Bad Audience Behavior- Page 2

[fluerette]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 7:57pm

When I saw The Pillowman people's cellphones kept going off. It happened four times. One of them was at a very suspensful part and the actor's had to wait because the persons cell was going off. The worst part was that the person did not turn it off, it just kept ringing. Finally it went off on its own and the play continuted.

Updated On: 10/23/05 at 07:57 PM

[wickedwitchofthechest]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 8:40pm

My sister is in the chorus of The Crucible (the opera), and according to her, the audience at their performance for teens was so loud, obnoxious, and attached to their cell phones that the conductor actually stopped the show to yell at them.

In my opinion, if you cannot make it through a two-hour performance without calling or text-messaging someone, you need to seek some sort of professional help.

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:04pm

ok, slightly on topic question: have y'all experienced an increase in sitting near (well, within hearing distance of) people who are at shows w/people who do not speak English, and so they spend a lot of time explaining what is happening on stage in another language? and is this 'bad' behavior?

I've had three shows now where I've been near people who are translating, and while it kinda annoys I'm not sure if I would call it 'bad' audience behavior, since what else are you gonna do for your non English speaking friend? I mean it's not like they have booths in the lobby selling translation headsets like they sell those sound amplifying headsets and stuff...

Or should I be more annoyed than I am? :)

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:14pm

Yes, it's bad behavior. They went to a Broadway show knowing full-well it was in English. So if they don't understand the language well and can't make it through the show without an on-going translation, maybe they shouldn't have gone to the show in the first place. Or maybe just discuss it after the show.

When you go to the opera (most of which are in other languages) they don't have subtitles running across the bottom of the stage- and usually no one in the audience understands fluent Italian. No one expects operas to give provide the audience a full translation, so why should they expect theaters to?

[EVIE]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 12:02am

At the Broadway by the Bay production of The Sound of Music, my mom and I were sitting next to a really, really large woman who takes out a smelly, nasty looking salami or pastrami or sausage sandwich as soon as Maria sings "The hills are alive with the sound of music" and begins eating it. Then she starts burping!! We could smell her burps...it was awful! My mom and I left at intermission right after I told her she had no class.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 12:03am

Actually, most operas do have sub or super titles. It's only really big "prestigous" companies like the Met which uphold the no supertitles tradition.

[spintoboy]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 2:04am

"Actually, most operas do have sub or super titles. It's only really big "prestigous" companies like the Met which uphold the no supertitles tradition."

The Met does indeed have subtitles. However, they are not projected; rather, there are little electronic displays on the back of the seat in front of you. If you don't want the subtitles, you can turn off the display.

Back to the thread topic, however. My "favorite" instances of bad audience behavior:

1. Years ago, I was seeing the play "Otherwise Engaged" with Tom Courtenay. I was seated next to a gentleman with a handlebar moustache. During Act I, he took out a tube of moustache wax and proceeded to wax his moustache. It wasn't noisy but it was distracting nonetheless. Later, during Act II, he clasped his hands together, held them up to his chin, and proceeded to tap his thumbnails agains his front teeth. That was noisy.

2. A common problem with revivals is audience members who sing along with the performers on stage. It also happened this week when I saw JERSEY BOYS: the songs were of course familiar to most in the audience and I was seated in front of a row of hausfraus who sang along with every song.

3. Earlier this year when I saw Encores' THE APPLE TREE, a kid behind me ate dinner during the performance.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 2:28am

I hate when people cross their legs even though there's not enough room. The guy next to me at the Jekyll & hyde concert tonight kept wacking me with his heel, and he was one of those who took both arm rests..

grr.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 10:57am

I'm sorry that I am so angry in these posts, but it really bothers me...

I have had a few bad experiences with audiences AND ushers. Audiences are losing respect...

1) July 9, 2005- I saw WICKED on Broadway with my best friend this summer. It was my second time seeing the show, ehr first. We were sitting in the Rear Mezz. A group of people were sitting next to her and talking during act one about "Did y'all heah what Sgelly did back home?!" or when they occasionally looked at the stage "WOW! WOULD Y';ALL LOOK AT THAT!!!" During intermission they took out a big bag of FRITOS and were loudly talking and eating them at the beginning of the second act. A minute into it I had had ENOUGH. I reached over my friend went right up to the closest lady's face and said "WIll you PLEASE be quiet? I am watching this show, but you are DISTRACTING!!!" and they did not ay another word for the rest of the show.

2) August 3, 2005-CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG on Bway had the worst audience I have ever had the displeaure of sitting with. You do not know how badly I wanted to yell and scream atr people during intermission! First off, poeople were lookign at their silent cell phone meus during the show, the lights shining into my face! Two parents sitting behind me were talking about home, a two partents and their two kids came late and kept moving around, talking and playtingh and sitting ont heir parents' laps. A mom sitting across from me kept going into her plastic bag. I regret not saying something to these people. I was disgusted beyond words.

3) November 16, 2003-LES MIZ in Boston at the Colonial Theatre. The Colonial has cramped seating because it was built in 1900. A large man sitting next mne felt the need to rudely spread his legs. because of this they were cramping my sapce and hitting me. I tapped his leg with mine and he didn't do it again.

4) May 15, 2005-THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at The Boston Opera House. I was sitting on the side and ushers had the bneed to talk and laugh at the show during the first half of act 1.

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 11:01am

Okay, one of my friends went to see the tour of "Chicago" in Houston this past Wednesday. This is when the Astros were playing. They had to win this game to get into the World Series. All through the show, people were constantly checking their phones, to check on the game. During Velma and Roxie's final number, everyone started screaming "Go Astros!!!" when they found out we had one. Come on, do these people have no consideration for the performers? My god!!!

When I went to see the tour of "Wicked" in Dallas, there were SOOOOO many latecomers. I mean, there were people coming in during "Dancing Through Life", which is pretty far into the first act. And they were always standing in my way!!! REALLY ANNOYING!!!

Also, I hate it when latecomers come in during a show I'm actually performing in. Or when cell phones ring. It annoys the crap out of me to no end!!!

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 11:14am

What is it about people eating in the theatre? I was at a recent performance of Forbidden Broadway and a group of French-speaking tourists practically set up a picnic in the balcony. All that was missing was a bottle of wine and a checkered tablecloth. I'm 48 and I don't remember this happening a few years ago. Is is that ticket prices are so expensive that people cannot afford to eat out anymore before or after the show? Are people so pressed for time that they don't have time to eat in a restaurant? I hate bag searches as much as the next person, but I would love to see a doorman snatch a Quizno's sub out of somebody's Macy's canvas tote. Is it too much to ask for an announcement about no eating along with the cell phone and pagers reminder?

[Changed_for_the_better]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 11:41am

I agree totally with the hard candy.

Why doesn't anyone think to unwrap it BEFORE the show starts or intermission.

Everyone has had a little tickle in their throat and a piece of candy can avoid having a coughing fit.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 11:42am

"The Met does indeed have subtitles. However, they are not projected; rather, there are little electronic displays on the back of the seat in front of you. If you don't want the subtitles, you can turn off the display."

Ooops! My mistake! I was sure they were the one company that had shunned the use of subtitles. Maybe I'm thinking of another company. I personally don't see the problem with sub or supertitles. If you want to read them, then read them, if not, don't. Plus, they make opera much more accessible to more people. I did an opera unit with my 4th graders last spring, and as long as it was in English and they could follow along, they were entranced!

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 11:55am

I was at a show at my college last night that was being performed in the round. The house enterance which is on house right was also used by the actors. Basically the only way in or out was to walk across the playing space. During the show, someone who was sitting on house left gathered her things (fairly noisily), and walked out of the theatre. I almost forgot, she also almost collided with an actor who was entering at the time.

Updated On: 10/23/05 at 11:55 AM

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 12:14pm

okay, when i saw 42nd st. in december, there was this old guy sitting next to me with his grandchildren i guess sitting in front of him, and during THE WHOLE show he kept leaning over to them, and explainging all this stuff to them, and during the songs (espcieally LULLABY OF BROADWAY) he kept singing along with them,and it was very annoying.
yeah, oh well...

[roquat]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 1:39pm

How's this? I conduct touring shows. Patrons behind me in the front row often tell me the musicians are too loud or try to talk to me in between music cues. During intermission, they crowd around the pit with small children, pointing out the players and instruments ("That man plays that big keyboard, Susie") as if we're a zoo attraction. They also seem to think "And I thought everything was on tape!" is a compliment, rather than a depressing foreshadowing. But the worst ever came from a woman who actually STUCK HER BARE FEET THROUGH THE PIT RAILING AND RUBBED THEM ON MY BACK! FOR NO REASON! WHAT REASON COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE?????? I turned around with a daggerlike glare and she giggled and said, "Oh, I thought you might need a back rub." I said nothing but kept glaring for quite a while, hoping to kill her with embarrassment.

[Color and Light]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 1:59pm

Way back in 2001, when I was 14, I had gone with a *large* school group to see a matinee for 'Beauty and the Beast' - most members of the group were not Broadway enthusiasts ... and it ended up being one of the most mortifying experiences I've had seeing a show.

The show went without too much of a hitch, until it got towards the end of Act 2. By that time, people in my group were shouting things at the stage and laughing at everything, whether it was appropriate or not. But the worst thing was when Steve Blanchard came out as the Prince at the end.

Because a large group of girls afrom my school went 'UHHHEEWWWWWWWWW' loudly.

I think I died of embarassment in my seat.

(But I did get Christopher Sieber's autograph afterwards.)

[EganFan2]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 2:10pm

>>>>>There is always a little old blue haired lady in the shows I see. She says "UGH!" if a character lights a cigarette, She makes a ticking noise if the say "Dirty Words", She shrieks if anyone takes their clothes off, She moans at all blue humor, She opens candy that is wrapped extra tight in a real loud cracky plastic wrap and she has to leave just as soon as the act curtain comes down before the bows - Oh yes, she has to go back in on some shows as she jumped the gun and it wasn't over. I blocked her once and told her I would let her by after the curtain fell, she was mad as hell and I kept encouraging her "Applaud Honey, Applaud!"

I've seen older people like that. They're so worried about getting out of the parking lot afterwards. This is a funny story, though.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 2:58pm

"1. Years ago, I was seeing the play "Otherwise Engaged" with Tom Courtenay. I was seated next to a gentleman with a handlebar moustache. During Act I, he took out a tube of moustache wax and proceeded to wax his moustache."

I think all men who still wear handlebar moustache's should be tackled, held down and shaved. Why oh why do they think it looks good??? Seriously, those waxed beasts make me gag.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 3:53pm

ThankstoPhantom, the usher behavior you mentioned is UNCALLED FOR. I hope you called customer service at the theatre and complained - there is no excuse for rude USHERS.

As an usher, even some of the stories on here shocked me. Especially the one about the woman rubbing her feet on the conductor's back? I would've filed a complaint for sexual harrassment. That's beyond ridiculous.

Some of my favorite patron moments:

A man is smoking in the house before the show. I inform him that there is no smoking at the Auditorium, so he hands me the LIT cigarette, with a pissed-off face.

A woman asked me to keep an eye on her son while she used the restroom before the show - actually a reasonable request. However, she never came back to claim him. After half an hour, I had other duties and I had to call in a manager to watch him... I never did find out what happened there.

I ushered an 8-block of Les Mis shows (8 shows in 5 days - I was REALLY sick of hearing "Look Down" by the end of that!), and Equity requires that Les Mis have a 13-minute hold for latecomers. I say, good for them. But you wouldn't believe the complaints I heard and the names I was called while people were waiting to be seated.


In the manager's office at my venue, there's a black book where we keep customer horror stories. Each time an usher or manager or a ticket-scanner gets a patron from hell, they write down the incident, and at the end-of-season banquet, we read them aloud and vote on who had the worst patron that year, with the person who had to put up with said patron receiving some sort of prize - usually merchandise from the shows that were there during the season. People think that they can behave badly and nobody will notice... guess what? People remember it!

Updated On: 10/23/05 at 03:53 PM

[nydirector2]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 4:01pm

To the person with the issue with non-English speaking audience members, there actually are devices for translating shows on Broadway. They're available in most major languages (French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Itallian, German, etc.) at pretty much all the major shows. They don't translate everything, obviously, but they serve as a transaltion guide

[EganFan2]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 4:01pm

CostumeMistress--I believe it. Boy, do I believe it. I wasn't an usher, but I worked at a place (which shall remain nameless) where we would give tours. Well, if the group ahead wasn't halfway through you had to hold your group. And these people would get so rude sometimes. So imagining theater patrons being that way isn't a stretch at all.

I agree with the conductor harassment thing. I would've had security escort her away.

[Creative Lunatic]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 4:11pm

At a recent performance of the Odd Couple, when the curtain went up, an audience member shouted out in a booming voice, "JUST DEAL THE CARDS MURRAY." This same bore got up several times during the show and disturbed all the people unlucky enough to be in his aisle. The rest of us were less than enthralled with him as well.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 4:12pm

EganFan, I would've removed her feet. But that's just me, and obviously you're a lot nicer.

[billygoatgirl300]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 4:29pm

One thing that really annoys me is when people get up an leave before the curtian call. When I saw Spelling Bee a man in the front row got up and left while the cast was taking their bows and one of the cast members (I think it was Jose)saw it.

When I saw Forbidden Broadway back in July a women from the thrid row got up during the "Wickeder" number and Megan Lewis saw the person get up and she looked kinda annoyed.

Can people just wait a few minutes these people are working their buts off the least you can do is stay and clap for them.