When Should You Go to the Theatre?
You’re planning a trip to the theatre, deciding what show you want to see, looking for the best tickets, and getting your schedule in place. But is there a best time to go to the theatre?
Opinions on this vary, but below are a few things you may want to consider:
Opening Night May Have the Most Excitement
If you’re looking for energy and excitement, you’re going to find it when the show opens. They’ve been preparing for this for months. It’s all been practice until now, when the curtain finally goes up. The actors will be thrilled to finally do it for real, and some people love the way this transforms the show.
Waiting to see the show for a few weeks or months, depending on how long it runs, can mean that the actors are getting bored with it. Some may have left and been replaced by different cast members. The attitude can change. Some argue that this can make the play feel more flat than it would have on opening night. Think about how bands that have been playing their one big hit for 20 years feel, and you’ll understand why this happens.
Later Performances Are More Polished
On the other hand, waiting to go see the show means that the actors and actresses have time to iron out all of the problems. The show becomes more polished. Mistakes are made and then avoided. People learn how to work with each other and what it’s like to be under the lights for real, not just for rehearsal. This is mostly true with actors who are starting out, but it can be true for everyone. Some have argued that plays get better with time and they’ve even suggested that reviewers should wait a few days so that they can review a play without the opening-day mistakes.
Opening day seems to have the most excitement and energy, though. But it can also be nervous energy. It can lead to mistakes. Actors will settle in after a few performances and things can improve. Having the most energy doesn’t always mean giving the best performance.
Other Considerations
There are plenty of other things you want to keep in mind, such as:
— Weekend shows may draw bigger crowds.
— The same is true for shows in the evening, rather than during the day.
— Actors may be influenced by good or bad reviews, meaning you’ll see the truest version of the play before the reviews come out.
— If there are two showings in one day, the second one could have tired actors — but it also could have fewer mistakes, since they had a run-through already.
Buy Your Tickets
No matter when you want to go, we have excellent ticket deals here at Headline Tickets. Use us for all of your theatre needs!
