Readers remind us that the population is getting older, their hearing is becoming worse, it is more difficult to get around and that the performance time – usually 8 p.m. – is slightly later.
Posted at 7:00 am.
Some are suggesting that the start of the show should be brought forward, if only by an hour, and that more performances be offered in the afternoon to make travel easier for this demographic that has frequently attended the shows in the past. People whose health is more vulnerable today and who no longer dare to reserve their tickets in advance or even take out a subscription.
Lorraine writes to us: “I am 78 years old. You can also make this clear as soon as you leave. From the age of 20 until I retired, I visited all the theaters in Montreal. I saw a dozen plays every year and the theaters were full. I have seen almost all of Robert Lepages’ creations, including poorly assembled pieces. I came home late. I live in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Many theatergoers have gotten older. The plays are performed at 8 p.m., which is late. More pieces should travel. Or that we at least offer more mornings. »
Micheline Jourdain believes that the change in behavior of viewers is partly linked to their age. “The theater seems to me to attract people in the prime of life,” she wrote to us. For over 25 years, my group of friends have been going to the theater every month for a performance. In this group, three people died and among the others, some are in more fragile health. They don’t dare to book in advance. »
The reaction of two theater directors
At the Théâtre de Quat’Sous we admit that the performance schedule is a problem. “We are aware that 8 p.m. is no longer a good time,” says Catherine Vidal. We tried to perform at 7:00 p.m. but were told it was too early, so we’ll try at 7:30 p.m. It’s a trial and error. We also have a gig on Saturdays at 4 p.m., but you have to keep all that in mind. Frankly, this exercise is a unique opportunity to rethink how we welcome our audiences and reassess life in art. Because theater is essential to the health of society. It is a place for reflection and reflection. When we are only exposed to entertainment, we realize that we are lacking. »
As for the Denise Pelletier Theater, Claude Poissant believes that it already has several time slots for its different audiences. “We have shows at 4 p.m., 5-7 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., matinees, so there’s a lot of varied schedules. »