Audience Member Pet Peeve — Page 2

Yeah it’s tacky, I say as someone who has been majorly guilty of it in my more impetuous arrogant youth (which was sadly not all that long ago.) At least once I went on a pompous rant about how awful something was while on premises and it made me look like a giant jackass. It wasn’t about the show, it was about me and my own insecurities and blah blah. There’s a time and a place and it’s not there. I feel bad that people enjoyed a show and had to listen to some pompous doucheweasel pontificating about how it didn’t meet his precious standards.

We can learn from our poor decisions and choose to be better.

Wow, I couldn't disagree more with what a lot of people are saying. Art should generate strong emotions, both good and bad. I actually love it when I hear someone say they hate a show that I loved. I listen in to find out why- do they have valid arguments? Good theatre should generate discussions, debates and even arguments.

On a side note, sometimes I find shows I've thought I've hated right after the curtain has gone down are shows I remember the most. There are times when reflecting on the piece when I get home, I realize the reason I thought I hated the show was that something in the show hit too close to home and it has triggered a memory  that I had wanted to forget.

I can see both sides of it, but personally, I think it's nice to wait until you're at the bar next door having drinks to start in with the heavy criticism. There might be that person next to you who spent their life's savings to come to New York and see one Broadway show before they die, and even if in their heart they knew it wasn't any good, they don't want to hear it said aloud. Why not wait a couple minutes until you're out of the crowd?

I was one of the few who actually hated Book of Mormon, but rather disturb others with my opinions I quietly left the theatre at intermission and privately complained to my partner away from other ears.  Others should do the same.

LxGstv said: "When I was leaving Hadestown a couple of weeks ago, two women behind me were loudly discussing details of their flow, and how one of them prefers pads over the insertable types... trust me, I much would have much rather they were loudly discussing their opinions of the show, good or bad..."

I’ll give you that one. There are some things that should not be talked about in a crowd. Lmao

I read a book in the lobby during the 2nd act of Book of Mormon. Literally the 1st time in hundreds of nights of theater I had felt like doing that.

But, of course, I didn't pan the show to my husband (who enjoyed it till the end) until we were outside the theater.

Updated On: 4/27/19 at 03:08 PM

When I had a Playwrights Horizons subscription, I intentionally attended Sunday matinees, since it was a large percentage of elderly subscription members. As the theater often took wild swings, that was my safety net. If the show sucked, I knew the audience would entertain me with their commentary. During Mr. Burns, someone loudly asked their neighbor, "Are you following any of this?!"