D. B.
Yelp
I'm an avid theatre-goer and see about 15-20 professional productions each year, most of them in Boston. I attended a number of shows at the Colonial years ago and was always disappointed with the quality of the seating (too close together, too small, super uncomfortable regardless of one's size). But, upon hearing that the Colonial underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, I was excited to give them another shot.
As such, I recently attended the world-premiere of "Moulin Rouge" at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. And while the show was delightful (go see it!), the theatre left A LOT to be desired.
Things got off to a rough start from the very beginning, with an overzealous staff person trying to make people line up on the sidewalk and letting them in in shifts. This was followed by an awkward "security" process, including making people dump out sealed water bottles at the door (a complete waste of time and resources), though there is no notice online that water bottles are not allowed at the theatre.
Secondly, though the website (and pre-show emails) clearly stated that "the auditorium doors will open 30 minutes prior to each performance," I was packed into the hallway of the balcony (without air conditioning) for much longer than necessary, with hundreds of other people. The doors to the house did not open until nearly 1:45 p.m. for a 2 p.m. show, and then the show started late.
Additionally, there were staff in the balcony lobby making an incredible amount of noise during the performance -- talking to one another, resetting the bar, etc.
Finally, though the seats in the orchestra have apparently been replaced, I was informed that the balcony seats were simply "refurbished," which did essentially nothing for improving their comfort.
Also of note: I will say that the first floor lobby and walls are quite beautiful, so the renovations are apparent in the decorative details, if not in comfort. Also, I don't typically review theatres on Yelp, but as I reached out to Colonial management with my concerns prior to leaving this review and was told, "We hope you will return to the Colonial in the future and give us another chance to provide a world-class experience." This was, of course, sent without any overtures toward correcting the terrible experience my friend and I had or even really acknowledging our concerns. I will steer clear of this venue in the future and spend my entertainment dollars in venues that get it right.