view in the right Orchestra side seats (2, 4, 6.... et al).

Apparently there is piles of stuff that blocks the view to the stage for all but about the last half hour. The poster said they were subscribers and received a refund for the show.

I became a subscriber this year (out of towner and get a subscripion if the shows align with my visits). I do NYC and mostly all of my theater alone and love the side aisle seats (the 1 or 2 seats) in orchestra or mezz. Since I am a subscriber, I may ask for a seat change, but the performance I can attend only has mezz location for the aisles.

Does anyone have any information on this?

 

Updated On: 1/24/24 at 10:01 PM

Just from my imagination, I can only see how a 2/4/6 seat on the right orchestra would be a problem if it were super close to the stage. If you were further back, a side seat is better since you will have a wider field of view. (When I go to shows, I tend to get rear orch accessible when I can).

I wouldn’t wish a mezzanine seat in the Hayes on my worst enemy since both the seats and the pitch are so narrow that it makes for a miserable experience (which, for a 3 hour play, is a BIG problem)

Thanks for the insight. Switching our tickets isn’t really an option. Our seats are Orchestra R, Row F, Seats 8 & 10. We’re both pretty tall, so perhaps that might help a bit? 
 

You should also keep in mind that from the far left orchestra you won’t be able to see the full set - and there is a lot of action on a staircase that may be obstructed if you do sit there. 

I’m in F9 this weekend. It’s labeled partial view but next to a $269 seat, so I figured it wouldn’t be TOO bad. Now I’m nervous. :(

Turns out I am on orchestra left and not right (I have E1). I have looked at several photos on View from My Seat and there is a View from My Seat for E1 taken at a performance of Appropriate and the poster did not give an angry COULD NOT SEE comment.

The pile of stuff doesn't look that dauntingly high, but you never know until you get there. Based on the photo in A View from My Seat, I am going to roll the dice and assume I will be able to see fine (so maybe I don't see the actors feet.

Someone told me it is the responsibility of the set designer to ensure the views are not blocked by their set... I can say for sure, if this set designer is nominated for a Tony award, I for one will be rooting for anyone else to win.

Melissa25 said: "I sat in K7 and I could see the window scene fine. No other obstructions. I did make a mental note though that the three seats to my left which were considerably cheaper would probably not have that much of a different view with one exception. There are a couple of scenes where the creepy teenage daughter is hiding in the vestibule (stage right) eavesdropping on the conversation happening in the living room (center stage). I am thinking that anyone in 9,11,13 would probably miss that as it appeared it would be cut off from that angle. Not a big deal but thought I'd mention it. Also, does this theater always have such horrible house lighting? Before the show and again at intermission I felt like I was at a night game at Citi Field with those glaring stadium lights blinding me. Is this just part of the Appropriate experience or common for the Hayes?"

 

You lost me at "creepy teenage daughter".  What did you find "creepy" about her?  A little kid playing hide and seek and listening in on adult conversations is hardly "creepy".

BIG thanks for the info... if you were on the side in row F, there are only three rows in front of you. I am guessing the unhappy people were in row C which is the first row and lower than the stage even without the junk downstage on each side.

Your post is helpful as I am in E1 - only one row in front of yours albeit on the left orch side.

Tickets today are so expensive, getting agitae over something like this is unneccesary. And you know I only found that "complaint" right after I booked the ticket.

Surprising no one mentioned how tight and uncomfortable the seats generally are in Hayes (at least for the orchestra). Had the play been any less engaging, the pain of not being able to stretch my legs straight would've been vying for my attention throughout the three hours. Going from Hudson to Hayes, both charging similar prices for the seats, at least I didn't have to put myself through the waterboarding watching Merrily. If you can get an aisle seat, get that for Hayes unless you are unusually petite.  

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Surprising no one mentioned how tight and uncomfortable the seats generally are in Hayes (at least for the orchestra). Had the play been any less engaging, the pain of not being able to stretch my legs straight would've been vying for my attention throughout the three hours. Going from Hudson to Hayes, both charging similar prices for the seats, at least I didn't have to put myself through the waterboarding watching Merrily. If you can get an aisle seat, get that for Hayes unless you are unusually petite."


The seats in this theatre are about as miserable as the mezzanine at Studio 54. Torture for a taller person.