Matinee vs Evening

[Ghostfan2]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:10pm

I remember seeing Miss Saigon years ago on a Wednesday afternoon. I didn't enjoy it as much as the 8pm show.

Do you think there's a big difference in performances? It seems like 2pm shows aren't as exciting to me, but that's just my opinion.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:30pm

Well a lot Wednesday matinees seem to bring out all the old people.

Updated On: 6/27/12 at 10:30 PM

[Ghostfan2]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:33pm

Yes very true

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:34pm

Personally I enjoy ending the evening with an event, so I go to the evening shows. I feel restless after a matinee unless I have something as exciting to do afterward.

The performance itself, though, shouldn't differ so much whether it's an afternoon or evening performance; that would be unprofessional. Perhaps, though, you can sense that the actors are happy that they can go home or on a hot date after the evening performance.

[Ghostfan2]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:36pm

I saw ghost at 7pm last night, I liked getting home at a reasonable hour.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:38pm

I'm going to plan a hot date after I see Ghost again.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:38pm

I prefer to go to the theater in the evening -- but that's only because of what else I'll do during the day. As far as the show itself? Once the lights go down, it nary makes a difference.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:39pm

I also am a huge fan of 7pm shows mainly because of the public transportation I have to use to get home. I try to avoid 8pm shows if I can.

I haven't noticed much difference in the performances during a matinee compared to an evening show though.

[Ghostfan2]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:41pm

I prefer evening shows as well. I'm taking my mom and aunt to see Ghost in July, but it's at 2pm.

I have my mom hooked on the CD.

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:57pm

I prefer evening shows, but I prefer seeing shows on Tuesdays because they usually have 7PM performances. But I prefer 8PM shows to the 2PM.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:18pm

For me it is psychological. I get depressed when I leave a show and the sun is still shining for some reason.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:20pm

Sunday night is my favorite time to see shows.

[Ghostfan2]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:47pm

Has anyone ever been to a 2pm and 8pm show in the same day?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:52pm

I prefer evening shows, or movies too. I guess it's just easier for me to focus on something when I've dealt with all the day's stuff, and it gives me something to focus on. Plus, afterwards I'd rather go out for drinks and discuss the show, or something.

But as everyone else seems to be saying, it doesn't really matter--when I was a teen I used to make day trips to Vancouver or Seattle to see touring shows at matinee and take the ferry back to Victoria after simply as that was the most affordable--or when I was last in London and tried to cram in as much theatre as possible, I tried to see two shows a day as often as possible.

(So yeah, Ghostfan, I think you'll see a lot of people here have seen a 2pm and an 8pm show on the same day).

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:55pm

I've done a 2pm and 8pm show in the same day a few times but since I live in the area I'd rather just see 1 show in a day. I find that 2 shows in a day is just a bit too much sometimes. Especially if both shows end up not being very good.

[Ghostfan2]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 12:05am

I live about 1 hour from NYC, so I try to see shows frequently

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 12:06am

I perfer Evening performances, just because I've always found the theatre to be a magical night thing I love the buzz that it brings, but Matinees have been just fine.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 12:12am

I have seen two shows in one day a few times...
-A college production of West Side Story in the afternoon and Lion King in the evening
-The Wedding Singer twice in one day
-Billy Elliott in the afternoon and Jersey Boys in the evening
-Priscilla in the afternoon and Anything Goes in the evening

[Griffin2]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 12:58am

I've seen two shows in one day and it's been enjoyable except for the day we saw August Osage early and White Christmas at night. Bad planning.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 1:12am

I actually Think is a difference.I think it depends on the performer.I usually try to see evening performances because i feel thats when EVERYONE is there.Matinees are usually not as buisy as evening shows.

It also depends on the Audience. I think if the audience is really into it,than the actor will be really into it.You can just feel that energy in the theatre,where as if the audience isnt into it as much than its harder for the performer to get through the show.

In My opinion the Broadway Performer should give 100 percent each performance cause its there job to be invested in there scene or song but that sometimes is not always the case.

I think it depends on a role also. There are some roles that are extremely hard to do twice in one day ( emotionally).

for example: Dianna in Next To Normal. It has to be exhausting to give that emotional,raw, and numb performance twice in one day,so its possible some actors have to split there energy in half.

Example: when i saw Beauty and The Beast in chicago. I was at both Performances in one day.At the Matinee the audience was so dead and the cogsworth was SOO DEAD.He honestly looked so bored through that whole show,he wasnt interesting and didnt do much with the character.

But at the evening show the audience was electric!! they literally did a standing ovation after every other song ( god knows why) but anyways,the audience was so into it and the cogsworth ( same guy from the matinee) was FREEKING amazing! He actually got more laughs than lumiere ( who got tons of laughs that night).

So i was really confused.What made the actor change? was one of his fmaily members in the audience? was it the crowd? who knows. Of course im not saying every broadway performer does this,this was just an example i witnessed.

One of mY cirque du soleil buddies does the power track act in la nouba in disney and he has told me that he always performs his higher tricks at the 2nd show ( they perform twice every night)while he does easier but still impressive tricks for the 1st show to save his energy. So i think it depends on the part and the person. thoughts?

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 12:53pm

A few times and it is fun. We have tried to make it two different type of shows like one a musical and another a play.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 12:55pm

Other people on this board would know better than me but I think there is a greater chance of seeing a understudy at a matinee.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 2:07pm

I think audiences are more antsy and less engaged at matinees. It's midday, so everyone is wide awake, the sun is shining outside, and they have to go sit in a dark, cool room for 2 hours. At evening shows, it's after a long day so people are more content to relax and sit quietly.

Updated On: 6/28/12 at 02:07 PM

[ActingDude172]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 2:11pm

I have seen many shows at the Broadway level and otherwise. The quality of performance I have seen at many matinees has led me to have little reservation in attending a day performance. A singular example is the Wednesday matinee of War Horse I saw this spring. It was absolutely breathtaking. I saw How to Succeed later that night and absolutely despised it. However, that has a lot to do with the inherent quality of the shows themselves and not necessarily the performances. The point still stands.

As a performer myself I always try to give my best performance at every show. The matinee audience deserves the effort I give the night audience and nothing less.

As far as understudies go, I've gotten them at night performances and had full cast for matinees. It really depends on what the performers are going through offstage.