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#1

theatre pet peeves

does anyone have theatre pet peeves? i know i do:
1)tall people~i'm 5 foot 1.75 inches
2)people who talk throughout the entire play~the second time i saw millie there were people behind me who held a conversation throughout the entire play. the same for never gonna dance.
3)people who come in really late and sit in the middle of a row so that everyone has to stand up to let that person through~the x-mas spectacular...i'd heard about it all my life and though it wasn't that great i still wanted to catch the rockettes and there were people coming in in the middle of the play.

parking for drive-thru service only. thank you.
#2

re: theatre pet peeves

1- People who have seen the show 3000 times, and repeat the parts to their neighbor before they happen. "And you know- guess WHO dies in the 2nd act?" etc. etc.

2- Audience members who sing during musicals.
#3

re: re: theatre pet peeves

what about audiences who just automatically give a standing ovation as soon as the show is over regardless of the quality of the show? or the people who get up to leave because they know it's almost over. I saw Carmen at the Met last year and the people in front of me got up to go right before Carmen died because they wanted to beat the rush. Now that is rude.
Please visit Bitchy Waiter
#4

re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

the singing audience member are my mother when she can. i try to sit as far away as i can when she does. it pisses me off too.
parking for drive-thru service only. thank you.
#5

re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

I can keep myself from singing until I get outside the theatre, but one I'm outside I tend to start belting if the show was amazing. Usually shaking with the adrenaline rush. If I know the songs from that show I sing them, and if not songs from other shows that make me feel similar sentiments to the show I just saw. I try to wait until I get in the car but sometimes I can't help myself, but NEVER in the theatre.
My avatar is a reminder to myself. I need lots of reminders...
#7

re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

All I know is that if I started singing, I'd have theater security on me within a matter of seconds.

But also the standing ovations things...even if everyone in the house is standing- if I think that the show is horrible, I'll sit. I hate when people do standing o's for every show. I'm too shy to start standing ovation though, which is one thing I want to do soon.

~L
#8

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When I saw Cats, my mom's friend gave us her tickets. She had them for a matinee, which was the first mistake. Cats matinee=KIDS! There was also many latecomers. When they open the doors, bright light comes in and they talk for 5 minutes until they are settled into their seats! I am also gonna be pissed if people sing when I see RENT next weekend.
CCM '10!
#9

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1. ahhhh i hate singing audience members!!! the audience goes there to hear professionals sing, i dont want an off-key "surround sound"
2. kids who scream in the middle of the show
3. when cell phones go off and the person has a conversation with them on the phone!!
ahhh!
"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
#10

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BillFinn, a member of the board, says this is a real Wicked blooper:

WICKED BLOOPER
Elphaba: Some people think animals should be in cages!
*cellphone rings in the audience*
Fiyero: I think people with cellphones should be in cages.
Elphaba, we're going to be together always.
Frex: You know why you're here Elphaba?
Elphaba: Yes Papa, to look after Nessa.

I bet that was hilarious!

CCM '10!
#11

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

bwaytheatre- Rent?! Good Luck! re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves ((i don't want to see it myself, I'm horrified of the possibility of Rentheads singing out the entire show...a friend of mine does that himself))
#14

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

1) cell phones

2) cellophane wrappers

3) people who sit behind me and kick my seat

4) ushers who don't know what they're doing

5) over amplified sound systems
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#16

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

When I saw Hedwig this summer at The Hartford Stage w/ Anthony Rapp, a cell phone went off during one of his monologues and he stopped the whole show. It was so great! It went something like this:

*Cell phone beeps*
Hedwig: Hello? Yes, I'd like to leave a message. F*** you!
*a minute goes by and cell beeps again during one of Yitzak's lines*
Hedwig: Did you not get the memo from before? *lighting guy starts shining the spotlight into the crowd to find the culprit*
Hedwig: Ohhh, you can run but you cannot hide from me pansy! Show yourself!
*clap clap, laugh laugh and the show went on*



"May the Schwartz be with you!" - Yogurt
#17

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

That stuff sounds hilarious (about stopping the shows and mentioning cellphones and stuff), but I don't think that it makes sense for a person to break character (unless the play/musical breaks the fourth wall itself) just to acknowledge that a cell phone rang.
#19

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

Anthony did not break character (that's why I wrote Hedwig, not Anthony) and the show is supposed to be a concert in a small venue. All throughout the show he interacts with the audience and he just did a great ad-lib that night. Just to clear up any confusion :)
"May the Schwartz be with you!" - Yogurt

Updated On: 1/2/04 at 10:18 PM

#20

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

Ok, I have a few:

-Rude ushers (see main board for people's experiences)
-People who fall asleep during the show and then snore
-Candy wrappers on the floor
-Late comers
-Cell phones/beepers
-Little kids who ask a million questions DURING the show
-People who kick the back of your seat
-People singing during the show
-People who have those videocamera cell phones, and talk to their friend while sending them the show via cell phone
-Constantly talking people
-People laughing for no reason and interrupting the sad or very dramatic parts of the show when the rest of the audience is in complete silence

I have my books and my poetry to protect me...
#22

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1) people who bring little kids to see the shows (I saw Wicked last week and this 6 year old boy was next to me. He always "ewwwed" when people kissed and asked when he could go home).
2) people who come in late and disturb the entire row.
~*Christa*~ "Don't ya wanna be the life of the party?" Idina Menzel, THE WILD PARTY
#23

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: theatre pet peeves

1. People talking during the show
2. Candy wrappers
3. People singing during the show
4. People leaving when the cast is bowing
5. People who move their heads back and fourth during the show
6. People clapping before a song is over
7. People kicking my seat
8. Cellphones or beepers going off during the show

One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art-Oscar Wilde

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