Cape Playhouse

Great off Broadway environment. Really impressed with real live professional actors up close and personal. Bumped into Joanne Worley in the gift shop and helped her select a scarf. She was simply gracious and funny.

This theater has a wonderful history but extraordinarily uncomfortable seats! The atmosphere makes it a true theater experience.

We have been to the Cape Playhouse many times over the years, but sadly, won’t return. Last year I went to the box office to buy tickets and told the person at the box office that my spouse was disabled. I stressed that wen needed seats close to an exit in case we needed to leave before the end of the performance. I was assured that the seats I purchased were perfect for us. As it turned out, the seats were in the loge and on the second step of what I would consider no more than a shelf. They were uncomfortable and unsafe for anyone with balance issues. What’s more, the exit close to the seats, was an emergency one, more like a fire escape, not useful to use the lavatory or to exit during a performance. The house manager refused my request to move us to a more suitable area. She said the only seats available were the higher price tickets. We decided to stay, since the lead performer was a our college classmate. The performance, was outstanding.
I had considered calling it quits with the Cape Playhouse, because of this experience, but gave it another try, purchasing tickets to «My Fair Lady» for yesterday’s matinée performance. As expected, the performance was superb, but sadly, we had to leave at intermission. It’s rare that it gets close to 90 degrees on Cape Cod, but when it does, the humidity creates a very uncomfortable situation. Yesterday was one of those days. The air conditioning at the Playhouse was either non-​existent, or inadequate for the situation. We were not able to endure the heat any longer. It was actually cooler outside than inside when we left. The performers and the patrons deserve better than this.

The Playhouse is fun. We try to go each summer. However, they are NOT ADA compliant with the parking. There are rules for the number of «Handicap parking» slots you are required to have. The rules are based on the total number of parking slots. If there are over 400 seats in the playhouse and you figure, based on that numb er, there should be 200 plus cars in the lot. Obviously the «infield» parking cicle does not bold that many so people park all over the place. WHat I am trying to say is that they need to increase the «Handicap» slots to double what they have in order to be compliant. SO the management needs to check it out, use the proper number of «handicap» slots and avoid being sued — which will be next on my list.

Charming venue, nice ushers, not crazy about the two shows I saw this season («Almost Maine» and «Pump Boys») but at least they are trying to mix it up and not do one musical after the other like in years past (which I like but not a continual diet of them!) I heard from other patrons that the musical earlier in the season «1776» was the best they’d ever seen. The upstairs is too steep and the seats too uncomfortable for the less than footsure (anyone over 70 should be downstairs) but the history and quality of the overall venue is second to none. This is, by the way, the oldest continually running summer theatre in the US! So it’s worth the trip and putting up with a few creaking seats in my opinion.

Sometimes change is good… Sometimes it is not.
They have lost this season ticket holder.
The staff changes, quality of production, and shows chosen are too much of a change. Where are the big musicals? Where are the stars? Where are the ushers to keep the doors closed during the performance?

The Cape Playhouse has a charm all of it’s own. It’s entirely made of wood and looks like it could go up in flames pretty quickly. I wouldn’t smoke in it. However, the playhouse is pretty neat looking. We saw «An Evening with Lucille Ball».
Intermission is neat. Everyone is asked to go outside (hope the weather is nice for you) and they have a small concession stand where you can buy ice cream, lemonad, cookie, water, etc. They have a nice little gazebo that you can sit in as well while you wait for Act II!
The only reason I can’t give this place 5 stars is that the seats (at least in the balcony) were completely UNCOMFORTABLE. Even with the cushions.
Otherwise, I highly recommend this playhouse. It’s cute, charming, and definitely has character and history.

America’s Oldest Professional Summer Theatre, the legendary Cape Playhouse has been bringing professional Broadway actors to Cape Cod for 80 years.
Here’s where Bette Davis got her start – as an usherette. (Does anyone out there remember her?) Years ago, I saw a wonderful play with Rex Harrison and Cloris Leachman (can’t remember the name of it). It’s always a thrill just to go to this theatre because of its history. Never mind the hard seats.