Ever Felt You're At a Different Show Than Everyone Else?

[gazzaw13]

As I think back on a great year for London Theatre with so many exciting and thought provoking evenings watching quality casts act and sing..... Have you ever felt that you're watching a different show than the rest of the audience?  I'm thinking of 2 separate experiences this year watching musicals that I thought were mildly amusing and interesting feeling isolated in an audience that laughed, cheered and whooped all the way through.  What was I missing?  Am I different? I've laughed, cheered and whooped my way through Twelfth Night, Dreamgirls and Jamie this year and Book of Mormon and The Producers, amongst others in years gone by.  The 2 experiences this year were at:

Company; and
Fun Home

They were actually uncomfortable and alienating experiences. I wondered whether, as both attracted large gay audiences, as a straight guy I wasn't getting it.  But then again Dreamgirls, Jamie and The Producers had similarly large gay followings and I enjoy the company of gay friends

I'm fascinated to know if others have had the same experience either at these or other shows.   If we are numerous maybe we could form our own support group on Whatsapp and warn each other about our own experiences as aliens in the audience. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Theatre Board punters!

Gazza
 

[happytobehere]

I had a similar experience at Company. I enjoyed it but I wasn’t howling laughing at any of it (besides Not Getting Married Today), but some of the people around me were cracking up very often.

I don’t think it’s a gay fan base thing however. As a gay man myself, I had pretty much the same reaction as you. Like there was a joke that everyone understood apart from me!

Realistically, I think it just comes down to taste & life experiences. I did notice that a lot of the people laughing around me at Company were either women, or couples- so maybe the material was just more suited to their tastes & played off of experiences they can recognise from their relationship?

[Deleted]

I had a similar experience at Fun Home - I thought it wasn't bad but wouldn't rave about it, and yet the audience went wild. I think I just didn't relate to the subject matter so found it difficult to be drawn in emotionally.

Hadestown was an interesting one, because the reaction around me was distinctly muted but it was raucous down in the Stalls. I agreed with muted reaction around me so I felt as if I was watching a completely different show to those sitting down below!

[Deleted]

I wonder if it could also be a hype thing? Because Fun Home and Company were both things alot of theatre goers have considered the best of the year (generalising of course!). I would agree in those circumstances, but I didn't enjoy King and I yet everyone seemed to love it. I guess it's just different tastes.

[Deleted]

I felt that seeing War Horse in London. Everyone at the interval seemed to be raving about it. I've never, EVER, been so bored in a theatre.

[showgirl]

I didn't get the fuss about The Inheritance or Nine Night. But I seem to be the one and only in respect of both, & they've transferred to the West End, too!

[oxfordsimon]

I have often felt this - particularly when I was reviewing touring productions of weak jukebox musicals.

9 to 5 was one such case in point - the Dolly fans were lapping it up. I was just gobsmacked at the weak music, clunky direction and poor script

Tonight's the Night - again the Rod fans were happy. I was just embarrassed for the cast who were working hard with ludicrously weak material.

There was I sat in a theatre where I felt I was the only one not enjoying the party. But I was also certain that what I was seeing was bad musical theatre and I couldn't understand how people could be so gullible as to think this was good.

Yes, part of it is personal taste. But sometimes bad theatre is just bad theatre.

[theatregeek]

I sometimes think my own mood can determine my enjoyment of a show - and bad seats. I never buy cheap seats now - I honesty have never enjoyed a show in a seat that wasn't pretty near the stage in the stalls or dress circle. Over-hype of course as well is a huge factor. I didn't like Jamie - I think that was the hype and I just felt it wasn't as ground-breaking and fabulous as everyone said it was. To be honest as well, the more people whoop and guffaw at some shows puts me right off. The first time I saw Wicked was like that - the audience screamed and hooted from the time the lights went down and annoyed me so much I hated it. However, I went again and managed to watch it without the superfans spoiling it and I love it now.

[greeny11]

The King And I - I was bored at times (especially in act 2 with that ridiculously long ballet) and I didn't really enjoy it as much as most people seemed to. I don't think the fact I was agony due to the severe lack of legroom helped either.

[Deleted]

Company and Fun Home are my two standouts in musical theatre this year, the non linearity of their plots appeals to me. Could that be a factor as the othre three you mention are linear?

I was in the OP’s position at 42nd Street, which I found to be shallow, badly acted and tackily designed.

Different strokes....

[shady23]

Yes, at Cats.

Everyone seemed to be raving at the interval. I was bored.

[robertb213]

Fun Home and Summer & Smoke, for me. I didn't get the fuss about either of those at all.

[romeo94]

Heathers

[showgirl]

Oh yes, add 42nd Street for me, too.

[Deleted]

Book of Mormon - it's ok but nothing I'd not really seen before so wasn't understanding the fuss

Priscilla

Spamalot

performers I don't quite get the Kelli OHara fuss, she's quite bland. Loved the rest of The King and I tho

[Deleted]

Bat Out Of Hell.
The biggest load of dross I have seen in years and people go back time and time again.

[Deleted]

Closer to Heaven and Footloose. Other people seemed to be loving them. I was praying for some sort of technical disaster to strike.

[winonaforever]

Company. Mostly the scene with Mel G at which people were laughing hysterically, but didn't amuse me at all. I enjoyed it overall, because I like the music, though don't really "get" the story. I'm seeing it again soon anyway, want to see Patti again.

42nd Street. Been dragged along to it three times, still not impressed. Maybe because I love the film SO much and keep wishing I was watching that instead.

Hamilton. I quite liked it, but don't get the hysteria.

[ensembleswings]

Young Frankenstein.
Everyone around me was absolutely loving it, full on laughing at every joke, raving about it during the interval whilst I sat there only mildly amused at a few of the jokes. I mean I understood what the joke was I just didn’t find it funny in the slightest.

I think that’s the only show I’ve seen this year that’s left me feeling like that but there’s definitely been more shows in previous years that have left me with a similar feeling.

[sf]

Wicked in Toronto (I was living there at the time). I was surrounded by people who clearly loved it, and I disliked - no, not disliked, despised - pretty much everything about it from the generic music and witless lyrics to the unimaginative direction and lame special effects. I've rarely felt as alone in a crowded theatre as I did that night.

[Deleted]

Dec 14, 2018 18:30:23 GMT sf said:

Wicked in Toronto (I was living there at the time). I was surrounded by people who clearly loved it, and I disliked - no, not disliked, despised - pretty much everything about it from the generic music and witless lyrics to the unimaginative direction and lame special effects. I've rarely felt as alone in a crowded theatre as I did that night.

“Alone in a Crowded Theatre”

I’d read that memoir.

[Dawnstar]

I definitely feel this sometimes. I guess the most recent would be seeing Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em earlier this year, when both it & I happened to be in Eastbourne the same weekend & I was curious to see Sarah Earnshaw. The rest of the audience were killing themselves while I think I laughed once the entire show. I don't know if it was because most of the fairly mature audience remembered the TV series, which was on before I was born, or what. I've definitely felt that I'm the only person who doesn't know the songs at a couple of jukebox musicals, Beautiful and Dreamboats & Petticoats, where all the rest of the audience were singing along & seemed to be having a great time while I was fairly unimpressed.

[l0islane]

Hamilton. So. So. Bored.
Hair. So. So. Bored
Cats. So. So. So. Bored

[Deleted]

We all know what I'm going to say:

One Man Two Guv'ners.

I will take being bored senseless any day over being the ONLY person not dying with laughter. Painful.

[christya]

Lion King.

I've been putting off seeing it for years because there's always been something I'd rather see instead. Happened to have a Sunday free and got a cheap ticket for a really great seat at the matinee.

Audience going nuts, rapturous applause, etc. Meanwhile I'm sitting there thinking "Is that it? This is what people rave about?"

I'd been told "Oh, you don't see the masks, you see the animals". No, I didn't. I saw some excellent performers and some seriously mediocre ones in moderately inventive costumes. The music was beautiful, but the whole thing seemed to be hamstrung by the film's existence. Shoehorned 'comedy' moments which had everyone else rolling around laughing, and me rolling my eyes.

So glad the ticket was cheap.