Would anybody recommend onstage seats for Our Town?

[April Saul]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 6:33pm

Just wondering if these would be good, or if I should use the discount code...they're a bit more expensive but if the play's that wonderful....

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 7:56pm

They're not technically on stage. That is, there is no stage.

The Barrow Street has been redesigned for this production; the seating area now faces the mezzanine, as opposed to the mezzanine facing the stage. Therefore, the stage is under the mezzanine.

But the stage is not on a raised platform, nor is it really a stage as the actors make use of the entire theater.

So really, the "on stage" seats are just a few inches closer to the action than, say, row A, where I was.

Also, I recommend sitting in that direction, anyway, as if you're seated center, you force proscenium on a show that definitely have proscenium forced upon it.

That makes no sense. I totally apologize.

[April Saul]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 8:44pm

Hey Yankee, you're right, now I am more confused! Are you saying it's better to sit facing the stage dead-on, than to be on the stage or either side?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 8:50pm

I'd sit on either side if you want the "full experience." Granted, depending where you sit, some aspects may be blocked. But that's the beauty of the show. I was sitting in Row A, seat 304; bought it thinking it was the center, and it ended up being the side.

Sitting head on has it's pluses, as well, though. But for a show like this, you don't want to seem like you're in a proscenium theater. At least, I didn't.

[April Saul]

Posted: 2/23/09 at 9:10pm

Thanks Yankee, I totally get what you're saying now. Interestingly, at Uncle Vanya, I was happier when I sat on the side for the first act than when I moved to the center and looked at it head-on. Even though people complained about not seeing things fully, somehow it was more interesting and worked better from a different vantage point...

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 10:39am

I'm thinking of getting tickets for "Our Town" but was wondering the same thing. I like to sit as close as possible, but I don't know if these "on stage" seats are any good. Any suggestions?

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 11:09am

This production is terrific. Get a seat anywhere you can. I had one of the "on-stage" seats and it was just fine. There is action happening all around and the space is relatively small, not really a bad seat anywhere.

A truly great production of an American classic.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 11:32am

Yeah, I'd say just get in the theater! It's better to be farther back - as in - on the opposite side of the theater than the stage as there is some action in the mezz that's hard to see if you're seated on the sides.

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 12:43pm

would you guys say i should wait for Cromer to come back or give Parkinson a chance? i've never seen either of them before so i wouldn't know.

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 1:57pm

Does anyone know the exact date that Cromer is returning?

[Sauja]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 4:27pm

I loved David Cromer in this, but more so than most shows, the wonder of this is really the production more so than any specific performance. And I also have to say, the "on stage" seats are a good deal. You might have some strange sight lines on certain things or almost feel "too" close, but I'd say there isn't a bad seat in the house.

[homosezwhat]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 7:55pm

Just saw it Saturday night and I, too, was worried about missing out on that Cromer magic. But, Parkinson was damn fine. I can't imagine Cromer is significantly better. Although I liked it enough to see it again when Cromer returns.

Sauja is right. the production really is the star.

And I think sitting in the onstage seats would be slightly less awesome during the few moments when someone is running behind you and you miss their facial expression and a bunch more awesome during the wedding and the graveyard scenes.

(my only concern with onstage seating is that everyone opposite me would get to see me crying during the ice cream shop scene and whenever the choir sang and during Emily's wedding monologue and Pa Gibbs' speech to George about his mother not being the hired help that they don't even like very much, and Mrs. Soames' monologue and some of the stage manager's more profound moments.)