lynn

I'm with Sue. While I occasionally take in a musical, opera or ballet, I'd never make the theatre the reason for a trip. My interest in it is just not that great, and there are too many unique aspects of a foreign country to absorb. I can see top quality theater within an hour's drive of home. The same cannot be said of Westminster Abbey, Chambord, the Alps or La Giralda!

Karen

For Nance and Patrick: After climbing the 65 stairs (I counted on the way down) to get to the top balcony of the Royal Theatre Haymarket, I was more worried about how the ambulance crew would get me down the stairs after the heart attack than a fire in the building. <BR><BR>When I was in London, I wanted to see some theater because all that comes around to my area are traveling productions of shows that have been on Broadway for a long time. It wasn't the main point of the trip, but since I was in London, I did try to see a few plays.

Nance

That is funny, Karen.<BR>I guess we have to chalk it up to &quot;quaint&quot; and enjoy while we are there.

Amy

Someone mentioned &quot;soaking up the atmosphere&quot; at a locale. I believe that if a place you are visiting has world reknown theater, symphony, sports team, what have you, what better way to soak up the atmosphere? Plus, it gets you elbow to elbow with the people who live there. I've gone to hurling in Ireland, concerts all over Europe, not necessarily because I was interested or a fan, but because it was a good way to mingle with the locals. I think it's all in a matter of your priorities. I know people who've been to Florence and &quot;not bothered&quot; with the museums, which to me is a shame, but it's just their preference. I think theater/musicals fall into the same category.

semicultured

While I do not take a trip just to see plays or musicals, I would incorporate them as a part of the trip.<BR><BR>I do not currently go to plays at home because I do not like the presentation style of the current artistic director. I don't, however, extrapolate this to means that all the plays are this way everywhere else. I like watching plays at selected London theaters.<BR><BR>Similarly, I rarely go to the find arts museum in town. It is small and quite expensive. Again, even though the museum at home is unexciting, I love visiting Louvre, Orsay, etc.

flygirl

Nance - you said flamed - no pun intended I am sure.<BR><BR>ar ar<BR><BR>to answer - when I go to London, NYC, or really anywhere with some amount of culture - I expect to see at least one theatre production. I may not have it picked out before I go, but chances are I'll see one or more.

LuvNicole

<BR><BR>I would have flown to London just to see Nicole Kidman display her talents in The Blue Room.