Apparently there are worse things than cell phone usage in the theatre

There's an article in the NY Times that talks about how there have been many times where the audience attending West End shows have gotten physically violent amongst patrons. And, one of the stories mentioned was about someone getting punched for telling a woman to turn off her phone. Goes to show, that, no matter how bad a situation is, there's always something worse going on elsewhere.



https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/theater/body-cameras-london-west-end.html

Interesting read and this bit:

He blamed high ticket prices for the worsening conduct. “It puts so much pressure on a night out,” he said, “and the second something goes wrong it becomes a big emotional issue.”

Maybe because going to a show isn't a huge event for me since I live in NY but this is certainly a take on it. However, if spending a lot of money on a ticket is going to cause someone "emotional issues" if a minor detail goes wrong, something else is going on there.

On another note, don't know what is worse -- wrappers or non-stop coughing during the show. I should start carrying Ricolas with me to hand out.

RippedMan said: "At "Oklahoma!' on Tuesday the two ladies behind me kept opening endless wrappers and talking during the entire show. It was so distracting. Every thing elicited a comment. The people around me were getting annoyed as well."

While I understand the reason for it, I think that's unfortunately one of the drawbacks of leaving the house lights on for this revival. The audience suddenly feels more like they're at a chili cook-off with their friends rather than attending a Broadway show, and unfortunately some people get so swept up in that feeling that they start acting like they're just hanging out with friends instead of watching a musical.

NievesG said: "On another note, don't know what is worse -- wrappers or non-stop coughing during the show. I should start carrying Ricolas with me to hand out."

I get hwy coughing is annoying, but wrappers are way worse. People can't control coughing, but people can control fiddling with a wrapper. The person could technically leave, but that's just as bad an interruption (unless you happen to have an aisle seat). Plus some shows won't let you back in so that could be a completely wasted ticket, so while it suck, it's really just better to bare it.

From the stories I've heard, urinating in one's seat is worse than cell phone usage. Yes you paid $$$ to see the show but please go to the bathroom when needed. I don't even know how theaters clean these cushioned seats.

Wick3 said: "From the stories I've heard, urinatingin one's seat is worse than cell phone usage. Yes you paid $$$ to see the show but please go to the bathroom when needed. I don't even know how theaters clean these cushioned seats."

I don't even need to hear anyone's stories. I think it's safe to say as a general rule, using your seat as a porta potty would be pretty high up there.

I saw patrons get into a physical altercation when I went to AIN'T TOO PROUD in LA.



It was hands down the most memorable part of that performance.

at Hannah Gadsby show the other week this girl behind me and her boyfriend were CHOMPING their gum, like cows it was so unbelievably loud

and can people really not sit for 75 minutes without thumbing their program through a super quiet play

also unless the words out of your mouth are "i am having a heart attack" or a variation NOTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN THE PEOPLE TALKING ONSTAGE!!!

ok im good now

orangeskittles said: " She checked her social media, then ordered an Uber. Then she started taking pictures of the shirtless actor.I could see it all from 4 rows back. It absolutely ruined the show for me. I wanted Othello to go after her next. Some behavior is notjust disruptive, but flagrant disrespect towards everyone else in the audience and onstage."

Did anyone closer to her do or say anything? I find the passiveness of people near the rude behavior almost as irritating as the behavior itself. People who don't do or say something are enablers, allowing things to get worse and worse. At a Aaron Tveit concert last year, a woman a several rows in front of us took out her phone and recorded all or parts of every single song during the entire second half. No one near her objected. On the other hand, at the last performance of All My Sons, a woman started taking pictures of Bening at her entrance, another woman behind her leaned over and put her hand in front of the camera, and the phone was put away for the remainder of the show.

I will start this by saying I really don't want this to be an 'us/them' situation but do these audience 'disturbances' happen mostly in America?

In all my years of theatre going in Australia, yes of course I have had to tell someone to shut up, the audiences are respectful of the performance-they sit, watch, applaud, and leave and it's very rare that anyone would stage door.

From what I read on here, and this is my only point of reference, the filming the fighting etc etc in America becomes, should I go and risk these problems just to see a show?

Lack of consideration. It's all about ME and education by television is slowly eroding common decency that was passed down from the generations with a radio for entertainment and general knowledge.

You can no longer teach/tell-it really is out of control. 'People' have been given new found freedom to communicate by electronics and this is now breaking down the intimacy of connection and consideration.

I can go to the theatre here in Australia, for now, and be 99.9% sure we are all there for the same purpose-sit/watch/applaud.

Good luck trying to control those who won't conform.

My favorite thread on here is the Bad Theatre Behavior topic. If I'm paying good money for a show, I don't mind saying something to someone who is being too loud or annoying.

Coughing is not always involuntary. You hear incessant coughing and hacking in concert halls all the time, even in the most intimate passages, and it seems to be growing. My theory is that it is a way to inject oneself into the performance, for whatever psychological reasons. As someone with aspy tendencies, I prefer to stay home and listen to recordings, rather than raise my blood pressure dealing with the tasteless cretins who pass for polite society today.