<p>I have seen some poor behavior, but must we sacrifice manners to save Broadway? Just because prices are going down to save the shows, does that mean the audience can treat the performers in this manner?</p>
<p>Wow.</p>
<p>I really think the theatre managers need to be more active about this. Seriously.... how did those people get fried chicken in the door in the first place?</p>
<p>Those stories are shockingly rude and unacceptable.</p>
<p>But I have to say that I disagree with the assumption that the reason that more “boorish” people are coming to the theater is because the ticket prices have been discounted. That’s tantamount to saying that money is commensurate with class and manners, and that is unfortunately not true. Money doesn’t somehow confer class and manners/etiquette.</p>
<p>I would attribute this sort of behavior as one of the fallouts of our sometimes-too-casual culture and with the sense of entitlement that it seems people increasingly have. They paid for a ticket so they feel entitled to bring fried chicken into the theater, or to ask an actor to pause in her monologue until they are seated. It’s all about <em>them</em>, instead of about sharing a communal artistic experience.</p>
<p>Last year I was at a performance of The Lion King and during the scene where the 2 kids are on by themselves and have solos/duets a fist fight actually broke out over audience members who were talking. By the time it was over, 2 rows had been emptied out by security. All the while, the 2 kids just kept going without missing a beat. I felt so bad for the kids, furious at the miscreants but yet awed by the professionalism of the kids on stage.</p>
<p>I went to see the touring company in Spring Awakening last weekend and I have to say, the audience was extremely respectful and mannerly. One thing that helps is that before curtain at this particular theater, there is an announcement that politely requests that people turn off their cellphones and unwrap their candy. :)</p>
<p>“Some shows are beginning to experiment with new etiquette rules. “Hair” director Diane Paulus is exploring ways to make the theater atmosphere more relaxed, less traditional. In order to keep up with the times, she plans to allow cell phones this summer at a theater space at the American Repertory Theater, in Cambridge, Mass., where she is the artistic director.”</p>
<p>So to keep up with the times she’s telling people to turn their cell phones ON? <em>shiver</em> Cell phones going off during shows is one of my pet peeves, especially when people ANSWER the phone, too. They’re basically encouraging people to disrupt the show. =(</p>
<p>I kind of want to go see that show just to see what happens. Hmmm. Well if I do, I’ll be sure to tell you how it works out!</p>
<p>I’m sure many of you have seen this youtube video, but search on there for patti lupone flipping out at the audience members talking during ‘Rose’s Turn’! It is amazing. I would put the link on here, but I don’t think links are allowed. So if you can’t find it, PM me and I’ll send it to you :)</p>
<p>That Youtube clip of “Patti’s Turn” (just kidding) is easily found. I have to say that as much as I don’t condone people misbehaving while attending the theater, I think it also was inappropriate for an actor to yell at an audience member, either. Two wrongs don’t make a right, in other words.</p>
<p>I can count on one hand the number of professional shows I’ve seen in the past five years where I haven’t been annoyed by the audience at at least one point. I’ve kind of resigned myself to seeing cell phone lights, but my biggest pet peeves are people talking during the overture (just because there’s nobody on stage doesn’t mean it’s not part of the show, and the orchestra deserves just as much attention and respect as the actors do), and people chomping gum. I swear to god, nearly every show I go to, I end up having some cow chomping in my ear for the entire thing. It’s absolutely disgusting and completely distracting. One of the reasons I love taking my mom to shows is because she tells those people off for me, haha.</p>
<p>It’s not necessarily the young audiences. The matinees are awful lately. S said he attended one where a cell phone rang and an older man answered it - and had a conversation!! At another one, the caregiver of a member of a older group coming to the theater spent the whole show texting - her cell phone was in her bag, but the behavior was really distracting.</p>
<p>I was at a matinee recently (Broadway), sitting up the front, center…I was alone, so got a great seat. There were at least 2 sleeping children sitting in my row…obviously they were not distracting, but what a shame to take young children who are uninterested and use the seat for a nap.</p>
<p>Patti Lupone stopped another show in New Orleans (I think) just within the last couple of weeks. She yelled at someone who was sending text messages. I imagined the text saying, “I cannot believe I am actually sitting here watching the great Patti Lupone. She is my all time idol - I think I could did happy right now - and she’s looking right at me!”</p>
<p>I saw the Color Purple tonight and a fight (well not a “fight,” more of a scuffle) broke out a few rows behind me. And the people yelling “Shut up!” just added to it.</p>
<p>The thing is as the mother of an actor and the sister of a cellist, I just feel bad for the performers. They work so hard and to have people being disrespectful by texting and talking… And then for those of us enjoying the performance its equally annoying. I hate it when someone’s very loud vibrating phone keeps going off and they ignore it like its going to go away. Ugh.</p>
<p>I can imagine what may also be going through the actors minds is “Are they videotaping me for You Tube?” When you see the sheer number of pirate videos clearly made by cell phones on You tube, you can understand why the actors would be concerned.</p>
<p>As a college professor who occasionally teaches an “Intro to Theatre” class I thought I would chime in. In a class of 35ish students, over half have never seen any legit theatre in their lives. Of the rest, most had seen something brought to their school. The last 15-20% had gone to see something professional in their lives. They have never been taught by anyone what the etiquette is. I find it ridiculous, but we actually have found it necessary to spend class time on “how to go see a live event.” Each time I do it, it turns my stomach. How ridiculous to spend valuable college class time discussing why you shouldn’t text, talk, etc. during a live event.</p>
<p>But then, there I was. I am taking my kids to their first B’way show. Lion King. Best seats in the house. My kids and I excited and prepared to be thrilled. The show was wonderful. The two kids behind me proceeded to talk through the entire show, the group next to me only had one English speaker and she felt the need to do a live translation in what I think was Chinese. I had the ushers talk to both parties, and the parents behind me decided I was the evil one. </p>
<p>If my children had talked during an animated movie they would have been reprimanded. They were taught not to interrupt or bother other people at an event like a movie, concert, etc. from a young age. Parents don’t feel that need. When I complained to my wife that we spent over $400 bucks to listen to two small children, she commented that those parents probably thought that the same amount of money gave them to right to talk during the show.</p>
<p>How many times do you go to movies now where people ANSWER their cell phones and talk at full voice?! Or bring INFANTS to see movies. What are these folks thinking? </p>
<p>We have found it necessary to exclude children under eight from university productions. I don’t enjoy this, but in our studio theatre it is impossible not to notice talking, texting, etc. And since the parents don’t understand not to do this, we certainly can’t expect the children not to do it. </p>