Quite right, Oz. We Brits know how to have a civilized debate.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
I have done day seats for Wicked several times and Hairspray twice previously and also sat in the front row for Avenue Q (Noel Coward) and Whistle Down the Wind (Palace). I have never experienced the problems with crazy fan girls or anything like that (and the number of times I saw Wicked would probably put me in the fan boy group anyway) but have seen people who take it more seriously than I could imagine. I was at Spring Awakening tonight with my second row ticket from TKTS, behind the day seats. The people in front were talking about how amazing the understudies would be (true, everyone was great imho) but also talking about the plot a bit too much which caused someone else in that row to walk away and avoid the discussion.
The first row (and possibly second in some theatres) should be discounted I think, to be fair you are too close, but on general release - like Avenue Q did. Day seats could be like Mama suggested, wherever the Box Office wants to put you (maybe with a guarantee of 30 day seats at £20 or something). Isn't that how Lord of the Rings did it? It seemed a bit random anyway when I did day seats there.
I love sitting up front too on a return visit, but would happily book in advance, as long as its priced as restricted when it is(zero leg room, high stage).
With wicked the front row is a good view, its pretty darn spacious too, and in the centre a much better view than the vastly more expensive sides. Moving the day seats to the sides, in small groups would have eliminated the nutter problem quickly and painlessly.
For me it does not matter where day seats are, they can be at the front of the stalls or the back of the highest balcomy of the theatre, as long as there is a strict policy that if someone disturbs the audience and/or the cast, they get kicked out after a warning or two (yes, I had a very bad experience last week while in London when six people sitting directly behind me completely spoilt a show for me by signing along and talking through the whole show and an usher and even management would not do anything but telling me I have to live with it).
I'm fairly new to the theatre world (don't shoot me, at least I showed up eventually, I'm just a little slow getting there) but I thought the idea of the discounted front row seats was because in many theatres the stage is so high that it isn't very comfortable sat at the front. I saw Billy Elliot a few weeks back and some people who had gone for the front row seats moved half way through the first act to where I was at the back of the stalls because they said they couldn't see the cast's feet (not great when you're trying to watch dancing).
I always thought Wicked was a problem because the view at the front is so good because the stage is lower/at a different angle or something. I've only ever sat front row at Wicked (no, I'm not an obsessive fan, I was just trying to find something cheap to do on my own on a rainy day in London when my friend was ill. It was before the days of Kerry Ellis), I was amazed with how good the view from the front row was. Those tickets are a total bargain and they?re always going to attract the fangirl/boy crowd because they?re great seats and are so cheap. You can see the show loads of times of you only pay £25 a pop.
Whilst I understand where you're coming from - I've had experiences with the Wicked fangirls/boys, I was unfortunate enough to be sat behind them a few weeks back (yes, I had words with them), I feel that changing the location of the day seats isn't the solution - yes, the cast will no longer see them if you stick them at the back somewhere, but they will still annoy the general audience sat around them, they're still going to sing/bop along/dance/mouth the words and laugh at 'in jokes'.
The solution lies with the staff at the theatre I'm afraid (well, okay, it lies with the fangirls/boys learning how to behave themselves but that wont happen) - if fangirls/boys are disruptive in any theatre you treat them like you would any disruptive patron - have words - if that doesn't work then kick them out. Harsh, but when they're ruining other people's show they're being harsh too.
I also don't think it would be fair to take away the front day tickets, because it ruins it for other people too. The fangirl/boy crowd is only a very small minority and if you go to an evening show in the middle of a week you're less likely to find them. Its a small group of 'fans' on the odd night spoiling it for everyone else, I don't think everyone else should be punished.
I do think it would make a lot more sense to 'lotto' off these seats on the day of a big 'last' performance though - the same seats at the same price, but give the fans a time to show up and lotto off the tickets to stop all of this arguing/camping/bitching, let everyone have a fair chance.
Good luck to everyone going on May 9th, you brave people, hopefully it wont be too bad. Watch out for pins if you happen to be sat next to fangirls/boys.
I think London shows should bring in the Lottery scheme! Brilliant Idea!
And anyone else up for meeting outside the Apollo Vic of Saturday Morning at 10:00 (Or whenever it is) and watching people dressed as the characters crying there eyes out screaming "WE LOVE YOU KERRY!".... Actually, maybe not such a good idea to be anywhere near the Apollo Vic Saturday Morning!
Copied and pasted this comment I made on a different thread.
Day seats were designed to get the hardcore fans in for cheap, the producers gathered if you make them cheap, people will queue, so getting the dedicated follower, hence making loads of noise, upping the atmosphere. So these fans did exactly what the producers expected them to do.
I think it was Rent that introduced the concept of day seats.
I'd like to replace the Day Seats with a Lottery, like a lot of shows in New York do. This means no one will camp out, everyone has a fair chance of getting it (not just crazy fans), but also those who don't live close to London get the opportunity.
I think for Wicked, I agree that the day seats should be way further back. If the obsessives want to be twats in the front row, they should f*cking well cough up for the privilege. Also, I reckon it might make them think on if they have paid at least the same for their tickets as the people around them.
