A night of live theatrical performance can be so much more exciting and engaging than catching the latest blockbuster, and a good cocktail before the show and during intermission can make the night even more fun. Here’s the best way to go about ordering your drinks at the theatre’s bar.
Photo: Henry Ngo
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/03/how-theatre-taught-me-empathy/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/kmrpkgghb6lzjoviueko.jpg” title=”How Theatre Taught Me Empathy” excerpt=”Theatre gave me a lot of things. It was a place where my weird mannerisms and silly voices became unique tools. Performing also got me to break out of my shell and stop fearing what others thought of me, which, in turn, helped me learn to accept and be myself. But most of all, theatre taught me how to empathise with others better.”]
Managing your time is the most important thing if you hope to imbibe at the theatre. You need to get there early enough to grab a drink at the bar and enjoy your beverage. You also need time to plan out your intermission drink.
That’s right, you can order and pay for an intermission cocktail from the theatre barkeep before the show. It’s easy:
- Order a drink.
- Ask them if you can also pre-buy a drink for intermission.
- Tell them your name.
- Pay for both drinks at once.
Come intermission, your cocktail, wine or beer will be sitting somewhere on the bar – usually off to the side – on a napkin with your name on it. All you have to do is walk up and grab it. No lines, no waiting, no hassles.
As our tech editor and fellow thespian David Murphy puts it, “It’s critical – only scrubs wait at intermission.”
I agree. Plan ahead and, not only will you have time to use the restroom, but you’ll actually be able to enjoy your cocktail instead of quickly knocking it back while the ushers flick the lights on and off.
As a former theatre actor, I can tell you that we love it when people have a couple of drinks. Like a two-drink minimum at a comedy club, it loosens people up so they laugh more, cry more, and generally feel more of what is being portrayed on stage. Theatre is all about energy, and a loosened up crowd gives off more. Also, it makes the theatre money!
That said, it’s only great as long as people don’t go overboard. I’ve been in a few shows where drunken patrons interrupted scenes, but hey, that’s what you get for doing Shakespeare outside and serving copious amounts of wine. So, have a few and enjoy the show, but please, control yourself.
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