Sound System Sinks Show
by Master of the Mezzanine on 11/19/23Ohio Theatre - ColumbusRating: 1 out of 5Mid mezzanine seating would appear to be ideal for a musical with a lot of physical and verbal comedy. Sadly, such was not the case with "Mrs. Doubtfire"at the Ohio Theater in Columbus. Visually, there were few if any problems. Sonically, the presentation was a disaster. Not that those on stage held themselves back in their efforts to be heard. On the contrary, at times several were seemingly trying too hard. And the sound system as set up was not their friend. Dialogue was muddied, distorted and virtually completely incomprehensible. I was lucky to have understood but a single joke during the entire enterprise. Songs had their own difficulties as the orchestral ensemble's volume overpowered the vocalists even when the latter were trying to express their emotions relatively softly. A mid-mezzanine location at a venue like the Ohio Theater usually results in satisfactory sound mixing and understanding of dialogue from the stage. But not this time. "Mrs. Doubtfire"was an inaudible disappointment.