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Have you ever walked out of a cinema/theatre half way through a show?

(261 Posts)
grandmajet Tue 16-Feb-21 08:12:04

I’ve done it twice. The first time was David Bowies’s film, The Man Who Fell to Earth. What a load of tosh! More recently we left Ben Elton’s stand up show at half time. I was disappointed as I used to like him and loved his books but he seemed to have turned into a bitter, unpleasant person and it was not fun to listen to him.
Anyone else done this, and why?

Humbertbear Fri 19-Feb-21 11:28:42

Mum and I walked out of Royal Tennenbaums. As we stood up the women behind us said ‘thank goodness it’s finished ‘ and followed us out. I once stood up after 15 minutes of a dreadful play and announced ‘I have a migraine. Let me out’

joysutty Fri 19-Feb-21 11:29:36

No. As, who knows if by staying on until the end of the show he might had improved. Plus the cost paid for your ticket I would want every penny's worth. Its a different world right now booking any Stage show as it's not even been decided on when theatres will re-open up again. Yes, used to love Ben Elton as a stand-up in his younger days + then his books. Such a nice guy. Think though he's had personal issues/struggling with IVF I read once but think now he has twins ? But if dealing with personal issues he should not be touring. Maybe he is just Not funny anymore + your opinion of him is only good from his earlier days.

lizzypopbottle Fri 19-Feb-21 11:32:54

I left the cinema halfway through 'Deliverance' because it's a horrible film. I was a student then, must've been 1972. I'm 69 years old but I still wouldn't watch it. Perhaps it's more of a man's film...

Sharleen Fri 19-Feb-21 11:33:20

Yes, I left at the Interval of We Will Rock You, I thought it would be just up my street but didn't enjoy it at all and was very disappointed.

Blondiescot Fri 19-Feb-21 11:34:43

No, if I've paid my money, then I'm sitting right through it, good or bad!

HunnyBunny Fri 19-Feb-21 11:36:54

I’d wanted for ages to see ‘Tuppence to cross the Mersey’ as I’d read the book. DH bought tickets for our anniversary and I was ecstatic. Half way break I didn’t have the heart to tell him I wanted to go home.

Went to see cats (theatre). Couldn’t understand all the hype. Thought it was awful. Wanted to leave but I was with a group of workmates and didn’t want to be the odd one out.

Did walk out on Johnny Cash though. Thought we were going to see an enactment of his life story but instead we got a man (dressed in black), talking his way through 3 hours of JC’s life story with the odd song on his guitar. Left after an hour.

Metra Fri 19-Feb-21 11:37:03

Pirates of the Caribbean - hadn't a clue what was going on. Also my first time in a cinema when my mother took me to see Bambi and I cried so much when Bambi's mother died that we had to leave.

Mambypamby Fri 19-Feb-21 11:37:39

Lala land! We too! Why oh why did it win so many awards?! Emperor's new clothes and the luvvies colluding methinks

Yangste1007 Fri 19-Feb-21 11:37:47

We Will Rock You (and I love Queen)

Stones in Their Pockets

Blood Diamond

Another film I would have walked out of was
District 9. It was the biggest load of tosh I've ever seen but DH loved it.

Nusgranny Fri 19-Feb-21 11:38:39

We left the touring production of Quartet at the interval as we felt the cast were simply going through the motions. I had been so looking forward to seeing Paul Nicholas etc it was a real letdown.

Nvella Fri 19-Feb-21 11:43:25

I was on a singles holiday to India in Agra and we were taken to see a play about the Taj Mahal. Within 10 mins almost all the fairly elderly, very jet lagged group had fallen asleep and were snoring. At the end the tour guide announced that all those who had fallen asleep would be coming back the next night to see it again!

Nvella Fri 19-Feb-21 11:46:18

Also - a friend and I once walked out at the interval of the first night of a Pinter play - it was so boring . We were sitting in front of Harold Pinter and Antonia Fraser. When we got outside my friend gave her ticket to a homeless man - I would love to know if he used it!

Annaram1 Fri 19-Feb-21 11:58:37

My husband and I both walked out in the interval of Thriller , the Michael Jackson musical. He was not in it, it a was a tribute. We had front row seats and everyone in the theatre stood up singing and it was all too too much for us oldies. Ghastly show and a total waster of money for us.

knspol Fri 19-Feb-21 11:58:39

Walked out of theatre performances several times but always wait until the interval. Never walked out of the cinema - no intervals so didn't want to disturb other people.

Funnygran Fri 19-Feb-21 12:04:28

Years ago I went with a group from work to see a ballet based on The Hobbit. I thought it was dreadful and couldn’t make out what was going on and I do like ballet normally. I made my excuses in the interval saying I didn’t feel well, went home and had a glass of wine to recover.

Jennyluck Fri 19-Feb-21 12:06:00

I’ve only walked out once and that was at an Amy Winehouse concert.
What a talent. What a voice. I was so excited to see her.
But she was an hour late to start with, the audience were restless, but she came on with a pint of what looked like orange juice, i’m guessing it had vodka in it. Her singing just got worse and worse, she was jittery and kept wondering about the stage. Her band looked embarrassed.
So at half time we went home. My son stayed and said the crowd started to boo her. So she started to swear at them.
Of course she had lots of problems, with drugs and alcohol.
A truly talented young woman who took the wrong path. How sad.

BassGrammy Fri 19-Feb-21 12:06:51

I have left at the interval, but it was so (un)memorable, I can't even remember what it was!

leeds22 Fri 19-Feb-21 12:07:18

Down and Out in London and Paris. 16 year old son begged to see it(!). DH and I were so bored, at half time we asked son if he was enjoying it - we breathed a sigh of relief when he asked if we could leave.

Saw Evita in its early days, brilliant show with Elaine Paige. Lots of South Americans in the audience but the second half they’d all gone. Obviously not what they were expecting.

2001 A Space Odyssey, I got the giggles and had to be taken out. Still think it’s totally pretentious.

Caro57 Fri 19-Feb-21 12:11:40

Yes but always in the interval

henetha Fri 19-Feb-21 12:13:49

Yes. It was a torture scene in Elizabeth, I came over all wobbly and got up and wobbled right out of there..
And years ago I fainted,- it was the first film of Alfie with Michael Caine, the abortion scene.
I had to be carried out and they called a taxi for me. I never did get to see the end.
I'm teribly squeamish...

Scottydog6857 Fri 19-Feb-21 12:15:58

Yes, quite a few times! I have always been a very single-minded individual - some would say selfish - and there's no way on earth that I would force myself to sit through a film or show that I am not enjoying!
I am exactly the same at home with TV! I have never been much of a TV watcher, but my husband is the exact opposite, especially since he retired! He watches lots of different programmes, and I know he would love it if I would just sit down and watch TV with him, but that's not going to happen! I have always been a very fit and active person and have plenty hobbies and interests which utilise my excess energy, and for me, sitting glued to the square box that is TV is a total waste of my time! So he watches TV and I go off and pursue my own interests!

kwest Fri 19-Feb-21 12:18:11

As a teenager I went with my then boyfriend to See 'The Killing of Sister George'. Clearly I was really naive, I think we both were. I was not terribly sure what it was all about, but I knew we both felt quite shocked. I don't think we even made it to half-time.
Times have changes so much in the past fifty years.

NoddingGanGan Fri 19-Feb-21 12:23:02

I'm another one who couldn't stick Last Tango in Paris.

cheneslieges132 Fri 19-Feb-21 12:31:58

Only once - we went to see Sarah Milligan in Newcastle a couple of years ago - we used to find her so very funny when on TV - but her "live" performance was disgusting, and I am NOT a prude. However, she was unbelievably crude, and also her "supporting act", a young, gay so-called "comedian" also was far too beyond the pale. There were also "plants" in the audience, onee right behind us, and these "plants" were raucously laughing when nothing was in the least bit funny - so we left at the intermission - glad to get out. What a huge waste of time and money. I have never watched her on TV since then. I also received a very snidey personal message from her on Facebook, as she had read my comments on FB and it obviously hit a nerve!!

chrissy08 Fri 19-Feb-21 12:34:36

Cats, awful