CRITICS RAVAGE BROADWAY AUDIENCES — Page 2

I was at a show (CSC's Passion) last year and the gentleman three seats down from me kept whispering loudly during the performance to his companion. Both were shifting about in a distracting fashion, griping and at one point even making fun of the show. Then they got up and left in a quiet but still noticeable fashion around the halfway point.

The man doing all this was Scott Rudin. I recognized him. So when you have Broadway producers misbehaving, how do you expect Broadway audiences to behave?

Updated On: 7/1/14 at 05:53 PM

"The man doing all this was Scott Rudin. I recognized him. So when you have Broadway producers misbehaving, how do you expect Broadway audiences to behave? "

Scott Rudin is a "special" case, if you get my drift.

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wonderful; I see your point. The insincere and phony woooooooooooooooooo's and woooooohooooooo's are just annoying to me. The real and sincere audience reaction is always magical. But yes.. I will take that any day over cells, conversation and loud eating in the theater. I would never say anything to someone for their woooohoo's. But I will tear a bitch down for the other stuff.

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Updated On: 7/1/14 at 07:28 PM

In addition to Dame's comment, performers appreciate a sincere seated applause more than an obligatory standing ovation. Many times, these people standing are just trying to get out of the theater ASAP without showing true appreciation for the effort the actors have given them.

^^^^ I can't say such things NEVER happen in the provinces, but I am not the first to report I don't find behavior nearly as bad in Los Angeles. (The exception is texting during the show, though even there people do try to hold the phone between their knees to block the light.)

I think the difference is that theater in LA only draws from the regular theater-going audience. It doesn't bring anywhere near the number of people for whom a trip to the theater is a new experience.

ETA the problem of people humming/singing along is an old one. I did a production of THE MUSIC MAN in high school (1972) and members of the audience not only sang along, they even recited well-known lines of dialogue along with the actors. (I just shrugged and figured it was evidence of how well-loved the show is or was. And, hey, at least they were paying attention!)

Updated On: 7/1/14 at 08:53 PM

I've generally been pretty lucky when attending shows, but part of that can probably be attributed to the fact that I've seen only a dozen Broadway shows and maybe five tours at our local theater.

At Holler if You Hear Me last week, someone nearby was taking their sweet time putting their phone away when the show started. The usher shined her flashlight right on her and scolded her to put it away - seems that perhaps someone was reading the Previews thread on this board! In Act 2, a younger (16ish?) person had his phone on his leg and periodically checked and returned messages - despite letting it be just fine in Act 1.

When I was at Motown the night before that, the woman next to me was doing who knows what exactly on her phone throughout the show. She kept it in her purse, but in a dark theater that doesn't matter, the light is pretty obvious. I'd like to think she was texting, but I honestly think she was just checking the time, which was strange because at intermission she called someone and was telling them how great the show was and how it was taking her back.

I do absolutely agree with the posters who've said the worst thing is latecomers. At All The Way, they held people for the first 20 or so minutes, which is nice until that time is up and the stampede comes down the aisle to be seated. Luckily I didn't get put in a position where I had to move so a tardy patron could be seated, but it's still just as distracting to have it going on around you.

I think I've seen this posted in one of the other threads about poor behavior, but a small part of the issue could be the way shows try to deliver the no cell phone/pictures/etc. pre-show announcement in the cutest way possible. It's difficult for people to take the announcement seriously when it seems the show itself doesn't either.

I don't think it's as bad elsewhere, having seen many shows in L.A. and the Midwest. It's the same problems, sure, but to a lesser degree.

People pay one month's rent to see a Broadway show now, so they feel oddly entitled to act as if they were at home while they watch it.

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I think once they started allowing food and drink in the theater things started going downhill IMO. It made the atmosphere more like going to the movies and then you noticed the audience started dressing much more casually. Personally, I still wear jacket and tie to shows and probably stick out like a sore thumb compared to most of the audience - lol. In a perfect world, it would be great if people could not bring in cell phones but that is not realistic. Finally, I just think people are more crass today and that is reflected in the behavior at some shows.

I've definitely had less of a problem in regional houses in regards to food and social media. Talking/singing along -- seems the same as on Broadway.

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Also, PLEASE KEEP PDA'S DOWN TO A MINIMUM IN A THEATER. When I went to see If/Then, a couple next to me was making out for half of Act 2, which is full of very dramatic points. So annoying and inconsiderate to have to hear that while Idina or any of the cast members were performing.

"During Defying Gravity, as soon as Elphaba sings. "It's me !" and begins to rise, Joy was on her feet cheering with tears in her eyes."

And blocking the view of the person behind her?

I prefer a quiet audience to a loud one, and in fact, I used to fight the good fight to keep those around me from talking, singing or otherwise acting like dopes during a show. Alas, I think its time to acknowledge that standards have changed and if you see a mass appeal show (particularly well into its run) people are going to talk, take pictures and sing (sometimes even if its not a musical) and you either need to Zen out (I find a couple of drinks help) or select shows that are more likely to attract a quieter, more attentive crowd.