As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough — Page 3

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#51

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:59pm

While the wifi bothers me... But I take offence to the Mamma Mia is horrible. While it is not Checkov or Sondheim -- it is silly light hearted feel good fun. We all have that one movie or show in our lives we love and enjoy. To many, Mamma Mia is that .

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

#52

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/21/14 at 1:12pm

While the wifi bothers me... But I take offence to the Mamma Mia is horrible.

My thoughts exactly. I don't think there is anything horrible about it.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#53

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/21/14 at 1:21pm

But free Wi-Fi isn't worth using if 15 minutes before the curtain, you have to spend all this time registering to get the service.

I signed up to use the Broadhurst's wifi while I was standing in front of it. It was easy and I haven't gotten any spam.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#54

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/21/14 at 1:29pm

Theaters are still not sure what to do with all of this stuff... the other day, when I saw "It's Only A Play," I was texting with a friend on my way into the theater and happened to mention it was a celebrity-filled cast. He said who's in it as I was passing the merch booth, so I figured it would be easier to snap a pic of the window card and just send it to him. The merch person freaked out, saying that was a copyrighted image and could not be photographed.

I said, it is the image you created specifically to spread the word about the show? The one you put everywhere around town, in subways, billboards, it is plastered on the wall outside the theater... I don't think this is meant to be a secret. But she said it was illegal.

So, I just went to their Facebook page, selected the same exact image, attached it to the text message, and sent it to my friend, while the merch person watched me.

I said, but that was totally fine? She said yes.

I work for one of the Broadway merchandise companies. It is actually a big rule that photos of the merchandise are not allowed. If my boss finds out that I allowed someone to take a photo, I could lose my job.

It may seem like a stupid rule to you. Sometimes, it seems like a stupid rule to me. However, that person was doing her job, and she was not going to risk losing it because you wanted to take a picture.

Also, the show producers plastered the image everywhere for advertising. The merchandise company created the merchandise. Different companies. So your argument of "You put this image everywhere! Let me grab it off your website!" is simply wrong. Of course she didn't care if you took the image off the show's Facebook page, because her company has absolutely nothing to do with that.

Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent

"He's a tramp, but I love him."

#55

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/21/14 at 2:16pm

I don't think this has anything to do with Mamma Mia. It's shubert theaters. To call mamma mia out for something like this is a little harsh; it's not like the creative team, musicians, actors, etc. are the ones encouraging the free wifi. It's the theater owners. I've seen Mamma Mia several times and while I have seen people using phones during the performance, it's not because of the "free wifi" offering, it's because it's a touristy show where most of the audience doesn't know how to act inside a theater because they don't attend it too often. They still have the message before the show that the use of cell phones, recording devices, etc. is prohibited. If the ushers aren't on their toes, then yes, it's a distraction, but I don't think it's because of free wi-fi. it's just because people are ignorant and rude.

#56

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/21/14 at 8:08pm

Isn't it also just a little... tacky? That wasn't an opening for jokes about how tacky Mamma Mia is by the way.

But isn't it though? I can see how advertising free wi-fi would be good for a coffee shop or some other business, and yes I understand how the wi-fi allows people to use social media at the theatre which is free advertising for the show. But still, is it not just a little bit tacky? "Come spend an evening at the theatre! You can use the internet too!"

It's just such a weird thing to openly advertise at a theatre...

#57

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:25pm

I find it an incredibly sad commentary on the state of today's society that people cannot be without their phones for 2 1/2 hours.

If I am coming from home, I leave my phone at home.

If I am coming from work, I turn my phone off the minute I enter the theater, and generally leave it off until I get home.

I'm 57, and have been attending the theater since I was about 11. I found it magical then, and I still find it magical now. I don't want to break the spell.

There is nothing so important that it can't wait until the show is over.

'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'

#58

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/22/14 at 9:35am

I'm sure there's plenty of technology you use now that was around when you were 11. Different people use and respond to new technology differently. Sure, it's incredibly sad to you. I'm sure the idea of free wifi at coffee shops is also incredibly sad to other people, but they've had to move on (or stay home, or seek out the ones without it).

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#59

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/22/14 at 9:55am

I guess I don’t mind that they are offering free wifi (as long as people aren’t on their phones during the show, I don’t care if they are on before, at intermission, or after – I think it’s ridiculous that people have to be playing games on their phones or scrolling through Facebook while waiting for the show to start, especially when they are attending the show with someone else, but as long as it’s not hurting me in any way and it’s not during the show, I don’t care); I have more of an issue with the theatre advertising it in that way. As if it’s an incentive for the show itself – as if THAT is the reason to see this musical over another musical. It’s hard for me to believe that that would actually be a deciding factor for someone to buy tickets for this show over another, but, based off of how it’s being advertised, it makes me think that is, in fact, the case.

#60

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/22/14 at 10:49am

I do not view this as an effort to make it a "deciding factor" so much as a pain free way for a theatre owner to falsely convince the ticket buyer that they are getting greater service included in the price of their expensive ticket... The consumer thinks they are getting more value for their bucks when they are not. In fact, they are slyly hinting at you to partake in the social media marketing tactics employed around the theatre to encourage word of mouth advertising.

#61

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/23/14 at 10:22am

LizzyCurry - I know I sound like Grampa Simpson, but yes, when I see two people sitting across from each other in a restaurant, each engrossed in their phones rather than having a conversation, it saddens me.

I have nothing against technology, but I fear we are losing the ability to have a conversation with each other, face-to-face

'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'

#62

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/23/14 at 10:57am

Stop! Stop! Stop!
Stop using wi-fi right now! You heard the announcement, who do you think you ARE?!
How dare you? Who do you think you are? Get them out!
I won't continue if they're taking pictures! Get 'em out!
Three times! Three times you we're on your phone! You heard the announcement in the beginning, you heard the announcement at intermission, who do you think you are?!
This is the theatre!
Alright, you know what we're gonna do?
I have to say this. I have to say this: we have forgotten out public manners. And we have forgotten that we are in a community and this is the theatre. And all of you, every single one of you, except that person , has respect and I and the rest of this company oh-preciate it. Thank you.

"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir

#63

As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough

Posted: 10/23/14 at 11:34am

This is nothing funnier than a five-year-old joke that has been repeated ad nauseum in theatre circles.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

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