People Leaving at Intermission

Today I was at Phantom of the Opera and the 3 older people beside me got up at the end of Act 1 and said “well that was really great!” And left.

Then I remembered bask to Falsettos In my row were 6 ladies all together. They seemed to be enjoying it. Laughed when funny etc etc. But when the first act ended they all left and never came back.

And last year I was at DEH with my friend. The end of Act 1 came and she stood up saying what a great show it was and started collecting her stuff. I told her it was only intermission and she was surprised. She thought it was over.

So I wonder how many really do leave at intermission thinking that was the entire show. There’s no verbal announcements made as to intermission. It’s in the Playbill. But I guess some people don’t read that.

Seems a shame.

I took a friend to see Wicked once who, as act 1 ended, said 'that was really good, but it feels like they left a lot of questions unanswered'. Curious what he was wondering about, i asked him, and when he mentioned a couple of things, i reassured him that they would wrap up those particular loose ends in the second act. He was completely surprised that there was going to be a second act and said that he thought the show had just ended, so i guess he would have left if i hadn't been there with him.

Updated On: 11/17/17 at 01:46 AM

People NORMALLY leave at intermission if they have not enjoyed the show, and people have said somewhere on these boards that a lot of people were leaving Groundhog Day because they felt it wasn't as true to the movie.

I can imagine leaving if I'm not enjoying....but I don't understand leaving because you "thought" it was over. I can't believe there are that many people that are that unaware.

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Well, maybe if they’ve never been exposed to any theatre (or only one-act theatre??), they could think that it’s over? House lights are up, people are moving around...

Of course, this means that they didn’t crack open the program and see the song list- which is strange, because you’d think they would if they’ve just been handed something unknown. Maybe they thought it was all ads?

Personally, I don’t understand it. I would think that the concept of bows at the end would transcend to the general public.

Oh well, at least the ladies at Falsettos got a full story...

I was at Sweeney Todd Wednesday night and the couple next to me didn’t return for the second act. They made an announcement at the beginning that everyone would need to leave the room at intermission but that couple may have arrived later and not heard? And they give out programs after the show so it’s not like they could’ve looked and read there are two acts. In any case, their absence was glaring as they were right up front in one of the prime spots.

Irishgator1 wrote: "I was at Sweeney Todd Wednesday night and the couple next to me didn’t return for the second act. They made an announcement at the beginning that everyone would need to leave the room at intermission but that couple may have arrived later and not heard?"



It could be that they just didn't like it. (And if so, I can't say I blame them).

I saw the original Broadway production in previews. Streams of people were walking out DURING the performance. I had never witnessed anything like that before, but had no trouble undestanding their feelings.

My mom and her friend went to their first broadway show together years ago to see Les Mis. When she got home I asked her how it went and why she was home so early. She didn't realize there was an intermission. I couldn't stop laughing, and neither could she lol My mom and her friend ended up going back to watch the FULL show and thoroughly enjoyed it. I can see why some people who aren't familiar with theater can naively believe the show is over. If you're new to something and you see everyone stand up, I think its not totally absurd to assume everyone's leaving.

I have known people who have left the theatre after the second act of a three act play, thinking it was over. Not to strange that mistake I guess.

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SarahNYC2 said: "The only show I ever considered leaving was in 2008 Sunday in the Park with George and that was only because I went into labor. But my labor was so early I figured I might as well stay. I stayed enjoyed the show, went out to dinner and my daughter was born the next morning. I am glad I stayed!"

Finishing the crown!

I've never understood this either. Everyone knows that the show is over when the actors take their bow. Intermissions are common in non-Western theatrical traditions and they used to be common in all movies as well (and still are in some countries, mainly India). It's not an American thing.

Does anyone remember the awful Roundabout revival of The Threepenny Opera that didn't have a curtain call? People stayed in their seats for a really long time clapping. It caused major confusion.

From my former job as a house manager, I can tell you that a lot of the time people leaving at intermission didn't like the show and don't want to stay for the second half. This often includes people who "don't realize" there's a second half and are just trying to be polite/find an excuse.

Vespertine1228 said: " Everyone knows that the show is over when the actors take their bow. "

I think this thread just proved that this statement is far from true.

On a side note, just because someone didn’t return to their seat after intermission doesn’t mean that they left, often times people change seats at intermission... so there’s that as well.

I am sorry I have no sympathy, if you leave a show at intermission because you think it's over, you are an idiot. Even "Into The Woods". Especially people over 50, You made it to 50 and never went to a show, high school, or later (I know there are some people but the percentage is insignificant).

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