Ben Brantley, Theater Cellphone Use- Page 2

[mc1227]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 7:56am

I don't know, perhaps I'm paranoid about this, but I don't even risk the vibrate mode during performances, I totally power it down until intermission or the show is over. At the Acorn Theater in December, a specific announcement was made after intermission to please check your phones if you had used them at the break to make sure they were quieted. Naturally, two idiots phones went off. It's not only inconsiderate of the audience around you, but I feel it's very disrepectful to the actors. On my theater pet peeve scale, it ranks right up there with getting up and leaving during a curtain call. It's just rude.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 2:18pm

I don't think you're being paranoid. In a very quiet scene, many phones - even on vibrate - make enough noise to attract the attention of those around you. Turn your phone off, please. Even on silent, when you check to see who called, the light from your phone distracts others. Check for messages at intermission if you need to. It can wait.

[Patash]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 4:32pm

So let me see if I understand what he was trying to say.

"I used to be angry when cellphones went off, but now that it happened to a friend of mine who should have turned her phone off but didn't and was too stupid to find the phone, yet alone the off button, I now sympathize with all the idiots who let this happen."

Huh? What on earth was the point of this inane article?

The bottom line is that anyone who lets a cellphone ring in a performance thinks rules don't apply to him (or her) because he (or she) is above all rules.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 4:46pm

Why are you putting words in quotes that no one ever said, Patash?

"Huh? What on earth was the point of this inane article? "

He needed to meet a deadline and made the error of writing this article.

"The bottom line is that anyone who lets a cellphone ring in a performance thinks rules don't apply to him (or her) because he (or she) is above all rules."

No, the bottom line is not everyone's perfect. If Brantley's companion felt she was "above all rules", she wouldn't have been embarrassed after the incident. She would have been as arrogant and haughty as those of you who never, ever make a mistake.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 4:46pm

Brantleys straight..?

[BrianS]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 7:06pm

ghostlight, I know it's not a mistake because she not only forgot to turn it off on her own, but then IGNORED the pre-show announcement which shouldn't even need to be given in the first place. The announcement is the back-up plan. It's to catch all the people who couldn't manage common sense on their own. How do you not get this? I don't know why you keep referring to this as a mistake. It was either carelessness or thoughtlessness. When the rest of us are investing so much time and money to share this experience, either one is extremely disrespectful.

I heard a cell phone go off too many times, but one in particular was at a crucial moment in "The Invention of Love." Did it destroy my experience of the play? No. But it completely took everyone in that theater out of the moment at a point in the play that should have been transcendent. Something that should have been pure and remained in my memory for a lifetime as a moment of excellence in the theater is forever tainted by that stupid ringing and fumbling (maybe a bit dramatic, but it's how I really feel). To take that away from the rest of us... "I'm sorry" just isn't good enough.

[Patash]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 7:43pm

ghostlight, I think you miss the main point (that was left unstated). Every single person who has ever let a cell phone go off during a performance is really no different than this bimbo was. Just because this happened to be a friend of his, he seems to indicate that now he understands when it happens and has some sort of sympathy. Really? Do you honestly think that the next time one goes off he'll sit there and say to himself, "well, there was a good reason that person didn't turn it off, so it doesn't bother me and I understand"? Give me a break.

Why did I put it in quotes? Because I thought it was clear to anyone from my opening sentence that I was paraphrasing -- but it was essentially what he was saying. Sorry you didn't understand that. Without quotes it wouldn't have seemed like an attempt to indicate what he meant by what he said. That's also why I put it in first person in case you didn't notice.

So what are YOU saying? That it was perfectly understandable that this person let her phone ring despite the announcements and the generally accepted knowledge that you should have them turned off? And are you honestly naive enough to think that anyone whose phone rang during a show WASN'T embarrassed? Of course they are. Why is this woman any different than anyone else except that she has a powerful friend to say it's all right in this case?

Updated On: 2/14/10 at 07:43 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 7:55pm

I'm totally paranoid about my phone going off. I have horrible imaginings of my phone blaring during a show's most quiet moment. I turn my phone off as soon as I sit in my seat.

I don't understand how people can forget to silence or turn off their phones. Every show makes an announcement, it's in the Playbill, many theatres have signage in the lobby. It's all over.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 9:57pm

I still don't understand the statement that Brantley was "wrong" about actors being disrespectful and leaving on their phones. Is acting now the only profession void of hypocrites?

[BrianS]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 11:10pm

I said that about his comment on actors because my experience of actors in attendance is that, on average, they are excellent theater-goers. I don't understand why he'd go out of his way to cite them as a problem of rudeness as it implies they show a higher than average level of rudeness when my experience is the exact opposite. Of course, every demographic has bad apples, but in general this is true.

The example I can offer as proof is every gypsy run on Broadway. Never heard a phone go off once. Respectful and responsive... that is my general experience of performing with actors in the house.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 11:15pm

People think that post on Broadway Abridged was actually written by Ben Brantley?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 11:23pm

"I know! I'll write an article about my friend's cell phone going off at the theatre so she can be even more embarrassed, humiliated and belittled!"

That's what you get for "befriending" a cantankerous arts critic.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 11:32pm

I'm more embarrassed for the kid who might not be able to work on his college applications during the two hours his mom is unreachable.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 4:11pm

"So what are YOU saying? That it was perfectly understandable that this person let her phone ring despite the announcements and the generally accepted knowledge that you should have them turned off?"

I'm saying no such thing,Patash, just as your "paraphrase" in quotes wasn't so much a paraphrase was a complete rewrite of Brantley's ill-advised article. I'm saying mistakes do happen and many of you are completely misreading Brantley (if you really read the article at all) and blowing this way out of proportion.

"And are you honestly naive enough to think that anyone whose phone rang during a show WASN'T embarrassed? Of course they are. Why is this woman any different than anyone else except that she has a powerful friend to say it's all right in this case?"

I am pretty certain that I'm in Broadway houses far more often than you are, and no, many people are not remotely embarrassed when their phones go off - in fact, they often answer them and talk. Brantley said, in fact, that his first response was to "glare" at her. He never said it was "all right" that her phone went off - just that he's now racheted down a bit his previously rabid attitude about it.

"I don't know why you keep referring to this as a mistake. It was either carelessness or thoughtlessness."

Well, you said it right there, BrianS. If it was carelessness, it was a mistake - and yes, I agree you're being a little dramatic about this, though of course you have the right to your feelings. Personally I don't tend to allow such superficial things affect me so profoundly. And no, you still don't know for certain it wasn't a mistake, unless you've become a mind-reader.

[Patash]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 8:40pm

Well if you don't even understand that paraphrasing IS indeed a complete rewriting of what was said, then I certainly don't expect you to understand much of what any of us are saying. I'm sorry that whole concept was lost on you.

You are entitled to your opinion. And I am entitled to mine. My opinion is that this woman was no better than any other person who listens to the announcement to turn off cellphones and then decides that announcement doesn't have anything to do with her. She was WRONG.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 9:48pm

"My opinion is that this woman was no better than any other person who listens to the announcement to turn off cellphones and then decides that announcement doesn't have anything to do with her. She was WRONG. "

I never said she wasn't WRONG, Patash, or better than any other person whose celphone goes off, and again unless you, too are a mindreader, you don't know that this woman decided the announcement had nothing to do with her instead of considering the possibility that she simply made a stupid mistake .

I understand entirely what paraphrasing is. When one paraphrases, the intent is to convey an accurate rewriting of the original text, which I don't believe you did. Nowhere did Brantley say that it was okay that her celphone went off. That is not an opinion. That is a fact. Prove otherwise, please.

Also, why have you twice said "I'm sorry" while insulting me, when clearly you're not. I also don't understand why you feel the the need to insult and resort to name-calling ("bimbo? You don't even know this woman).

Really, the article was less about this woman and celphones, and more about Brantley and his slight change of attitude about the situation.

But that's just my opinion.

[Patash]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 10:12pm

When a person hears an announcement to turn off their cell phone and they don't, that's not just a mistake -- it's a definite failure to do what you have just been told. Unless the woman was also deaf, there is no reason for her not to have obeyed. Every person has the opportunity to follow the rule or not to follow the rule. She made her decision.

You're really being silly about this now -- and I'm starting to think you are either this woman defending your own stupidity, or else you have done the same thing. I am not the only person here with the same opinion, but you sure seem focused on MY comments alone.

The woman left her cell phone on. It rang. She was wrong IN MY OPINION. End of my comments.

Yes the article was more about Brantley's change of attitude. That's what most of us have been discussing -- that the only reason his attitude "changed" is because he knew this person. And I personally doubt that his attitude has changed at all to strangers who let that happen. That was one of my points in my first post.

And I didn't say I was sorry I was insulting you. I am not sorry about that at all -- if you are insulted by what I say (having an opinion other than yours) then so be it. I said I was sorry you didn't understand. That is not an apology. Clearly you don't understand the difference there either! Perhaps English is not your first language, and in that case I would understand your confusion in such basics as not understanding what paraphrasing means or not knowing what "sorry you don't understand" means.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 10:37pm

"n that case I would understand your confusion in such basics as not understanding what paraphrasing means or not knowing what "sorry you don't understand" means.

Oh, so you mean that you feel badly for me that I lack comprehension? Try pulling the other leg. I'm not remotely confused. Again, when you paraphrase something, you don't change the meaning or intent of the words. You have an interesting habit of putting words into other peoples' mouths.

"Unless the woman was also deaf, there is no reason for her not to have obeyed."

You lack imagination and experience, then. She could have been conversing and wasn't paying attention, she could have been distracted, she could screwed up and thought she turned the phone off when she didn't. No, I wasn't that woman, and no, I haven't ever forgotten to turn my celphone off.

"I am not the only person here with the same opinion, but you sure seem focused on MY comments alone. "

Then you lack reading comprehension skills, or you misspeak. I have also twice referred to BrianS in this thread (hey, look, you made a mistake!)

"End of my comments. "

Thank God!

[Patash]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 10:52pm

Thank God indeed! If only it is the end of yours as well. Updated On: 2/15/10 at 10:52 PM

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 11:53pm

My phone is always on vibrate and even that bugs me. I HATE when it rings during a show because it distracts me and it's so hard not to look at your phone. I always take it out and don't even look at it and put it in my bag or coat pocket so it doesn't bother me again. Tonight I was at In The Heights and at the end of the 2nd or 3rd song some people were just coming in so the people behind me got up to let them in and the person who got up was right next to my ear and her cell phone was ringing, it's was incredibly annoying and distracting. Then about 30 seconds later her husband's phone goes off.