To feel theatre is overrated?

[icreatedascene]

I've never been to a really big theatre and circumstances mean that it's not feasible to go to a London or other 'big' one. I subscribed to the National Theatre at home in a bid to give myself some access/awareness and I have to say I'm glad I haven't paid to go in person. Admittedly I've only watched four productions (all of which had raving reviews) but I'm somewhat underwhelmed.
I'm wondering is theatre only deemed a MC thing because it's expensive? Am I missing something?The acting in The Boy with the Two Hearts was very high school drama club IMO. The book was so much better, but I understand it's hard to squeeze a book into 1.5 hours. Why were people raving about it? Perhaps I'm not getting the point? I've removed the poll because obviously it's very subjective, but just want to know if anyone else feels like this.

I love live theatre. My preference is for scenery chewing plays that depend on good writing. I would, for example, see "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' every couple of years.

I used to go frequently and enjoy plays but after a few years a specific experience showed me how truly magical it could be. It was "Moby Dick", adapted by the great Orson Wells from the book. There was minimal scenery - largely a network of ropes to indicate ship's rigging. The actors were on it, rocking back and forth to simulate ship's movement, as they pursued the great white whale. Suddenly, one actor pointed to the back of the theatre yelling "Thar she blows" and half the audience turned around to see the whale's spout, and then look rather sheepishly at each other.

Another time a version of a Christmas Carol had me in in tears of joy at the end. I had been dreading Christmas as I had had a truly dreadful year, but this really helped me mentally.

I remember reading an interview with Anthony laPaglia about his experience acting on Broadway in Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge" with Alison Janney. I had recently seen a local performance of it, and it is like a Greek tragedy that all the way through it you are thinking that this is going to end very badly. Anyway, laPaglia and Janney had a very emotive scene with a full on argument, and unnoticed by either actor, she whacked him on the nose with her teeth, and drew blood. When they were in the wings he then noticed blood running down his face. I so envied the passion and mental involvement that such total immersion in your activity could bring.

For various reasons I no longer go to live theatre and my goodness, do I miss it.

I know what you mean Op. I liked the whole experience as a younger person but increasingly I find it not worth the time , money or effort. I watched a particularly bad version of 2.22 A Ghost story last year. Luckily I had free tickets but seats cost £44 normally. I would have been gutted to have paid that much ( plus travel, a glass of wine etc) I wonder if the cost means people do appreciate the whole thing more though.

We have an outdoor Shakespeare festival every year. I do enjoy these performances because the production, set and costumes are always so original.

I subscribed to the National Theatre at home in a bid to give myself some access/awareness and I have to say I'm glad I haven't paid to go in person. Admittedly I've only watched four productions (all of which had raving reviews) but I'm somewhat underwhelmed.

YABU, that's not theatre. Theatre is a live performance, seen in company with the rest of the audience.

Yes, London prices are exorbitant and exclusionary - although the London National Theatre tries its hardest to make access to live theatre more affordable. The on-the-day reduced ticket prices from the half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square can offer discounts, similarly apps such as TodayTix.

For the majority of the British poopulation who don't live in LOndon (shock, horror) there are goos regional theatres with some interesting programming. If you live near Bath, for example, a lot of plays destined for te West End (and £100 tickets) can be seen in their out of town run at Bath Theatre Royal. Ditto Malvern. Leeds Playhouse is brilliant, as is Manchester Royal Exchange.

But maybe live performance just isn't for you. That's OK. That's you. It doesn't mean theatre is "overrated." You aren't fussed about it, but that's you, not theatre.

@icreatedascene You often get lots of stage scenes in musicals. Staging costs a lot of money. Actors don’t need it really. If it’s a strong piece of writing it’s not necessary. I saw Lehman Brothers and that is staged with a glass box. It’s exceptional though. Anyone who wants blockbuster staging will have to mostly avoid regional theatre and go for big production musicals. Even then, some are pared back. Pictures of the productions give you a clue!

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Theatre also used to compete either bear-baiting and cockfighting — not in the least ‘sophisticated’.

Totally agree that assuming you’ll automatically see the money you’ve paid in big fancy sets isn’t the right way to approach theatre. That’s not appropriate for every production. And yes, part of what you’re paying for is (hopefully) the best actors and the best writing. But it feels like you’re totally dismissing set designers here?! That can totally be part of the pleasure of a stage performance. The ‘Ballet Shoes’ set is pretty impressive (although I’m watching it on NT at Home so I feel like I’m not getting the full merit of it). As I remember it ‘Treasure Island’ was pretty amazing as well.

I think it depends on the production. With something like Punchdrunk (immersive promenade theatre in huge, non-theatre spaces with a masked audience able to roam at will through the entire building) the ‘set’ is so detailed, it is probably most of the appeal. Story is minimal. What is mesmerising is that you can open drawers and go through hidden doors and find documents, pictures, belongings, clothes that tell a story about the characters and settings — in The Masque of the Red Death in the Battersea Arts Centre in 2007/8, you could find yourself in an opium den, a 19thc brothel, a morgue, a perfumery, a vaudeville musical hall. You will have a different experience to anyone else at the same play. DH had an entire scene with an actor in a room I never saw.

I saw Lehman Brothers and that is staged with a glass box. It’s exceptional though.

That was an amazing production. And the set design was exceptional. I enjoyed the whole thing all through - and I normally see so much live performance I have no compunction about leaving at the interval if it's not good enough. But I could have watched that show for twice its 3 hours!

Yes, especially Shakespeare. You wouldn't catch me ploughing through his plays, but the stage (or big screen) makes it much easier to comprehend, and therefore enjoy. Classical music and opera is also even more beautiful live.

I've seen the screening of Prima Facie and have seen it live. Both are great.

If I had the opportunity to watch one and only one again, I would choose to see it live. I can't really put into words why, but it's more of an experience. The story is unfolding right there with you.

Do you feel the same about sport? Its better on the TV because you can get close up shots?

TV sanitises everything. Sport, music, theatre. I was amazed the first time I went to the races and could feel the horses coming as the ground shook. It's the same in the theatre, you feel the energy of the performance. Get yourself out there. It doesn't have to cost a lot. Look for a local production or good am dram.

I love going to the theatre but DH is not a fan and circumstances meant that while I used to go once every summer, it faded away in recent years for various reasons.

I managed to see the National Theatre’s “The importance of being Earnest” online recently, which was lovely for me!

Hopefully when I get home from my current overseas posting, I will get to see live theatre a bit more often (DD has now left school and drives herself so less pressure to always be her taxi service).

I agree with others saying you need to really experience a live performance. During COVID I watched Hamilton with my eldest on the TV and didn't get the hype at all. Thought it was totally over rated. Three years later we went and watched it at the theatre and it was hands down one of the best shows I have ever watched. I actually cried!!

I love the theatre, the atmosphere is amazing and seeing the performance never gets old. I wouldn't say it's a MC thing either, I'm working class but save to get my tickets.

@ParmaVioletTeaMy DD is very good at recommending shows! That one was down to her!

You are definitely being unreasonable. NT at Home has some amazing stuff - some of it many years old so you can’t just pop to the theatre to see it even if you could afford it. It’s also great because you can see facial expressions etc.

i know it’s subjective but have you watched Billie Piper in Yerma, currently available on NT at Home? From 2014. She won every prize on offer that year for her extraordinary performance. What a privilege to be able to watch from your living room sofa. Warning though, read the plot first, as it is a very difficult subject matter and a harrowing performance.

Also, The Estate with Adhil Akbar. Amazing performance. I’m sure I’m misspelling his name.

Have you tried inviting friends round and making an evening of it? Good for winter evenings.

Not everything on NT at Home is worth watching and admittedly there is way too much Shakespeare - no copyright etc issues I guess, but it’s a great platform. Good value and not intended as a theatre substitute (although if you are shortsighted like me, it’s actually become more enjoyable than the real thing.)

Going to the theatre in person is an amazing experience.

If you can possible afford do, I would go. Do your research to see what sort of play or show would suit you.

The NT online things are a good thing in that they give access to theatre productions to those who don’t get to go in person. But they’re nothing like the real thing.

Classical music and opera is also even more beautiful live.

Absolutely!

This afternoon I went to see the Royal Opera’s Siegfried. 4 hours of sublime music and a production that made sense and one that resonated with me. Both the singers and the orchestra were fantastic. The chap singing Wotan was suffering from bronchial pneumonia but soldiered on.

I would have enjoyed a filmed performance in the cinema - and I do go to many MET Live in HD performances - but actually being there and seeing it live is entirely different.

I saw the National Theatre’s Inter Alia in the cinema and I found so absorbing that I’ve now booked to see it live.

Yes, you can watch many PROMS performances on TV, but it doesn’t compare to being there on the night, watching it amongst a few thousand other music enthusiasts.

I do also go to my local amateur theatre, as well as smaller theatres in and around the big city. The best performance of Equus I ever saw was at my local shoestring budget theatre (and yes, I also saw Daniel Radcliffe in the Westend - it was good, but not AS good!).

For anyone who hasn't seen it, I urge you to see Ira Levin's Deathtrap in the theatre. Yes, a lot of people have seen the film version with Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve and that is great, but live in the theatre - something else.

Privates on Parade is another.

DH and I are seeing TKAMB in a few weeks - can't wait! I've only heard good things about it.

Even seeing the National Theatre shows in the cinema is better than at home. Although you still have that distance from the actors, you have the audience reaction which can definitely contribute to the enjoyment.

I just finished Oliver Twist and I'm mind blown. This is my idea of theatre. Would have loved to have seen this in person. I think I need something that is easy to follow and doesn't require much 'suspending belief'. I LOVED the staging, effects and mix of spoken word/BSL/subtitles.

Is that Oliver Twist on NT Live OP?

No, at home.