I’ve seen three Broadway shows in previews lately and wasn’t really into any of them: the revival of Speed-the-Plow, Billy Elliot, and Shrek. Speed-the-Plow and Billy Elliot have since opened to great reviews, the latter this morning. (Shrek is still in previews.)

I’m wondering what’s wrong with me. I always doubt myself when I disagree with the general opinion of a show. Did the productions improve before opening night? Or, would I have enjoyed Speed-the-Plow and Billy Elliot if I hadn’t been sitting in the second-to-last row of the balcony?

I really wonder about the seating issue. Do better seats make for a better evaluation of a show? I’m sure that’s one reason why theater critics get great seats (at least, I assume they get great seats). If you sit too far away, do you appreciate a show less? On the other hand, changing your seat can’t change a show’s problems.

There was one number in Billy Eliot, called “Solidarity,” that I thought was really terrific. Another, “Grandma’s Song,” was touching and funny. But I found much of the show treacly; the actor who played Billy at the performance I saw, David Alvarez (there are three actors who alternate the role), greatly irritated me; and the score was too pop-driven and inconsistent. Maybe I’d enjoy the score more on repeated listenings.

As for Speed-the-Plow, I loved all three performers — Jeremy Piven, Raul Esparza, and Elisabeth Moss. But the plot seemed predictable and didn’t enlighten me in any way.

And again — for both of these shows, we were at the back of the balcony. Maybe better seats would have helped.

Shows I have enjoyed recently: Road Show, Equus. I even kinda liked 13.