Taproot Theatre Company's Jewell Mainstage Theatre — Attraction in Seattle

The worst theatre experience of my life. I couldn’t enjoy the play after intermission and dealing with the employees.

A woman with very tight curly hair (and ironically a name tag that said “Hospitality”) would shriek how much time was left before Act 2 every few minutes. I spent the entire intermission in line waiting to order something to drink from the adjoining cafe (a partner for 3 years, said the Manager). While we were next in line, Ms. Hospitality said she’d be locking the doors and we wouldn’t be allowed to enter. There were several upset people waiting for their drinks and several others paying, and we all said we’d be okay entering the play late, and couldn’t understand being locked out while waiting for service. Annoyed, with a sour look, she left one door open. When it was our turn in line, we were told we couldn’t be served. “Theater Rules”. Not once did they say we wouldn’t be served, and they allowed us to continue waiting without warning.

The Theatre Manager standing outside the door said that wasn’t true, they could absolutely serve us. This went back and forth and finally he said the cafe knows how long intermission is and need to staff better. The Theatre did make the determination to not let patrons be served after waiting in line for 15 minutes.

Frustrated, thirsty and with no resolution, we returned to our seats and waited an extra 5+ minutes for the play to start when the transaction would have taken 60 seconds max.

Save your money for a more professional...

I want to be clear: the play (Arsenic and Old Lace) was wonderful. Wonderful! But the theater itself was found lacking. There isn't much available for disabled seating. My mother carries a large oxygen tank and it was a hassle to get down the steps and then troublesome to get it down the aisle to our seats. It would have been great to have a ramp available, and (maybe this part isn't possible) more space in the aisles. They also have the gaul to sell you snacks during the 12 minute intermission, but won't allow you to eat them in the theater. We were reminded no less than three times by separate theater employees that we couldn't eat our pastries from the cafe. The cafe is in the lobby, mind you. In the theater. We didn't sneak them in from somewhere else. I understand not wanting audience members eating during the performance. But just tell us that beforehand. Post a sign or something. It took ten minutes just to wait in line and order coffee, then wait for the coffee to be made. There wasn't time to do all that AND eat my pastry. I wouldn't have bought something to eat if I was going to be chastised by the employees and then couldn't even eat it until the play was over. In the past I've always considered this a fantastic theater. I came here a few times during my childhood and later as an adult. The plays are usually pretty good but I feel that things offstage could be run a little...

SIMPLY AWFUL! - If I could give it negative stars I would! We are subscribers at Taproot because we love and support live theater in Seattle and everywhere. But this is not theater. There is no plot, no continuity at all. It is, at best, a concert. Presenting it to theater subscribers is misleading at best! The costumes are garish and for the most part unflattering to the performers. The most entertaining was the base player, switching between electric and acoustic instruments, and they were obscured behind a stage lighting poll. The stage design promises more that it delivers. The presentation of images and the opening shadow puppet sequence were alright - though the later not well focused or rehearsed, and you could see the performers through the gauze curtain. We would have left mid-show, but our seats are front row and we did not want to disturb others. OVERALL AN EXTREME...