When Is The Last Time You Walked Out Of A Performance?

[JohnS]

Interesting to see the Multiverse/Carbon Life comparisons. I must say I found Carbon Life decidedly grim and doubt very much if I’d see it again. Fortunately when I saw Multiverse the volume had been turned down. I still recall the Multiverse Insight, with Steven McRae and Paul Kay astonishing in the ‘It’s Gonna Rain’ section. The Insight is on You Tube and I think well worth seeing. At least in looking at that section via You Tube, you can control the volume. It’s at 1:07 once Wayne McGregor finds the right track. I doubt if it will pull in many viewers but just to say it’s Steve Reich’s birthday today - born in 1936.

 

 

[Bruce Wall]

Although I didn't leave - and loved the spectacle in part - the majority of the audience did.  This was 1988 (I know, I know - a different world) and at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC - and it was the Paris Opera Ballet - featuring a very young Guillem.  It was 'Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien' and, of course, Robert Wilson.  The well heeled audience - was - in its majority - felled in the first act.  Looking over those luxurious banisters at the cusp of the first interval one could see the Met's main portals swinging mightily.  Some doyens were even running in their desperation to escape.  The anguish was visceral.  

 

 

[fromthebalcony]

Interesting conversation. I have never walked out of a ballet, with one exception. I left ahead of time, knowing what was coming. It was Jiří Kylián's Bella Figura. I just don't like the idea of nudity in ballet. Call me a prude, or whatever, but I did not want to see that on stage. I have heard the ballet is beautiful, but I cannot bring myself to watch it. 

[maryrosesatonapin]

10 hours ago, Bruce Wall said:

 Looking over those luxurious banisters at the cusp of the first interval one could see the Met's main portals swinging mightily.  Some doyens were even running in their desperation to escape.  The anguish was visceral.  

 

 

What a brilliant image   Thanks, Bruce Wall!  Ha ha.

[maryrosesatonapin]

I once left a Paris Opera Ballet performance not because it was bad - I'm sure it was near perfect in fact - but I simply couldn't see anything.  The people in front of me were huge, with huge hair and huge wide high shoulders.  I stretched and strained and reluctantly retired,

[Pas de Quatre]

So far I have never walked out of a ballet.  Other types of performance yes. Many years ago a group of girlfriends and I went to see Marcel Marceau in one of his last tours. It was painfully, embarassingly awful. At the interval we decided not to go back in for the second half.  Around the same time I was taken to see the Japanese film Empire of the Senses, supposedly an arthouse film.  I only lasted a couple of minutes, it is a horrendous violent pornographic film which shouldn't be in main stream culture. The usher told me there were audience members rushing out and fainting or being sick in the foyer. I could well believe it. Finally, my last exit a few years ago was from the Australian Pink Floyd. Dark Side of the Moon is one of my cherished albums - they mangled it so badly it was painful!

[LinMM]

I’ve seen a film called Empire of the Sun which was quite good! Not heard of Empire of the Senses! I wonder if a few people went to the wrong film by mistake 🤔 

[Pas de Quatre]

40 minutes ago, LinMM said:

I wonder if a few people went to the wrong film by mistake

No, the Empire of the Senses predated Empire of the Sun by quite a few years.  It may not even have been on general release in UK. I saw it when I was working in Europe,  although it has been shown from time to time in UK in a few cinemas.

[Fonty]

My other half has just reminded me of one of the rare occasions we walked out of something.  It was a film, starring Sylvester Stallone.  I enjoy his action movies, but he was trying to do a comedy.  It was appalling, truly terrible.  I can't remember the name of it, fortunately.

[Sharon]

On 01/10/2021 at 19:05, Meetmeatthebarre said:

Except for mid-performance emergencies or where I've planned in advance not to see part of a triple bill, only one: the Tristan & Isolde staging at the ROH which left half the auditorium only able to see a white box. Though I would have walked out of McGregor's Entity at Sadlers Wells, had it not bored me so much that I fell asleep despite the deafening music. 

I can't actually remember walking out on a dance performance,  although I've been very tempted  -  & really just worried that I would start laughing  (Medusa springs to mind), which would not be nice.

But I remember  - being stuck in the middle of a row, during a performance of Tristan & Isolde. It was truly boring! And because I was hemmed in,  and also because I'd been given the ticket by an orchestra member,  I remained.  And slept 😴 Did I mention how boring it was, not to mention long....🙄🙄🙄

[Sim]

On 05/10/2021 at 08:26, LinMM said:

I’ve seen a film called Empire of the Sun which was quite good! Not heard of Empire of the Senses! I wonder if a few people went to the wrong film by mistake 🤔 

The funniest example of that for me was the story my hubby told of his parents.  They  went to the cinema and were watching Midnight Express.  About halfway through, as horrible things were happening in a Turkish jail, his mum nudged his dad hard in the ribs and asked "so when's Peter Ustinov coming on?"  They should have been at a showing of Murder on the Orient Express!!  Needless to say, hubby's dad was blamed!! 

[Borzoi]

Well, I don't usually post but must chime in on this! I have a good friend (since elementary school!) that is as passionate about ballet as I am. We have attended many, many performances together and, traditionally, will go out for a bite afterwards and discuss the performance.  On this particular Saturday night we were supposed to see the Miami City Ballet and I cannot remember what they were performing (undoubtedly something Balanchine). I was very tired from working all week, but took a long, hot shower and got into my theatre clothes. She was supposed to pick me up and did arrive in plenty of time so we did not have to rush. I got in her car and we sat back, looked at each other, and sighed. "You up for this?" she asked, wearily. 

"You just want to get something to eat?" I said.

Her face lit up. "Yes! Let's get a burger!"

We went to a nearby restaurant that had great hamburgers, then she said, "You need something from Publix?" That is a local grocery store chain in the same parking lot as the restaurant. So, there we were, on a Saturday night, dressed in black glitter, doing our grocery shopping. I remember spending an obscene amount of time smelling the different soaps on the bath aisle. I am sure the performance we missed was stellar, but sometimes fatigue just gets in the way.  I can honestly say that is the only time I have ever intentionally missed a performance. I do crack up every time I think about that night.. 🤣

[bridiem]

1 hour ago, Borzoi said:

Well, I don't usually post but must chime in on this! I have a good friend (since elementary school!) that is as passionate about ballet as I am. We have attended many, many performances together and, traditionally, will go out for a bite afterwards and discuss the performance.  On this particular Saturday night we were supposed to see the Miami City Ballet and I cannot remember what they were performing (undoubtedly something Balanchine). I was very tired from working all week, but took a long, hot shower and got into my theatre clothes. She was supposed to pick me up and did arrive in plenty of time so we did not have to rush. I got in her car and we sat back, looked at each other, and sighed. "You up for this?" she asked, wearily. 

"You just want to get something to eat?" I said.

Her face lit up. "Yes! Let's get a burger!"

We went to a nearby restaurant that had great hamburgers, then she said, "You need something from Publix?" That is a local grocery store chain in the same parking lot as the restaurant. So, there we were, on a Saturday night, dressed in black glitter, doing our grocery shopping. I remember spending an obscene amount of time smelling the different soaps on the bath aisle. I am sure the performance we missed was stellar, but sometimes fatigue just gets in the way.  I can honestly say that is the only time I have ever intentionally missed a performance. I do crack up every time I think about that night.. 🤣

 

That's so funny, Borzoi! But I do understand - even if you really love ballet, there are times when it does take a real effort to go through the whole palava of getting to a performance and getting home afterwards and etc. There have been a few occasions on which I've chickened out; but when I force myself to go, I'm almost always very glad in the end that I did. 

 

Having said that, I now remember a performance by Houston Ballet many years ago at Sadler's Wells - it was Peer Gynt. I'd been very tired and quite reluctant to go, but I did force myself, and I thought it was just awful. It was when some large artificial camels came prancing on that I drew the line and made for the exit. 

[Borzoi]

30 minutes ago, bridiem said:

 

That's so funny, Borzoi! But I do understand - even if you really love ballet, there are times when it does take a real effort to go through the whole palava of getting to a performance and getting home afterwards and etc. There have been a few occasions on which I've chickened out; but when I force myself to go, I'm almost always very glad in the end that I did. 

 

Having said that, I now remember a performance by Houston Ballet many years ago at Sadler's Wells - it was Peer Gynt. I'd been very tired and quite reluctant to go, but I did force myself, and I thought it was just awful. It was when some large artificial camels came prancing on that I drew the line and made for the exit. 

Artificial camels??! Oh, I don't think I would have lived through that one! If I didn't leave I am sure I would have been asked to! LOL!

[Jan McNulty]

38 minutes ago, bridiem said:

 

That's so funny, Borzoi! But I do understand - even if you really love ballet, there are times when it does take a real effort to go through the whole palava of getting to a performance and getting home afterwards and etc. There have been a few occasions on which I've chickened out; but when I force myself to go, I'm almost always very glad in the end that I did. 

 

Having said that, I now remember a performance by Houston Ballet many years ago at Sadler's Wells - it was Peer Gynt. I'd been very tired and quite reluctant to go, but I did force myself, and I thought it was just awful. It was when some large artificial camels came prancing on that I drew the line and made for the exit. 

 

That really strikes a chord with me Bridie.  I was booked to see something at the Lowry in July when the weather was ridiculously hot.  I was talking to a friend on the phone and said I probably wouldn't go.  She replied that I'd have nearly an hour in an air-conditioned car which was what swung it for me!!  I had 50 minutes of blissful cool and absolutely loved the performance!!

 

[Silke H]

I still very much remember that I walked out of 'Solo for Two' at New York City Center in August 2015, a programme with Osipova and Vasiliev (plus a few guest).  It was so boring and ridiculous and terrible that I couldn't stand it any longer and joined the other dozens of patrons that were leaving the auditorium.

 

The other time I wanted to leave but at least stayed until the next interval was Osipova's and Hallberg's Manon at ROH in 2019.  I thought there was no chemistry between them, they looked completely under-rehearsed and he even struggled with some of the bedroom lifts.  I mean, seriously, how can tall Hallberg not lift tiny Osipova?  And their much hyped (by them) friendship certainly didn't translate to the stage.

 

I have often sat-out, or left early/arrived late part in NYCB's multi-piece programmes.  I only like certain Balanchine ballet and can't stand others.  Best scenario is obviously if the least liked is at the end and one can leave early but oftentimes they are sandwiched in and one has to either endure the piece or has a chance to grab a bite to eat across Broadway in one of the restaurants.  Hurrah for NYC's rushed dining service.

[Ivy Lin]

I once walked out of a performance of Wheeldon's Cinderella. Think it was San Francisco Ballet. The performance was just so middling and low-energy I was falling asleep. 

 

I had to leave in between Millenium Approaches and Perestroika because I had a horrible flu and knew that sitting in a crowded theater with a fever was not going to work. I did go see Perestroika a few weeks later after I recovered.

 

[RosiesDream]

I was going to say no, and then I remembered a toe-curling birthday outing in 2008. Not mine, but worse, a present from me to a friend who had never seen a dance performance. I wasn't very well off at the time, so ROH was going to be out of the question, and then I saw a review of Matthew Bourne's new Dorian Gray at Saddlers Wells... Perfect! My friend was actually an author and familiar with the Wilde story, I won't have to explain why those girls in white are meant to be swans...Great Galloping,,,swans...but it was dire. We stuck it to the end, but I've never been to any other performance where the entire audience walked out without applauding when the curtain came down. 

[Lynette H]

At the Royal Ballet's performance of Romeo and Juliet on 5th October (the opening night),  there was a group of three people in the same row as me who were applauding enthusiastically, and seemed to be enjoying themselves. But they didn't return after the second interval. Puzzling.  Maybe someone was taken ill ? It wasn't a performance that you would think anyone would not want not to see completed. 

[Lizbie1]

 

56 minutes ago, Lynette H said:

At the Royal Ballet's performance of Romeo and Juliet on 5th October (the opening night),  there was a group of three people in the same row as me who were applauding enthusiastically, and seemed to be enjoying themselves. But they didn't return after the second interval. Puzzling.  Maybe someone was taken ill ? It wasn't a performance that you would think anyone would not want not to see completed. 

 

They may have had a train to catch - timetables have been somewhat unpredictable of late, and last trains earlier.

[alison]

I wonder (she says, remembering a tour group of Japanese visitors who Prommed in the Gallery at the Royal Albert Hall some years ago and left part-way through) if they might have been on some kind of tight schedule and had something else to fit in and/or a train to catch?  Alternatively, I think I have heard of cases before where someone has mistakenly thought that Tybalt's death is the end of the whole thing.

[FionaM]

On 10/10/2021 at 22:22, Silke H said:

 

The other time I wanted to leave but at least stayed until the next interval was Osipova's and Hallberg's Manon at ROH in 2019.  I thought there was no chemistry between them, they looked completely under-rehearsed and he even struggled with some of the bedroom lifts.  I mean, seriously, how can tall Hallberg not lift tiny Osipova?  And their much hyped (by them) friendship certainly didn't translate to the stage.

 

Agree with all this.  Probably good thing that you left … in act 3 I actually couldn’t stifle my incredulity at DH’s prissy upright dancing inbetween returning to the dead gaoler hand over mouth in pretend shock.  Thank goodness Natalia was real.  My companion had had enough before then and also left at the second interval. 

[JennyTaylor]

I walked out of a production of Candide (I think at the Coliseum but can't be sure.) I saw Jonathan Miller's production at the Old Vic and was completely blown away with its brilliance. I expected the same experience when I booked to see another production several years later.  It was hideous: updated, modern and something to do with Marilyn Monroe - I have really no idea what they were thinking. Anyway I sat through the first act and then thought, I can't stand this any longer. Ghastly. 

 

If ballet, I'm sure I must have given a Wayne McGregor a miss at some point. 

[Dawnstar]

32 minutes ago, JennyTaylor said:

I walked out of a production of Candide (I think at the Coliseum but can't be sure.) I saw Jonathan Miller's production at the Old Vic and was completely blown away with its brilliance. I expected the same experience when I booked to see another production several years later.  It was hideous: updated, modern and something to do with Marilyn Monroe - I have really no idea what they were thinking. Anyway I sat through the first act and then thought, I can't stand this any longer. Ghastly.

 

It was at the Coliseum, in June 2008. Director Robert Carsen. At least, I assume you're referring to that production as I can't believe there have been two in London that answer to that description! I got through it, but then it was the first time I'd seen Candide so I didn't have anything to compare it to. I thought the strangest part, conceptually, was to set the start in the White House when the lead characters are supposed to sail for the New World at the end of Act 1. How could they do that when they were there already? From a visual point of view, the auto da fe scene with the chorus costumed as the Ku Klux Klan skipping around to that catchy song was certainly unforgettable. I did find the ending rather moving though, as We'll Make Our Garden Grow was sung to a video backdrop of rainforest destruction.

[ninamargaret]

Haven't walked out of any ballet, although I have a small selective list of things I wouldn't see, even if they were free, again. I have walked out of opera at the Coliseum - twice! A dreadful Mazeppa which sickened both me and my pretty tough husband, and an awful Fledermaus. On that occasion an usher saw us leaving, at the interval and when we said we thought it was awful he replied regarding us,with scorn ,'_well, this is an experimental house' . My suggestion that they should charge for seats on that basis was not appreciated.

[Dawnstar]

@ninamargaretENO have experimented themselves off my theatregoing list. The last opera I saw there was Meistersinger in 2015, & I knew that was reasonably safe because I'd seen the same production done by WNO 5 years earlier. Since then every time a new season is announced it's one director after another whose work I don't want to see. Since then I've only been to the Coliseum for a couple of ballets & half a Mikado (no, I didn't leave in the interval, I turned up in the interval, after an early ROH matinee, as I only wanted to attend to see Sir John Tomlinson in the title role).

[zxDaveM]

19 minutes ago, ninamargaret said:

an usher saw us leaving, at the interval and when we said we thought it was awful he replied regarding us,with scorn ,'_well, this is an experimental house' . My suggestion that they should charge for seats on that basis was not appreciated.

 

great riposte! 🙂

[ToThePointe]

This thread inspired a lot of our conversation in the first episode of Season 4 of Open Barre (launched today) so worth a listen! I've shared the link below but you can also find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other various podcast platforms. Thanks!

 

https://www.spreaker.com/user/openbarre/open-barre-s4-01