Eating in the theatre. Thoughts?

[Just_John]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 4:49am

https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2017/nica-burns-theatre-must-accommodate-people-want-eat-snacks/

I just finished a trip to the West End and saw 8 shows. Eating in theatres in London has become a big problem, and this woman who runs Nimax seems to think it’s a non-issue. Personally, I think if you can’t go three hours without eating, you can spare everyone the frustration and go literally anywhere else. Eating happens in New York theatres, but people are much more considerably quiet, and the ushers will shut down anyone not being so.
Is this a money concern for selling snacks at theatres from her point of view? I can’t imagine why her reaction wouldn’t want to be to add announcements to not eat noisily like we have in New York. I wish more actors took a stand like Imelda Staunton.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 5:10am

I'll start by saying I almost never buy anything at the snack bar, but it doesn't bother me that much.

Food is incredibly tangled up in socialization. The movies, museums -hell, even IKEA, the mall.

You meet friends for coffee, dinner, lunch. If you have them over, something is offered/provided.

I have a monthly staff meeting and snacks are provided every time, and everyone imbibes during the meeting.

I've heard tell of patrons bringing in full meals to a theater..McDonalds or even fried chicken. I imagine the smell would be most distracting and that makes it pretty rude.

Once theaters got a taste of extra money, it became ingrained.

[AADA81]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 9:58am

When I saw "Drowning Crow" in 2004, the woman next to me was crinkling so many wrappers I couldn't hear the actors and she refused to stop until I got an usher.  When I saw "Sweeney Todd" with Patti Lupone, I was in the second row and a person in front of me put his cup and candy bars up on the stage before curtain.  An usher had him remove them.  I saw a similar thing happen at '25th Annual Spelling Bee".

I think it can be problematic with some theater-goers.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 10:47am

On a recent Megabus, the lady in the seat ahead of me was eating corn on the cob.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 10:50am

I hate smelling food, hearing wrappers, or hearing chewing during a show. It's gross and it can wait. If you need a snack before the show or at intermission, fine. If you want a drink (without ice so that it's quieter) during the show, fine. There's no reason to hinder the experience of others.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 11:04am

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.

[Eboyd514]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 11:19am

BalconyClub said: "On a recent Megabus, the lady in the seat ahead of me was eating corn on the cob."

Last Megabus trip the guy next to me was eating a lobster and drinking a bud light

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 11:21am

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.

[youwillbefound2]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 11:25am

I mean I understand something like a small thing of candy before the show starts or during intermission but unwrapping things and making noises during the show is so rude and distracting

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 11:42am

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?

[followspot]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 12:55pm

I am a civilized and considerate theatergoer, and therefore only ever eat a small cellophane-wrapped hard candy during a theatrical performance.  I keep them at the very bottom of my zippered purse, and unzip/dig/rezip only when I need one, which is every 20 minutes (oddly, only during theatrical performances).  I unwrap each candy as slowly as possible – usually taking a full 5 to 10 minutes each – so as not to disturb anyone (thank goodness the actors are unable to hear me, or I'd really worry).  I only wish that everyone were as civilized and considerate as I am.  You're welcome.

Updated On: 9/8/18 at 12:55 PM

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 1:08pm

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. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 1:10pm

Honestly, the majority of the time, the people who crinkle for 5 minutes thinking that it is somehow less distracting is almost more irritating. Just open the damn thing and get it over with.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 1:32pm

 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.  

[klinnerz]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 2:21pm

I noticed the Imperial sells candy and whatnot before the show, and I've always been puzzled by that. They basically encourage people to eat from loud candy wrappings. 

There was also a person next to me at Hello Dolly who was terribly loud while sucking their mints... They also had the loudest breaths coming from their nose... I may be too picky on that one, but still.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 2:31pm

I mean I’m not gonna bring in a full course meal, but I definitely buy candy from the concession stand. My go to items are peanut m&m’s or sour patch kids. I make sure I open the wrappers before the show starts, though.

[Tom5]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 2:44pm

  During  Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play I ate donuts, but that was the only time.

[theaterdarling]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 3:08pm

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.

 

[bk]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 3:21pm

People who eat in theaters, who can't stuff their gaping maws before or after the show or, if they must, at intermission are - morons.  Unless someone has a low blood sugar attack, just no.  But then, theaters sell this crap so everyone gets what they deserve.

[michaelhale]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 3:32pm

How is it theatergoers fault that they sell food to eat in the theater? The theaters are selling food to eat during the show, so people will buy and eat it. If you tell me "here you can buy this and eat this here" then I am going to assume it's fine - that the crinkling noise isn't as loud as it seems to me, that I'm just bein sensistive to how loud my chewing might be. Eating candy, that is in a wrapper, is allowed and encouraged in theater's, it's not selfish or dumb to do it. Its prevelance isn't because people don't care, it's because they're told they can. It's 100% on the theater's if it bothers you, not the theatergoers doing something well within the rules of the presented theater etiquete (whether it's actually proper or not).

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 4:36pm

I’m one of those Theatre goers that never eats anything or drinks anything during a performance. If I get super thirsty or hungry, (which never happens) I will buy something at intermisson and finish it at intermisson. I always make sure to eat before.

The worst experince ive had is I dont know how, but this family in front of me at Aladdin, somehow got a bag of chips in there, and Chewed with their mouths open. All I could hear were chomps. It drove me crazy! Luckly it ended after a few numbers. But hey it blocked out Courtney reeds voice. So I guess I didnt miss anything.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 4:48pm

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

[robskynyc]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 5:23pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "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 arriveto 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."

HERE HERE! this b!tch next to me at head over heels had the AUDACITY to pull out an ENTIRE CONTAINER OF CHINESE FOOD. i looked at her and said "oh no sweetie this isnt a buffet. put that away or im grabbing the usher." she started to eat, i got up and grabbed the usher who made her throw it out. :)

i swear some people were raised in barns.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 5:55pm

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/

 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/8/18 at 5:55pm

Must have been related to the woman who brought a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter and started to make sandwiches for her family during Act 1. I don’t remember the show It was long ago. I blocked it out.

Complained bitterly when it was taken from her.