Have you ever walked out of a show?

[TimWright]

Posted: 3/7/18 at 10:18am

Picture it- the show is achingly bad, you've managed to get through to the interval. Do you flee and save yourself the pain or do you stick it out in hope it gets better?

It's a tough decision when you've already paid your money...

Would you walk? If so, what shows have you given up on?

[Musical-Matt]

Posted: 3/7/18 at 5:38pm

In my 15 years of theatre I have always tried to be open in regards to most musicals........but I have to say I have walked out of 3 shows......and one of those was not Stephen ward (had I not paid for my ticket Id have left.......)

 

1. Desperatley Seeking Susan....... I was seeking the exit in the interval.....it was too loud and not very good......didnt pay for the ticket so didnt feel bad!

2. Kismet at the ENO.........again didnt pay for the ticket but the show for me did not make any sense and looked bad.....I wanted to stay knowing the cast was Michael Ball, Alfie Boe and Faith Prince but it was not enough!

3. Bombay Dreams.........Now this i did pay for but it just wasnt for me! 

 

Shows that have flopped that I'm sure people may have walked out on I can say I actually enjoyed...Man in the iron mask. Far Pavilions, Daddy Cool. I have always been a firm believer in that if you have paid for the ticket you should stay and if you don't enjoy the show well you didn't enjoy it. I have brought tickets not sure if I am going to enjoy the show and then do (The woman in white for example) Personally its personal preference but I am always a firm believer in sticking it out to the end (but those 3 I stated were Utterly dreadful!)

[TimWright]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 4:43am

I'm always torn- I agree in trying to stick it out but hey, if you're not enjoying something, why put yourself through it? 

I walked out of a Noel Coward play with Penelope Keith after the first act because I just found it so slow and ponderous. Most recently though i wanted to leave Medea at the Bristol Old Vic at the interval, sadly I was reviewing so had to stay. Truly awful. 

DADDY COOL. I forget about that one!

[nataliealana]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 5:27am

I don't think I've done it with a live show but NT Live I'm unstoppable. I'm forever walking out of those.

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 9:59am

The closest I ever came to walking out of a show was Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. When the lights came up at the interval, my husband and I debated leaving but we decided to stick it out. In hindsight, I'm glad we did because it was one for the history books ( "I saw the biggest financial flop in Broadway history" ). Over the years, I've wondered how our experience might have been different (better?) had we seen version 1.0 (Julie Taymor's Greek myth concept/direction) rather than version 2.0 (Philip William McKinley's much more literal, theme park-style show). The opening "Myth of Arachne/Behold and Wonder" sequence was pure Julie Taymor and was easily the strongest part of the show; the rest of version 2.0 felt cobbled onto that opening like some Frankenstein's monster mashup.

Updated On: 3/8/18 at 09:59 AM

[Pernigraniline]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 4:00pm

I walked out of West Side Story (anniversary European tour) at the interval - the accents were hilariously bad, and I couldn't stop giggling. I just couldn't believe it when these dance school actors from the Home Counties were coming out with caricatures of "Soit'nly" New Yoik accents. 

I also walked out of an RSC production of "Much Ado About Nothing" which was set in India, as I could't understand the accents and hadn't a clue what was going on.

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 7:25am

Hated The Play That Goes Wrong- and me and my brother left after 15 minutes.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 8:19pm

If I'm not enjoying a show by intermission, I feel it's best to cut my losses and leave regardless of the cost of the ticket. Why torture yourself if you're not having a good time?

[TimWright]

Posted: 3/14/18 at 6:22am

BWAY Baby2 said: "Hated The Play That Goes Wrong- and me and my brother left after 15 minutes."

Oh really? What didn't you like about it? I thought it was pretty good for what it is :) 

[TimWright]

Posted: 3/14/18 at 6:22am

Demitri2 said: "If I'm not enjoying a show by intermission, I feel it's best to cut my losses and leave regardlessof the cost of the ticket. Why torture yourself if you're not having a good time?"

I agree- life is too short to spend torturing yourself! 

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 6:47am

I thought Play That Goes Wrong was stupid- and I got very bored watching it- it was not at all funny, witty or in any way engrossing- that is my opinion- and my brother shared it- we got out after 15 minutes- I wanted to leave after 10 but my brother wanted to continue to give it a chance- 5 more minutes and we were out of there - thankfully.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 5/1/18 at 12:28am

I walked out of TRIUMPH OF LOVE at intermission so I could second act the original SIDE SHOW a few blocks away. It was great because I had seen it the week before and both Ripley and Skinner were out but not this time. 

[BWF]

Posted: 6/3/18 at 9:54am

Not London but one at Bristol years ago Guy's 'n' Dolls with Lulu. I'd seen a revival a few years earlier with Julia McKenzie, Paul Jones and Stubby Kaye a few years earlier and loved it.

Two in Cardiff in the last few years ...

Fiddler on the Roof with Paul Michael Glacer and La Cage with that chappie who used to be in East Enders.

Life just isn't long enough. 

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:44pm

Never walked out yet - partly because I’m always optimistic that there will be something to enjoy, whether it’s a particular cast member, or the orchestra or something; and partly because, if I’m in London I have a specific train booked back to the West Country and even the very worst show is better than sitting in Paddington for over two hours!

Though Gone with the Wind really tested that theory...

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:59pm

Pernigraniline said: "I walked out of West Side Story (anniversary European tour)at the interval - the accents were hilariously bad, and I couldn't stop giggling. I just couldn't believe it when these dance school actors from the Home Counties were coming out with caricatures of "Soit'nly" New Yoik accents.

I also walked out of an RSC production of "Much Ado About Nothing" which was set in India, as I could't understand the accents and hadn't a clue what was going on."

That West side Story was terrible I felt the same.

i often get the urge but force myself to sit though it.

i’ve stopped seeing Bill Kenwright productions and that has helpes

 

[neurasthenia]

Posted: 6/8/18 at 7:10am

Yup - Spring Awakening at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington. What I didn't realise was that it was a 48 hour production - a company whose schtick is rehearsing and staging their shows in a 48 hour time limit. So none of the cast could remember their lines and it was awful. Funny, that. My friend and I walked out at the interval.

[Browneyes142]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 10:06pm

I did not leave, but when I saw Travesties, about 30% of the audience left. I really wish they had stayed though. All the payoffs are in the 2nd half.

[kp]

Posted: 7/28/18 at 6:06pm

BWF said: "Not London but one at Bristol years ago Guy's 'n'Dolls with Lulu. I'dseena revival a few years earlier with Julia McKenzie, Paul Jones and Stubby Kaye a few years earlier and loved it.

Think you might mean David Healy in Guys And Dolls with Paul Jones and Julia MaKenziw, which was the at The National. Stubby Kaye was in the original London production in the 50’s. The production at Bristol was the tour of The National version. Same production,different cast. Actually I thought Lulu was pretty good as was Clarke Peters. David Healy played Nicely in the tour I believe.

[smezme]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 3:01am

The closest I ever came was Too Close To The Sun. But I was expecting it to be bad and I enjoy Helen Dallimore and wanted to see it through.
It really was an appaulling show.
I stage doored at the end - I was younger, with more guts - and the cast were so delighted to see anyone at the stage doored they all stopped and chatted to me for a bit. I congratulated them on doing their best with what we all agreed was a difficult script!

[BWF]

Posted: 11/25/18 at 7:41am

Deleted ...

 

 

Updated On: 11/25/18 at 07:41 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/27/18 at 8:54pm

I walked out of In a Forest Dark and Deep about 20 minutes into the show. Painfully bad and predictable.

[9Mirrors]

Posted: 11/28/18 at 10:54am

There's been a fair few I've felt like leaving mid act but because where sat couldn't or with friends. 1st incarnation of Bad Girls The Musical (with Lily Savage) has to go down as the worst ever. First preview and cast clearly didn't;t know songs, script or dance routines. 

Only two show ever left at an interval 

1. Morning Becomes Electra with Glenda Jackson at Citizen's Theatre in Glasgow - bored immediately and had 4 acts - suffered until end of Act 2.  

2. My Big Gay Italian Wedding at Greenwich. Admittedly only paid £10.00 for a ticket, but absolutely dire. Went thinking it'd be light hearted and a laugh, noticeable number of audience left under the pretence of going for a smoke, decamping to the pub next door, only to be mortified that the cast showed up later! Think he first act despite only 50 minutes long felt the longest test of endurance I've ever faced in the theatre. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/30/18 at 7:26pm

Not a lot.  Wished I had left more.

Two stinkers in the 70s: Jimmy and Dr. Jazz, both among the top 5 worst musicals I have ever seen, both at the Winter Garden.  I have seen many musical stinkers, e.g., Marilyn, The Yearling, Copperfield, Flashdance (clearly not in NYC), but these were the worst.

No Man's Land with Gielgud and Richardson...on opening night.  I was in the second balcony on the aisle, so I did not disturb anyone who was enjoying Pinter, whose plays I have discovered that I HATE (at least every single one that I have seen).

Out of town tryout of Josephine in Sarasota two years ago.  Embarrassingly amateurish in all respects.

Assassins at Studio 54.  I was not offended by it...I am pretty sure that I was just not in the mood.  I had also committed a sin for me...I did not listen to the cast recording first; I have always found that I enjoy Sondheim more when I am familiar with the score.  I have since listened to the score and don't think I would like any production.  It is just too something for me.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 12/15/18 at 6:16am

Far too many to remember.

I chose the show, paid for the ticket,[ always an aisle or side end seat so can leave without disturbing others]and always go alone. Have no regrets about the $s.so that would never make me hang on in there.

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/26/18 at 11:07pm

I have seen over 100 shows on Broadway and probably about 10 on the West End and have never walked out on any show. I have never seen anything that incredibly bad to make me leave a show early.