Walking out of a show....

[jbm2]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:27am

Have you ever walked out of a show in the middle of a performance?
I was @ a show tonight and about 10 people walked out, I was shocked... how rude.

[Eos]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:38am

Did it tonight -- but only cause I had to pee like a race horse...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:43am

While actors were on stage? Never. At intermission though I've left quite a few. If I'm not enjoying it, why would I stay?

[jbm2]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:45am

agreed.... have left at intermission.
but to walk out in the middle of a show while actors were on stage... I was shocked.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:48am

What show were you at?

[jbm2]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:50am

Million $ Quartet

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:51am

I saw lots of people leaving Book of Mormon during Sal Tlay Ka Siti, presumably because it's a very dimly-lit scene.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 3:24am

A few people walked out in the middle of Desperate Writers when I saw it the other night. I kind of envied them and would have followed if I were not stuck in the middle of the row. One couple who walked out were sitting right in front of me and moved to an empty pair of aisle seats right before the show started. I'm guessing somebody tipped them off to what was going to happen onstage.

I don't generally advocate walking out in the middle of a show, but if a writer/director/producer/whoever decides to not include an intermission then they better be prepared for that to happen.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 4:30am

When I saw Nine a group of old women left after Be Italian because they could not believe child molestation was allowed onstage. Yes, those were their exact words.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 7:59am

I've left during intermission, but never with actors on stage. While I can't imagine ever doing so, I suppose if I were highly offended, maybe I would -- but it would take a lot for ME to be that offended.

I think being 'bored' or simply disliking a show is not enough to leave while the show is being performed, but I could understand leaving if you are truly offended by the material.

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 11:05am

The biggest exodus I ever saw was during Top Girls, which was unfortunate, because it turned out to be one of my favorite productions of that season. More than half of the mezzanine emptied out during the first act. I think I was the only person left in my row by the end.

Jerusalem had some obnoxious walkouts the other night. The lady sitting next to me lasted all of 20 minutes. She was coughing badly, so perhaps she did it out of courtesy, but the first thing she did after she sat down was take her phone and go to one of the outlets near the bottom of the mezz and plug in her charger, so...a wash as far as etiquette is concerned. The couple behind me left about 10 minutes before the first intermission after discussing out loud whether they should stay. (They couldn't wait 10 more minutes?)

[Kad]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 11:25am

The only time I've seen walkouts during the performance was the recent revival of Waiting for Godot.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 11:25am

Stones In My Pocket
Copenhagan - Guy next to us was still there sleeping & snoring away. We were not the only ones who left. BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 11:48am

I think walking out during a performance is incredibly offensive and distracting. Just because you do not like a material doesn't mean you should walk out while actors are performing in a show they didn't write and while other audience members are attempting to enjoy it. If you can't wait at most an hour until intermission once you realize you hate it, perhaps you shouldn't be in the theatre to begin with. Agreed -leaving during intermission is completely different and certainly understandable/acceptable.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:03pm

I remember people leaving that excellent production of TOP GIRLS as well, which I never understood.

Recently I saw quite a few people leave during A MINISTERS WIFE. After they woke up, of course.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:12pm

I vowed I would never walk out of a show that I paid for, but that came to an end when I HAD to leave at the intermission of the YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN tour. That was the most painful thing I have ever endured.

Id never walk out during an act unless it was an emergency.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:14pm

Recently at Arcadia: five people in my row left at intermission. And two separate couples left during the end of act two (there was at least 20 minutes left). Updated On: 6/4/11 at 12:14 PM

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:32pm

I can't fathom ever being so bored or offended by a show that I would walk out.

[Actor2]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:48pm

Having not seen the production, and in agreement that it's tacky to leave during a show, I don't blame people for leaving Top Girls. I think it's a bad script.

[Brick]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:49pm

Again, never with an actor on stage, but many, many times at Intermission.

Sometimes it's because I can't bear the thought of having to sit through a standing ovation, which every show now receives; other times, my guest and I will be chatting during Intermission and realize we've had a better time in those 15 minutes than we've had the previous hour...

[charlesjguiteau]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:51pm

bwaylvsong-- obviously you never attended a performance of Democracy with Richard Thomas. Good God, it was all we could do to stay till intermission. Don't know why we thought it would get better in Act II, but 10 minutes into the act we had to make a beeline for the exit.

Also, a more apologetic confession-- we left after Act II of August Osage County. Sorry to say we just couldn't care another minute about those cold loveless people. Yeah, yeah, we've heard how Act III really makes it all worth the journey. Our loss.

[thismyshow]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:57pm

saw a good chunk of people leave at the intermission of House of Blue Leaves when I saw the show last week

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:00pm

No, I didn't- if I don't think I'm gonna like a show, I don't see it in the first place.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:03pm

The ushers at Next To Normal said a good 20-30 people left, often crying or sobbing at the end of Act One and next came back for Act 2. They said this happened most every performance.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:07pm

I've only walked out of a truly dreadful regional production of The Man of La Mancha, and waited until intermission to do so. Any other time was when I was only because I was desperate to pee.