Only because I was (rather shockingly) asked by several BWW.com-ers to share my experience, that I do. Thanks for having an interest!
I attended "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" last week. Here are my thoughts: http://eugloven.livejournal.com/233324.html (Feel free to comment on the journal link, even if you're not an LJ user)
I was one of the token theatre attendees who got queasy and had to sit in the lobby for 3 minutes. Don't judge! Haha
I didn't have to leave but I definitely felt a little queasy during that scene and feared that if the play kept going in that vein (no pun intended) I would have to leave.
Fortunately, it didn't. (Although I seem to be in the minority in not thinking very much of the play.)
I didn't find the violence in the other McDonagh plays I've seen (Beauty Queen, Lonesome West, and The Pillowman) nearly as disturbing as the second scene of Inishmore. (I also saw The Cripple of Inishmaan, but that wasn't violent at all.)
It's always odd what will upset you. I did once have to leave a show in midperformance. It was Durang's Sex and Longing, and I bet I'm the only person who ever had that reaction to that play. (Although I bet that some people left it for other reasons.) I came back after a few minutes.
Anyway, if it makes you feel any better, I feel your pain.
Eug, Great review and breakdown of the action. The same thing happened to me. We were in the balcony and if I slouched, I missed a portion of the action at the bottom half of the stage, thanks to a light box in the way. I thought I'd have to leave during the same scene and if I had been on an aisle, I definitely would have. When I needed to, I just slid down in my seat and missed the gore toward the end. It is truly amazing how you can have such a biological reaction to what is happening on stage, then become almost desensitized to it and able to laugh about it.
I'm glad you stayed til the end. It's definitely worth the ride!
I found myself covering my eyes at several points, but of course peeking through my fingers to see what was happening! There were so many times where I kept thinking to myself, "I can't believe I'm laughing. This is horrible!" But it was so gross that it was hilarious and you had to laugh! I loved this show and think it's one of the best I've seen!
Oh, I think studentrush was 26.25 and I got to the box office probably 2 hours before the show started and still got center mezzanine seats. But that was over a month ago, so it might have gotten busier...
Thanks everyone for assuring I wasn't the only one in the boat! Haha
Millie, rush tickets are $26.25 and never sold-out (you can easily get them an hour or two pre-show)
Esparzafan, I tried slouching and looking down too, but that only worked for part of Scene 2... then it was the actual words that were getting to me, and I couldn't very well plug my ears. Each time he said "toenail" I imagined getting a pedicure, but that only worked for about 20 seconds!
Smaxie, thanks!
Nobodyhome, what was it about Sex and Longing that turned you off?
WithoutaTrace, I think BDJ left Inishmore several weeks ago. I seem to recall reading someone else's review of the show last month sometime saying that he was alreadey gone (not sure if it was to go straight into DRS rehearsals or if he was going on a bit of a vacation between shows).
But when did New Hampshire become--Such a backward wasteland of seatbelt hating crazies?...I mean, only 40 people actually live there. The others are just visitors who come for the tax-free liquor and three inches of novelty coastline. John Hodgeman on The Daily Show (1-30-07)