Food in the Theatre

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:08pm

There was recently this article in my local newspaper about a theatre (which houses touring Broadway shows), allows food and drinks to be brought in depending on who's performing. For example, the complex houses an opera house in which they do not allow food or drinks because the sound travels very well. But they do allow it in the other theatre where the touring and regional shows are performed. I think it's stupid. No food or drinks should be allowed in ANY theatre. They need to start checking bags like they do at theme parks.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:13pm

I swear, we're only a few years away from "We'll deliver that pizza to your seat BEFORE the end of the first act, or it's free!"

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:16pm

They can sell outrageously priced food in the theater but you cannot bring your own in ?

If they thought they could get away with it, they would try & sell you a 7 course meal when you buy a Tee shirt

What about people who are diabetic & sometimes need to eat something because they feel lighheaded? A friend of ours, who is a (diabetic) had to have something sweet during a show & took out a candy bar.

This is just the nanny state rearing its ugly head again. If they can sell you candy in the theater, than if you want you should be able to bring your own in.

Mrs R had thyroid cancer years ago & needs water whenever we go. She takes a bottle with her.

Updated On: 5/28/07 at 01:16 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:19pm

Mr Roxy- It's fine if someone is diabetic and needs something sweet during a perofomance. It's those who don't need food during the show that is bothersome.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:21pm

Will the diabetic need to be searched & give ID?

I will be all for it when they stop selling food in the theater. Why is it OK for management to sell it to you at rates bordering on usery but you can not bring your own in?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:30pm

"What about people who are diabetic & sometimes need to eat something because they feel lighheaded? A friend of ours, who is a (diabetic) had to have something sweet during a show & took out a candy bar."

I am not diabetic, but I can get headaches if I'm hungry, so I'll sometimes eat food in the theater, even if I have to buy one of those outrageuously priced snacks from the lobby. Mind you, I don't pull out a three-course meal.

"It's fine if someone is diabetic and needs something sweet during a perofomance. It's those who don't need food during the show that is bothersome."

How are you supposed to tell the difference?

I don't see the major problem with bringing SMALL SNACKS (not meals) in the theater that don't make loud noises when you eat them. As Mr. Roxy said, if they can sell their overpriced snacks in the lobby, why are there "no food and drink in the theater" rules minus the ones you buy? Is it some trick to get the people who easily get hungry to spend $3 on a small bag of M&Ms? I can also understand that it is also a cleaning issue (so people aren't getting crumbs all over the place), but until they stop selling overpriced snacks in the lobby that are allowed in the theater, I don't see why I can't bring a couple of crackers or cookies to munch on if I get hungry.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:34pm

Finally , somone gets it

Millie, you get a gold star

As long as you are not making a ton of noise or bringing out a picnic basket, it should be allowed. This is like no bringing food into a baseball game, Are they afraid of a player being hit by a stray potato chip? No they want to see you buy $ 5 bags of $ 1.00 peanuts

It's all about the Benjamins either in sports or entertainment

Updated On: 5/28/07 at 01:34 PM

[mustard]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:39pm

I always thought that food bought in the lobby was to be consumed in the lobby only. You can't bring it IN (in my world, anyway).

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:42pm

its really disrespectful to have food in the theater, not only for the theater, but also the actors on stage. it is usually allowed in some casinos, which is quite annoyous

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:45pm

Except for the medical conditions, can't you people eat BEFORE you go to the theatre?

Unless you are having to sit through the entire Ring Cycle or Nicholas Nickleby, then you can live for a couple of hours without eating.

This is another reason why Americans are so fat. If you can't think of anything better to do with you time than eat, there's a problem.

Updated On: 5/28/07 at 01:45 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:48pm

Exactly Diva.

[mauriposa]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 2:39pm

A couple of months ago, we had lunch before going to a matinee and my friend had the remains of her giant club sandwhich with her in a plastic bag. I told her to pitch it, but she wanted to see what would happen if we tried to bring food in. She had no intentions of snacking during the show; she just wanted to save her sandwich for the evening. Anyway, when we walked in, the guy who scanned our tickets asked if we had food, and she let out a nervous giggle. He let us go through with it, merely saying, "Next time, disguise it better."

[Tag]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 3:00pm

I was at We Will Rock You the other night in Toronto and they were selling beer and popcorn! It was surreal!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 5:13pm

Roxy, are you sure your friend is a DIABETIC? I am diabetic (Type 2) and have been instructed to avoid anything with sugar.

People who are HYPOGLYCEMIC need to eat periodically to avoid dizziness, but they should be eating protein--not sugary sweets.

[Elphie4ever]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 5:24pm

No offense to anyone but i think all the snacks and candy in the theater is overpriced

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 5:25pm

Haha, our theater SERVES food to the patrons once they are inside and in their seats. We have what is called a hawker, who goes from house to house with snacks.

[Marlene]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:02pm

I usually get away with a bottle of water and ocassionally some candy or like a baggie of almonds... but I only have it like before the show or during intermission. I refuse to pay $3 for a bag of M&Ms I can get for 75 cents or whatever the heck they are charging for a bottle of water.

Yea, there are usually signs that say that the food should be consumed by the bar or wherever it's sold, but at some venues it's right in the back of the theater... and I can't really see nor have I seen the house stopping anyone from bringing their $3 M&Ms back to their seats.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:09pm

if you eat in your seat, usually an usher will ask you to leave or to hand over the food. i mena, really, you can have food before, after, and even during intermission, is it really necessary to eat during the show??

[tazber]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:13pm

Food in the theatre should not be allowed.
Spare me the hypoglacemic exceptions, I'm talking about a general rule.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:14pm

OK

Stop selling them in theaters as well & I will be all for the ban

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:15pm

seanmartin ahahahha..very true.

i just think it's rude an inappropriate.. seriously people, can't you wait 2 hours without having to stuff your face? please. no wonder america has a bad rep.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:25pm

Hypoglycimia runs in my family and we can sit through shows without eating... And food in theatres is ridiculous, but water should be allowed... but not $4 bottles that are a quarter of the size of regualr bottles...

[rgaywrites]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:47pm

I have to say I'm baffled by the idea of eating in the theatre. There are few shows so long that you can't make it three hours without eating and I cannot imagine being so hungry that I would need to eat something just after, say, the Entr'acte has begun. I understand that some people have medical conditions that require a stringent eating schedule and I respect the need/decision to bolster yourself accordingly. For everyone else, I steadfastly believe that if you're going to spend the money to go to the theatre, wouldn't you adequately plan your evening such that you eat at an appropriate time and leave yourself free to digest what's happening on stage rather than what's in your stomache?

[sweetdisaster]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:57pm

Food in the theatre is so distracting. Once during a matinee, the person behind me pulled a McDonald's bag out of their bag and it was crinkling the entire time and they were smacking away. I can see someone bringing water, but I think that most people can go two or three hours without eating to watch a show. I think it shows a lot about how etiquette has changed. It's not only distracting, but disrespectful to the actor's and other audience members.

[keybowvio]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 7:11pm

Dollypop: regarding diabetics:

There are different types of diabetes, in each type there is a defficiency in the body to monitor and correct the level of sugar in your bloodstream. In a normal person there is an organ which excretes sugar into the blood as needed.

however, supposing that the blood-sugar level in an individual has suddenly dropped, it may be necessary for that individual to consume a food/drink that is high in sugar, to correct the imbalance.

Alternatively, if a diabetic consumes a food/beverage high in sugar content and their blood-sugar levels are already normal, consuming this item will raise their blood-sugar level due to the fact that their body lacks the normal functionality to balance the sugar added to the body from food.

This is why diabetics are typically not directed to consume sweets, because this will further imbalance their bodies blood-sugar content level.

I hope that this makes some sense to you.