Walking Out at Intermission - The Thread — Page 4

Tom5 said: "I can't imagine walking out on The Gin Game (colorthehours 048) unless the actors were really the pits. It's a work of art"

It was dull as dirt and kind of sad to watch a legend like James Earl Jones struggle through a show. He was, sadly, no longer capable of carrying a show the way the play demanded.

We couldn't walk out of CAMELOT at intermission fast enough! It's only bway show I've left in my 30 years of attending. (Although, I wanted to leave the play Grace, but there was no intermission, lol)

Not broadway of course, but I walked out of a cover band performance in a theater yesterday. They didn't look OR sound like the band, although they were talented musicians, but I was hoping for a "close your eyes and it sounds like them" experience.


The theater was near a beach and I decided that rather than sit another hour+ during the second act I'd rather get some fresh air at the beach. Actually bumped into one of the performers on my dash to the exit and asked if they would be doing a specific song (kind of depressing song that wasn't a hit), he sighed and told me he loved that song but "not on this show".



I had a great next 75 minutes until I met my wife and friends and her glower again afterwards. I'm too old to waste time on subpar performances, is what I said. Luckily she didn't turn it around on me

I've never walked out of any show (on any level). Personally, the only reasons I'd leave early would be due to a medical emergency or if the material was insulting/offensive to my beliefs - not to say that I don't enjoy challenging things. Aside from wanting to get my money's worth, I want to experience the entire piece before judging it. That's what works for me. The world will continue spinning even if one additional hour of my life is "wasted". Do I ever wish that shows would just come to an end? Many times. I will say the one time I genuinely considered leaving at intermission was during Dreaming Zenzile at NYTW, but I stayed.

I couldn't care less if someone decides to leave, but I cannot stand the folks that make a spectacle of them huffing and puffing, getting up mid-show, the "excuse me excuse me", and then acting as if walking out is a bragging right. I've learned to not use someone else's early departure as a measure for good theatre. In fact, I've even heard of people leaving early during some of my favorite productions. But to each their own.

Almost famous

I haven't walked out, but a few, I really wish I had:

Bronx Tale

Memphis

Devil Wears Prada

I kept waiting for them to get better, and was very optimistic that it would happen in Act 2. It did not. Even Prada seemed like it'd still be fun even if it was terrible, but it wasn't even so bad it's fun to roast.

windowwaving said: "I was thiiiiiiiiis close to leaving New York, New York at intermission.

It just felt like it was vignette after vignette, and wasn’t sure if there was really going to be a plot or if any of these characters would matter in the end. It also felt like they kept teasing the title song to keep reminding you “stick around and you’ll hear it!” I have never contemplated leaving a show at intermission as much as this one.

But I’m glad I stayed. I loved Act II much more than the first. I understand why they went with this direction, but it just feels like it takes too long to get any real movement going (even though there is a LOT of movement on stage) and it could be too late for some audience members."

That's interesting to me because I didn't see much difference between Acts One and Two, and I definitely agree with your description of the scattered nature of the show and occasional teasing of the title song.

But I had decided to see it through and have my "bad musical" experience, so I enjoyed it as much as I could in that way.

I walked out of a torpid community theater production of "Millennium Approaches" after the first act. Most of the audience was friends and family of the cast so everybody LOVED it but the actor playing Prior chose to use a falsetto voice, which one of his friends assured me was not how he spoke as a human being, Anyway, it was best for all concerned if I left.

I left at intermission for "Gatz" by Elevator Repair Service, because I felt like I got what they were doing and it was fine and dandy but I didn't need to see the second half. I had seen enough.

I don't walk out of shows. I was at New York, New York a couple of weeks ago, and I saw people leaving during act two. If you thought the show is bad, why would you hang around for the intermission, see another scene or two and then leave? Generally, aside from an eleven o'clock number, creators put their best stuff into the first act of a show. I have seen few shows where act two was better than act one.

broadfan327 said: "I have seen few shows where act two was better than act one."

You're right, of course. I think one clear exception is Light in the Piazza, where several of the best songs - including the ravishing title song and the finale "Fable" - are in the second act.

I've never left a show during the intermission, but I would if I was tired and the show was dreary. I probably will someday!

Updated On: 5/26/23 at 04:46 PM