Posted: 4/12/17 at 6:53pm
At the last three shows I've seen, (Phantom, Book of Mormon, Sunset Boulevard) they haven't done the flashing of the house lights a few minutes before intermission ends. If I remember correctly this used to always be done? Has this happened to anyone else?
Posted: 4/12/17 at 7:59pm
House lights - no
Lobby lights - maybe
Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:06pm
Sometimes there's a tone that plays.
Posted: 4/13/17 at 8:14am
War Paint does it, and it freaked me out.
Posted: 4/13/17 at 8:33am
I was at "War Paint" yesterday afternoon and noticed the practice, for the first time in years. It was startling, but it does the job. Getting everyone seated was a Herculean task. It seemed impossible to get the butts in the seats by 2. It was a rainy weekday in NYC, always a mess. The show started only a little late, and they didn't lengthen the intermission unduly, using the lights flashing again, several times.
Posted: 4/13/17 at 8:45am
bjh2114 said: "War Paint does it, and it freaked me out."
An elderly gentleman almost fell down the mezz because of the sudden flash when I saw it.
Updated On: 4/13/17 at 08:45 AM
Posted: 4/13/17 at 10:00am
When we saw Les Mis in London a couple of years ago, we spent intermission in the Mezzanine bar, which was really lovely, but a separate room rather than a bar placed in an open common area. Apparently, they play some sort of sound or recording of a voice through speakers in the bar, but it was so crowded, NOBODY in the bar heard it. An usher ran into the bar and announced the second act had ALREADY STARTED. About 50 of us had to rush in and climb over people to get to our seats in the dark. It was a mess. If anything needs the flashing lights, it's that bar. Any of those theatres with basement bars should use them as well.
Posted: 4/13/17 at 10:10am
I know that Groundhog Day has a chime.
Posted: 4/13/17 at 10:20am
The chimes are still common on the West End, and I've noticed that a lot of imported shows from London bring the practice with them.
At Sweat this past weekend, two ushers standing the back on the orchestra were announcing how much longer was left ("Please start returning to your seats--Act Two will begin in 5 minutes"
.
Posted: 4/13/17 at 10:47am
Well I completely misinterpreted the thread title and thought OP meant that the practice of 'signalling the intermission' was ending soon. As in currently they flash house lights a couple of minutes before the intermission to let audiences know the intermission is shortly due, but that was going to stop. haha.
Had to re-read the first few comments to realise whats actually mean is signals during the intermission to indicate the second act is about to begin.
Lots of 5 minutes and 2 minutes bells used across London and the UK. You will also notice this happen before the show.
