A daytime performance, usually on a weekend or Wednesday afternoon.
A matinee is any performance that starts in the daytime, most often at 1, 2 or 3 in the afternoon. It is the same show as the evening one, with the same cast (apart from the occasional understudy). Matinees are popular with families, with people who would rather not drive home late, and with anyone hunting for a slightly cheaper seat; some theaters price them a little lower.
Also seen as: matinees, matinée, matinee performance