Walking Out at Intermission - The Thread — Page 4

MNNiceorIce said: "My feeling is that if you've walked out of a show (just like a movie), I don't feel like you get to comment on the quality of the work. You didn't stay for the whole thing? You don't get to add your $.02. Only those that stick it out get to speak. I've gritted my teeth for plenty of bad productions just to say I made it out alive. The few shows I have checked out of at intermission I've kept quiet about."

If I am leaving a show early, it is due to the quality of work being presented. If the quality of work is bad enough for me to actually leave during intermission, I absolutely get to comment on the poor quality.

I left a university production of Bare in Louisville a couple years ago due to a terrible cast that could not handle the score. The quality of the performances was excruciatingly embarrassing and genuinely uncomfortable to watch. There were fewer than 20 people in the audience, but I had to flee as soon as the lights came up. I drove two hours to see it; I definitely took the time to complain about the quality of the work, and I don't feel bad for it in the slightest.

I left a local production of Joseph due to the addition of horrendously written book scenes that were illegally added to the show. The quality of the scenes written by some local hack made the show unwatchable. I considered notifying Tim Rice or R&H (as they were the performance rights holders at the time).

I've walked out of two Off-Broadway shows at intermission. Most recently was CORNELIA STREET a few months ago. I also walked out SLUT: A MUSICAL a very long time ago (https://www.broadway.com/buzz/94601/altar-boyzs-andy-karl-set-for-off-broadway-tuner-slut/). It was the song about the H.M.S. Donkeyballs that did it for me.

I nearly walked out of Rock of Ages on Broadway because it was too loud.

But usually I feel like if I've made it halfway through a show (or usually more than halfway, as first acts are usually longer than second acts), I can make it to the end.

(I also left Parsifal at the Metropolitan Opera during the first intermission. The first act was 2 hours. It seemed like a good idea when I bought the ticket!)

Updated On: 5/19/23 at 10:25 AM

I have seen a whole lot of shows in my lifetime, but I’ve only walked out of a few. I’m always optimistic that maybe it will get better and not too much sometimes happens.


I’ve only walked out of one Broadway show, the recent revival of Oklahoma! The main reason I wanted to see it was to catch Ali Stroker’s Tony award winning performance. She was out and playing Ado Annie was the dance captain who is clearly cast for her dancing not comedic abilities. The fact that she was nothing like Ali made it even more unappealing.

I did not care for the whole concept and I was exhausted so I left at intermission.

So I saw "Summer, 1976" Friday night. If there had been an intermission, I would have been gone! I found nothing compelling about the friendship presented on stage.

This is a reference to "Wicked", among the many times that I had the opportunity to see the show through the $25 lottery, I was shocked and surprised by the number of people that would leave at intermission, because the show was not "The Wizard of Oz". If any of the people had bothered to read the book (which I did), they would know that the show is about the Wicked Witch of the West, not the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and Corwardly Lion. My shock after reading the book was envisioning a very dark movie, only to read a few months later it was being turned into a musical!...

Updated On: 5/24/23 at 04:27 PM

I have walked out of one show: SpongeBob SquarePants. A friend really wanted to go so three of us got cheap tickets. That theater is a barn and we were in the absolute last row of the mezzanine. Between the balcony overhang and our sheer distance from the stage, I couldn’t see a thing. Couple that with all of the screaming kids in the audience and I was already over it. We got to Plankton’s rap and I couldn’t take anymore. I was on the aisle seat right by the stairs so I quietly slipped out then. Another friend left at intermission. I didn’t love what I saw of the show, but I likely would’ve stuck it out if the seat situation was better.

I wanted to leave Mrs. Doubtfire at intermission but our seats were front row lotto seats and I couldn’t bear the thought of performers coming back from intermission to see two suddenly vacant front row seats, so we stayed.

Just a funny aside: I was at a performance of The Thanksgiving Play and a guy walked out about halfway through. I was in the last row so I heard him say to the usher on his way out, “worst show I’ve ever walked out of.” This really made me laugh because it basically implied that he walks out of many shows but he needed to specify that this one was especially bad.

Updated On: 5/24/23 at 12:38 AM

Should have walked out of

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

The Bodyguard

Ghost

Back To The Future

All of them in London, Back To The Future tops as the worst of all time.

Jmuep2 said: "I walked out of DANCIN’ during act 2. Should’ve left at intermission."

The recent revival? Woah - you missed out. Act Two opened with a bang and I enjoyed it far more than Act One, save for the Rah Rah America segment. Act Two seriously turned the show around for me.

The only show I ever really wanted to walk out of was a one man one act piece designed to show off impression skills the performer/writer did not possess, and there was no way out unless I literally walked onto the stage area - the floor - to get to the exit. So I had to sit there and seethe. Still mad about it to this day.

I keep seeing this thread as "working" out at Intermission I think I need to go more often to the gym. My walkouts are few. "King David" at the New Amsterdam. It was past midnight and the show didn't appear to be ending anytime soon. "Barnum" on tour with Stacy Keach. After he fell off the tightrope 3 times, and then started singing off key I left. And "Falsettos" - local production. The actors had all gotten sick and were singing (croaking) the music down an octave. I left after the first act. And "Falsettos" is a show near and dear to my heart. I should have left after "Violet" the show (although superbly acted) didn't appeal to me musically.

I was at a press night for New York, NY and saw the booker for a major national talkshow walk out at intermission.

OUCH