Photos by me

After a string of aborted performances and police run-ins, comedian Katt Williams was a no-show Thursday night at the Paramount Theatre. It was to be the first performance of a two-night engagement. Thursday ticket holders will be refunded at their point of purchase, or by calling the Seattle Theatre Group's box office at 206-812-3284. For information about the second scheduled show, call the same number or stay tuned to twitter.com/stgpresents.

A short review of Thursday evening/night:

If you've never experienced it, a packed theater with 100% angry customers has a very specific energy. Confusion and anger. What's going on? How much did we pay for this again? (Tickets were $45-55.) From 8:30 pm, Katt Williams' large amount of opening acts got progressively weirder and more annoying, peaking with John Witherspoon from "Friday" and "Boondocks," plummeting with a few rappers, one of whom was holding a Bible and literally thumping it.

According to the emcee Katt was "in the building." Then a few hours later he was "stopped by police but he's on his way." Which statement was untrue? Both? Neither?

After 11:00 pm people started leaving. Two quotes I heard in the lobby:

"I drove here from from hella far and paid hella money. This sucks."

"I got my ticket for free and I'm still pissed."

Searching twitter for "katt williams seattle" gives an indication of how fans reacted. Unhappily, to say the least. I would recommend that we remain compassionate to Williams, who is clearly going through something right now, and be mindful that we don't know all the facts.

But it sure is disappointing when you rearrange your life for a late show on a school night, and the whole thing falls apart.