Eating in the theatre. Thoughts?

The only thing I consume during a show is a drink—usually bottled water. I cannot stand unwrapping noises and candy boxes shuffling around, and I actively stare down people near me if they make that kind of noise during a show. Pig out all you want during intermission! But we all arrive to a show with the same number of hours in our day, so you can and should figure out a way to eat appropriately beforehand so you don't have to chow down when the curtain goes up.

I personally hate it, I don't like the noise (wrappers) and I don't need to be smelling the food either. People managed for many years without eating in the theatre and I wish it would go back to the old days. I understand that is not going to happen, too much money to be made - lol.

The hard-hitting questions:

–– Is it SILENT? (The wrappings and your actual chewing of it)
–– Does it smell? Is it non-messy?
–– Is it going to disturb even one person around you or on stage?
and, finally...
–– Is there something that prevented you from eating it prior to the show or an hour from now at Intermission?

I agree with those who are confused why someone can't wait one hour until intermission or the end of Act 2 to eat. It must be they are so used to eating in movie theaters, they think the same thing is ok in live theaters. And yes, it's an economic consideration: Theaters are pushing the snack bar. It wasn't that long ago that food and beverages were absolutely forbidden in live theaters. Now it's ok.

I have a chronic sore throat and need to have lozenges at the ready. My favorites are Fisherman's Friend. They are very dry and don't stick together like other cough drops when I transfer them into a snack-size ziploc bag. The baggie makes zero noise, but just in case I always wait until applause or a loud music moment to grab a FF lozenge.

It depends on how well the meal goes before the show, how bored we are during the show, if the show is loud enough, and if we can both sneak into the same bathroom stall without anyone seeing us.

TheGingerBreadMan said: "There's no reason to hinder the experience of others."

So simple, but in this day and age it seems that a lot of people do not have that consciousness of or concern for others in the theater. They believe they are entitled to conduct themselves as they would in their living rooms. Too many candy wrapper and email reading incidents to name, but a standout was in the recent revival of THIS IS OUR YOUTH I had a smug 20-something guy sit next to me continually crunching his plastic water bottle and, of course, when I told him to stop, he looked at me like I was depriving him of his constitutional right. BroadwayConcierge, I know you don't do that with your water bottle, but plastic water bottles, in inconsiderate hands, are part of the problem.

There is something absolutely insane and supremely narcissistic about not being able to control yourself for an hour and the lack of respect it reflects makes me crazy. As BroadwayConcierge also said, knock yourself at intermission. But, narcissism = entitlement and basic theater etiquette never invades that mindset.

Snacks and drinks should be banned from the auditorium of the theater. If you’re hungry and want something at intermission or pre-show that’s fine. But keep it outside. I wouldn’t care if they raised ticket prices a few dollars to keep it from the building all together to make up for the lost revenue.

Eat before you go, pack a sandwich for the drive to the theater and eat it on the way, and plan better. I’ve never not eaten before the show, usually hours before so that racing to the bathroom at intermission isn’t a life or death issue.

Broadway Musical Theater and the performing arts theaters that host the Broadway Plays are a totally different ambience and mind-set than that of a cineplex movie theater. This holds true for the performing arts centers across the country. It’s a totally different feeling and experience to see Live Theater, to see the actors and actresses on stage in front of you, and experience wholeheartedly what they are doing right in front of you. Live. I don’t drive for hours, or fly to NYC, and pay $100-250 a ticket, per person, to see movie. This alone should tell you the experience is unique among itself, and that tens upon tens of thousands of people do this same thing across the country.

If I miss something in movie, I can always stream it six months later off of Amazon, Vudu, or Hulu. But I can’t always afford to repeat the experience of a Broadway Show or National Tour, especially when I’m spending $1200+ door-to-door to do it the first time on Broadway, or $150-300 for every National Tour.

Go for drinks before or after the show. Eat before or after the show. Leave the food outside. Or get rid of it all together. Won’t hurt my feelings.

Updated On: 9/8/18 at 04:48 PM

dmwnc1959 said: "Snacks and drinks should be banned from the auditorium of the theater. If you’re hungry and want something at intermission or pre-show that’s fine. But keep it outside.I wouldn’t care if they raised ticket prices a few dollars to keep it from the building all together to make up for the lost revenue.

Eat before you go, pack a sandwich for the drive to the theater and eat it on the way, and plan better.I’venevernoteaten before the show, usually hours before so that racing to the bathroom at intermission isn’t a lifeor deathissue.

Broadway Musical Theater and the performing arts theaters that host the Broadway Plays are a totally different ambience and mind-setthan that of a cineplex movie theater. Thisholds true for the performing arts centers across the country. It’s a totally different feeling and experience to see Live Theater, to see the actors and actresses on stage in front of you, and experience wholeheartedly what they are doing right in front of you. Live. I don’t drivefor hours,or fly to NYC,and pay $100-250a ticket, per person, to see movie. This alone should tell you the experience is unique among itself, and that tens upon tens of thousands of people do this same thing across the country.

If I miss something in movie, I can always stream it six months later off of Amazon, Vudu,or Hulu. But I can’t always afford to repeat the experience of a Broadway Show or National Tour, especially when I’m spending $1200+ door-to-doorto do it the first time on Broadway, or $150-300 for every National Tour.

Go for drinks before or after the show. Eat before or after the show.Leave the food outside. Or get ridof it all together. Won’t hurtmy feelings.

"



Tell that to the Theater Owner$ that have contracts with hospitality companies to sell food and drinks...Sweet Hospitality. https://sweethospitalitygroup.com/theaters/