I was not there for this incident, but I believe there is a general negative bias toward actors who do these kinds of things. Since they are the professionals, and working hard to make things perfect onstage, I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Only once have I seen this happen myself, when Roger Robinson rebuked an audience high atop the Belasco, seemingly in character until I realized he was not: "What are you doing up there? Whatever candy you have, would you unwrap it now?!"
I have to say, I'm sure the audience members around the unsophisticated culprit were relieved and thankful. I was doing SRO at the show on this particular day and myself and the lady next to me became pissed off and turned around to see who was speaking far above whisper level behind our shoulders. It was the ushers. Who would we go to to complain about them?
2010
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)