the.com/matinee
Theater at 2pm, for people who refuse to let darkness tell them when to have fun.
means An afternoon performance of a play, film, or show, held before the usual evening slot.
from From French 'matinée,' meaning 'morning' or 'the whole morning,' built from 'matin' (morning), itself from Latin 'matutinus,' relating to the morning — the same root that gives us 'matutinal.' English borrowed 'matinée' in the 19th century specifically for daytime theater and concert performances, stretching 'morning' loosely to cover 'before evening.' The accent eventually dropped off as the word settled into English, but the daylight-defying spirit stayed intact.
- origin
- from French matin, meaning morning, used for afternoon
- price logic
- cheaper because daylight makes drama feel less serious
- audience skew
- retirees, tourists, and the gloriously unemployed
- theater perk
- same show, fewer crowds, sunlight ruins the mood