Bad Theater Behavior — Page 37

I saw Aladdin a little less than a year ago.

I was sitting in the Mezzanine, and there was a woman with this kid a few rows ahead. Every ten minutes, the kid would get out of his seat and the mom would lift him up into her lap. That's right, he didn't just sit down himself, his mom grabbed him by the pits and lifted him like Simba every time, which was especially terrible because I was directly behind them a few rows back, so most of the center stage would be blocked for a good 5 seconds in recurring intervals. She'd Simba him off of her lap too, rinse and repeat. Even though I'm calling him a kid, he must've been at least 6 or 7, so he his body was by no means tiny. 

And the woman right in front of me kept leaning forward in her seat all throughout act one, while constantly moving her head. Benefit of the doubt, she might've been trying to see around Mufasa and Simba a few rows up, but she always blocked the lip of the stage for me, and a few key moments with characters. 

I went with family, and my mom was sitting next to me. She said the teenage boy next to her fell asleep, leaned on her shoulder a few times, and snored in her ear. 

On our way out of the theater, I almost stepped on two different meals in our row alone. By meals, I mean one of those cheese or hummus and cracker trays, but regardless. Why are you leaving that on the floor where people are walking? Take your garbage with you. Some people.

I've certainly had other bad theater behavior experiences, but that was by far the worst I've ever experienced in a day. 

I had the worst audience members around me tonight for the tour of Waitress.  I had mentioned in another thread, that it wasn't selling well and I predicted they would have the usual lottery to fill seats.  Well, I won the lottery ($30 for choice of seats).  However, I was offered free tickets for opening tonight, which I thought was to fill up the orchestra, to give the illusion of selling well.  Well, I took the free tickets and to my surprise, my tickets were way up in the balcony.  I would have preferred just buying the $30 tickets.  At this theater, they sell roasted peanuts in a paperish holder.  The two women sitting next to me for the entirety of the first  act, rattled this paper constantly.  I would give them the look, which just made the female closet to me rattle louder.  I surprised myself by not saying anything earlier.  I waited till intermission and finally said something about the noise.  She stated she had the right to eat in the theater.  I said yes you do, but I have the right to not have the show ruined for me due to your noise.  Then, in the second act, the guy two rows in front of me started taping the show.  I was glad this was my second time seeing this (saw the original cast), because the experience was ruined for me.

ArtMan said: "mailhandler777, Jacksonville, Florida is a odd city for what sells. I used to think it was the older shows that did well, but this season, The King and I, sold awful also. When the show doesn't sell, they have a $30 lottery and you can pick your seats. That is why I'm mad at myself for going for free, and ending up with awful seats. I had won the lottery and could of had a great seat. Our last show for the main season is The School of Rock and it is not selling either."

Come to think of it when I saw Wicked there in 2011 I believe it didn't sell well either. I was 1 of maybe 15 people in the balcony 

Burn This on Friday May 3. I was in the second row of the orchestra. The guy in front of me was a real prize. Had a front row seat. The play starts. Quiet scene. And he starts munching popcorn loudly. And talking. I quietly shush him as does his wife. Munch munch munch. His female companion brings out the candy wrappers. But of course. He loud whispers again. Keri Russell shoots him a look. Later Adam Driver does a scene that has the actor on the floor only a few feet away from us. This guy starts talking again. Mercifully the man fell asleep towards the end of act 1 and continued his nap through act 2–not snoring thankfully. His female companion took a selfie of her with him as he slept. For Pete’s sake go back to your motel people.

Updated On: 5/5/19 at 10:55 AM

I know I've told this story many times but at a Hello Dolly! i attended there were two women who talked during the entire Act 1 about how Donna Murphy reminded them too much of Hillary Clinton for them to endure. Finally they bounded out of their seats, apparently traumatized beyond belief. 

It was one of the most wtf moments I've ever experienced in a theater. I see absolutely no resemblance between the two ladies.

I was at a performance of Matilda (touring) in Orch row g center.  A couple arrived and took the pair of seats next to me......and they had an INFANT with them.  I would say about 9 months old. AND of course the baby started to act up AND then the mother begins to breast feed the child. I honestly could not believe what i was seeing. I went found the house manager and complained but he said there was nothing he could do and would move me to another seat.  I hated the show and left at intermission.

My biggest pet peeve is people who don't sit back in their seats.  A few of the last shows I've seen have been obstructed for much of the show by people leaning so far forward their heads block the stage.  I don't understand how it can be comfortable to hunch over forward for 3 hours.  When I try to politely ask for them to sit back the excuses are so ludicrous or they just scoff at me like I'm in the wrong.  One woman said she was having anxiety and needed to lean forward to help with it...throughout the entire 2 parts of Cursed Child.  

People who talk back to a show should be beaten.  

It's happening more frequently and it's annoying as hell.  I assumed it going in, but the audience at Beetlejuice was one of the most drunk, uncouth masses I've seen in awhile.  They regularly shouted back to the stage like they were at a baptist revival

People who are used to audiences being quiet and reacting at only appropriate moments will get really, really pissed at "Aint Too Proud".  It's a concert with a little story splashed in. Do not except the audience not to sing. They will. Go with it, or get super loaded beforehand.  

I had a Orch D2 seat for Hadestown last week .

I developed a horrible cough and found out at 2 pm I had walking pneumonia .

I really wanted to go to see it anyway but realized that I would be a disruption to fellow theatergoers and they had a right to enjoy the show.

Besides I didnt want to be a subject on this particular thread.

This guy with a hacking cough sat near me....yada yada....

Oh well Ill see the show with post dating.....in about 5 years when past dating seats become available !

Hated to miss the show but I know I did the right thing  Just thinking pf the other guy.
 

Updated On: 5/6/19 at 09:23 AM