Too Loud

On Saturday we went to a preview of the play, The Little Dog Laughed which is about to open at the Garrick Theatre. It was an enjoyable, if relatively slight, piece with a stand-out performance from Tamsin Greig.

In order to provide 'atmosphere' the producers have decided to play pop music in the auditorium before the play and during the interval. This seemed to be set one or two levels too loud, almost preventing conversation. Rather than providing atmosphere, it seemed to impose itself on you and made me rather restive. At the interval, it was a relief to get out into the foyer - perhaps that was the idea, to drive you to the bar. When the music stopped and the show started such was the difference (reduction) in volume that it was a bit of a shock and you had to concentrate to listen to the singers properly.