Alan Cumming calls out bootlegger - Page 2

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:21am

I wasn't referring to this particular Alan Cumming case, but instead to someone way back who said performers have the right to stop a performance if someone is filming, which I don't agree with.

Yes, SuttonRoss, they wouldn't have to do anything if someone wasn't filming, but it doesn't give them the right to stop the performance.

And as for "false equivalency" that was precisely my point. Who can say which is "more wrong" in the grand scheme? Disrupting a performer's focus and impeding their ability to do their job properly and deliver to their paying audience or disrupting an entire audience's viewing of the play they paid for by calling someone out?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:24am

"Yes, SuttonRoss, they wouldn't have to do anything if someone wasn't filming, but it doesn't give them the right to stop the performance."

I disagree, I think they absolutely do.

"Who can say which is "more wrong" in the grand scheme? Disrupting a performer's focus and impeding their ability to do their job properly and deliver to their paying audience or disrupting an entire audience's viewing of the play they paid for by calling someone out?"

The first one, emphatically.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:31am

Alan Cumming giving a distracted performance for 2+ hours vs. Alan Cumming breaking character for 5 seconds and getting back on his game is an easy choice. Plus, in this show, he breaks the fourth wall all the time... he could easily, in character, say "I see what you're doing up there, and unless you want me to call the police, you better put that away and stop." No one would even know it happened...

[gleek4114]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:36am

Thought some might like this. See how Billie handles misbehaved audiences:

http://www.broadway.com/videos/155636/six-time-tony-champ-audra-mcdonald-on-why-lady-day-makes-her-hit-the-drive-thru-acting-with-oprah-and-being-a-broadway-broad/?page=1&series=show-people-with-paul-wontorek&sort=newest#play

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:37am

I actually think it's pretty awesome when someone manages to call someone out while still staying in the world of the show in an ad-lib sort of way like that. I just don't want them to completely halt the scene. For some shows it works great (like CABARET, HEDWIG or LADY DAY) but others it absolutely does't.

I guess our opinions are just different, SuttonRoss.

Updated On: 11/24/14 at 12:37 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:37am

Can you summarize it, or say where it is within the 24-minute video?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 12:48am

Sorry! Its about 7 minutes in :)

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 2:05am

.....and in a year or so from now, many poo-pooing this will be looking for bootlegs. Just sayin'

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 6:06am

Sutton,

In NYC jaywalking is against the law, walking between cars while riding the subway is against the law, if you're driving in NYC you're not allowed to turn on red and yes, even bootlegging a show at the theatre. Yet, these are all things that happen all the time in the city. When it comes to committing crimes, there are different levels of severity. The crimes that I just listed are just that, crimes.

You don't need to take any law school class to understand that there are different penalties depending on the nature of the crime. For example, if a guy kills someone it is a much harsher offense than filming a Broadway show and, of course, the guy in question would get a harsher punishment than if someone was bootlegging a show. That's how it should be. It would be a sad state if you honestly felt that someone filming a Broadway show should get the same punishment as someone who killed someone else.

Yes, it is a problem and yes, it is black and white. Sad to say, that there's going to be others who do it ,and it's not a good thing. Usher's aren't always on top of it and there are other audience member's who don't like the idea of an actor crashing down the fourth wall and destroying what was supposed to be a good evening of escapism (overpriced escapism, but still.)

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 10:50am

They can do whatever they want.

As annoying as it may be, it doesn’t give actors the right to “do whatever they want” or “scream at anyone they want.” That is not a part of their job. In the same way that if someone was being disrespectful of my job position or making my job slightly harder to do, I still have to maintain a level of professionalism. There are certain, more appropriate ways to handle situations like this (Audra’s brilliant “confused Billie,” Alan calling them out after the show, etc.), but I don’t believe actors have the right to do whatever they want or scream at someone any more than anyone else. Because their job is less conventional than other jobs, they may not get reprimanded for it in the same way that some would if they treated someone this way (no matter how disrespectful) while on the job, but I don’t think that then gives actors the “right” to do whatever they want in such situations.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 11:06am

Islanderp fan,

Illegal is illegal. There are no shades of grey. You are ranting about Alan stopping the performance, which isn't true. He was collecting for a charity and can say whatever the hel he wants.

For someone who just joined, you sure sound like a know-it-all.


And Gillmore, who said anything about actors screaming?

Just you.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 11:26am

And Gillmore, who said anything about actors screaming?

Just you.

No, Sutton Ross did:

Actors have every right to say something and scream at anyone they want.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:13pm

Yes, that was me. I stand by it 100%.

"Illegal is illegal. There are no shades of grey. You are ranting about Alan stopping the performance, which isn't true. He was collecting for a charity and can say whatever the hel he wants."

Thank you.

Islanderfan: "It would be a sad state if you honestly felt that someone filming a Broadway show should get the same punishment as someone who killed someone else."

Yeah, cause that's what I said. Jesus Christ. I already explained the penalty boot leggers should receive, in wonderful detail. It has zero to do with murder, and the criminal procedures in place when someone actually commits a murder. You are assuming I put them in the same category but only you did that because, well, you are dumb as hell.







Updated On: 11/24/14 at 01:13 PM

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:24pm

My EX always mocked me by telling friends and family I had rules when you went to the theatre with me. So the last performance I attended I handed these rules out to these friends and family. Please let me know if I missed anything.

MY THEATRE RULES
1.Show up to the theatre ½ hour before the scheduled curtain time.
2.Go to the restroom and buy souvenirs before taking your seat.
3.Turn off your cell phone and unwrap anything that will annoy your fellow audience members during the show.
4.Put your Playbill in your bag or under your seat. Do not flip through it while the show is on.
5.Lights go off…so do your mouths until intermission.
6.If it’s a musical there is no humming or singing along with the songs you’re familiar with. We pay high prices to listen to the professionals.
7.Unless you are having a medical emergency you do not get out of your seat while the performance is in progress.
8.During intermission do what you have to do (restroom, smoke, buy souvenirs), but be back in your seat in ample time before Act II begins.
9.Any discussion about the show during intermission must only be positive comments. Any negative conversation should be held until you’re far enough from the theatre. Remember you never know who is sitting near you. Could be family/friends of someone involved with the show.
10.If any of these rules are broken you will never be invited to join me at any other Broadway production.
FYI: I carry a small wooden bat in my bag and I’m not afraid to use it!!!
ENJOY the show!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:30pm

2.Go to the restroom and buy souvenirs before taking your seat.

Restroom, yes. Buy souvenirs? What if I don't know if I like the show enough to get a button? Also, I'd rather people buy at intermission or after; that way they're not rattling the bag around during the show.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:33pm

Why do I need to be there 30 minutes early?!

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:36pm

Some friends either buy a button or magnet for every show they see. So I'd prefer they buy them as they walk in and put them in their bags before the show starts.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:37pm

I love your list boobs, except arriving that early. I walk in with 5 minutes to spare, always. I would never want to wait in a huge line outside.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:38pm

Sutton, I've always been an early bird. I'm the person who always has to stand up to let you pass by to get to your seat.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:40pm

I always buy an aisle seat, so by the time I get there, the row has usually filled in. Easier.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:41pm

haterobics, it you knew my friends and family you'd know why I say 1/2 hour.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:42pm

OIC. I have family whereby if we have a 6pm dinner reservation, I tell them it is for 5:30 just so we get there on time.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:43pm

So you do understand

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:44pm

Yes, but I tend to see Broadway shows solo, so I don't have to trick me to get there on time.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/24/14 at 1:45pm

In the days when I bought souvenir brochures it was such a pain to figure out where to put it (where it wouldn't slide under the seat in front of me), I'd wait until after.