Hair Cast Audience Interaction- Page 4

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 10:29am

Excuse me for not wanting perfect strangers in my face jumping and sweating all over me. I'm perfectly loose, but that is NOT cool. There are places (the subway at rush hour) where you just know you will be in close contact but that is a result of the situation. NOT the result of someone deciding they're going to get in your face. Yes, I did know there was interaction, but I had not heard that they went all the way to the back of the mezzanine. Silly me, I assumed they would stay in the orchestra and the boxes and not waste time going all the way up the stairs to the back of the rear mezz. And as I stated, I did not even want to go ~ the person who bought the tickets mixed up the list of things I WANTED to see with things I DID NOT want to see and I was stuck. I've never liked the music period, I like my musicals to have a semblance of a plot, I like to be able to understand the words, and I like to be left alone if they're going to insist on removing the (edit for OOPS!!) fourth wall.

Updated On: 6/12/09 at 10:29 AM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 10:33am

I thought it was pretty funny the second time I went, Will's "mother" really didn't want to get up or anything, so Will finally said: "Mom, if you didn't want this much attention, you shouldn't have sat in the front row!" My sister would react the same way, and I wish she got more interaction so I could laugh at her.

And then there's interaction that should help audiences in the future. On Tuesday night, someone came in late after "Aquarius" and took her seat during Will's monologue and he was like, "Hey, why are you late? You just missed a great opening song." Hopefully, that woman won't be late again.

[theatredorkny]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:26am

I won the lotto last Friday and was in the front row of the Right Box. Let me tell you, there was plenty of interaction. At some point or another every one of the leads (and numerous Tribe members) were in our face, on our laps, singing to us, playing with out hair (and encouraging us to play with theirs). There is no 4th fall with this production. It was even better now then it was in the park! I loved every minute of it!

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:40am

Jordangirl, its called the 4th wall not the 3rd wall. In any case, thanks for mentioning there is interaction in the back of the mezz. I was going to try to get tickets back there and was hoping the interaction was minimal. I understand its part of the production, but I like to be able to focus on the stage, not the audience.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:53am

Sorry...I meant 4th. LOL. The kids are driving me batty today, so I have been LIVING for lunch and prep.

It's probably less than in other areas, but they do still come back there. If you can get in the middle of the section (both middle ways) you're probably less likely to be accosted.

[JenNYferTheatrical]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 3:13pm

I saw the show in one of the 'Be in' boxes... so I was constantly sitting next to tribe members, but they do spread 'peace now, freedom now' all over that theater.

At one point one of the actors sat next to me and asked if I had any hash. I happened to be digging in my purse at that moment and everyone around me thought I was actually going to hand him some! LOL It was great!

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 3:23pm

I thought it was pretty funny the second time I went, Will's "mother" really didn't want to get up or anything, so Will finally said: "Mom, if you didn't want this much attention, you shouldn't have sat in the front row!" My sister would react the same way, and I wish she got more interaction so I could laugh at her.

Now, see, had my friend gotten tickets for the front orchestra, I WOULD have told him to find someone else to see it with, because I'd EXPECT it there.

Granted, I'm also good at being able to read body language and if someone looks like they don't want to be approached, I DO NOT APPROACH. To flat out ignore clear "leave me alone" signals is rude and borders on harassment if kept up long enough.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 3:30pm

Jordangirl, I senses the cast is quite good at reading body langauge (they are actors after all). I dont think they harass anyone and most interactions are fleeting. But, as I stated it can be an intense show and make some people uncomfortable. Those with anxiety or fear of attention or being interacted with probably should skip HAIR. Plus, twice Will and another cast member grabbed my shoulder in order to straddle the armrests across the aisle. So you really need to have pretty flexible boundaries to sit up close or on the aisle. The more Will touches me the better, but that is just me.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 3:52pm

"Granted, I'm also good at being able to read body language and if someone looks like they don't want to be approached, I DO NOT APPROACH. To flat out ignore clear "leave me alone" signals is rude and borders on harassment if kept up long enough."

But you do have to remember this is a show with specific direction and choreography -- like in Will's opening, whoever's in one seat holds the pants, whoever's in another seat he asks for change, no matter who is sitting there or their reaction.

My guess is the same can be true for a lot of the "interaction" during the show. There are certain seats that Will & Gavin dance on, all regardless of whether people in those seats want their hands on their shoulders or not. I'm sure there's lots of spots the actors hit, and in their minds they could be thinking...hit that spot, play with the person's hair in D26, then head upstairs...but like Betty said, most interactions are fleeting, and what I do think they do is they don't stay too long with someone who doesn't seem to want the interaction...they'll give a quick flick of the hair, then they'll get to me, and I'm loving it, so they play with my hair for a good 15 seconds or so.

If they can help it, I'm sure they'd much rather go to audience members who would like the interaction, give them something more to play off of, stay more in the character and the groove of things.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 3:56pm

As I said...

a) If I had known they would harass you even in the rear mezz even when it was clear you wanted to be left alone (I actually SAID "Leave me alone" and whoever it was wouldn't. No means no even in a theater.) I incorrectly assumed I would be spared that kind of crap.

b) If wires hadn't been crossed in the beginning, I wouldn't have even been there because it was on my DO NOT want to see list that somehow got interpreted as "Oh please buy me a ticket to this."

I do feel that others getting rear mezz seats thinking they're safe need to be warned as well. It makes sense and should be anticipated in the front orchestra and the box seats. Beyond that, it seems ridiculous and extreme to think they'll be prancing around THAT far from the stage.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 7:50pm

Thanks jordangirl. Unfortunately, the only seat left at that price on telecharge for the date I could go was S 2 on the aisle. Ah well. I will deal with the interaction, I guess.

[fetzles1490]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 2:12am

I was at the show tonight for the 3rd time, but this time in SRO. Last time I saw it, I was with a friend visiting from Florida who'd been dying to see the show, and we lost lotto. We immediately went up to the box office to inquire about SRO, and they told us to come back in about a half hour, that they wouldn't begin selling SRO until 7pm. So we went and grabbed pizza and came back at 6:40, and they had already sold out of SRO. We were pretty pissed and ended up arguing with box office staff until they sold us 2 remaining lotto box seats - why those weren't given away AT lotto is beyond me. Tonight there was no issue - they sold us SRO immediately after lotto.

Anyway, I had an amazing time. I'm a huge fan of the interaction! Got hugs and high fives from Will, Caissie, Allison, and a few other tribe members, a Be-In flyer, a very brief butt-smack, hair playing... I love it!

[broadwaycat3113]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 10:58am

does anybody know what seat will swenson hands his pants to in the beginning of the show? is it the same seat every night?

[sgv123]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 11:00am

It is first row seat 115, and it has been the same every time I have seen it. Updated On: 7/4/09 at 11:00 AM

[broadwaycat3113]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 11:04am

thanks. i was one row off. got aisle seats in row b for the end of august.

[tatter47]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 11:39am

I got Left Orch. Row B Seat 1 (aisle). What can I expect?

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 1:09pm

Gosh jordangirl, I think you're being a little overly harsh and uptight. The audience interaction is not intended to piss of audience members, it is there to help the audience feel apart of what's going on, thus making Hair's powerful message even more powerful than it already is. It just sounds like your mentality towards their no-harm-intended audience interaction is very negative and almost aggressive. I guess that's the 'punishment' for giving a friend an unneeded list of shows you DON'T wanna see rather than sticking to just one list (a more POSITIVE list of shows you are interested in seeing).

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 1:20pm

Well, jordangirl, I'm sorry every show can't be like Next to Normal and have the actors stay on the stage.

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 1:26pm

I went to the matinee yesterday. I was on the aisle, so cast members came by me many times, but the only interaction I got was being handed a Be-In flyer.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 1:36pm

Okay...I will admit there are a lot of shows I absolutely hate. If I had friends who mistakingly got me tickets to one of the shows, you know what I would do? I WOULDN'T GO. Jesus Christ, Debbie Downer...you're the reason why the Hair cast DOES interaction with the audience. Shock, fun, aww....they're message is for everyone not to be so uptight. You see it as an act of aggression. Just wondering...when you have sex, do you consider it to be rape?

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 1:48pm

tatter, you've got a great seat! I think Will spends a good amount of time on that side, if I remember correctly. I was on the aisle near the front on the other side - got tons of interaction! Winked at, smiled at, my sunglasses were played with, got a be-in flyer, and Darius kissed me on the forehead. Also, you'll be in primo position to get up and dance on stage at the end! :)

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 1:49pm

"On Tuesday night, someone came in late after "Aquarius" and took her seat during Will's monologue and he was like, "Hey, why are you late? You just missed a great opening song." Hopefully, that woman won't be late again."

Will did that at the Wednesday matinee too. A lady walked in late, and he said to her, "Why are you late? You missed a great song. She [Sasha] sings the hell out of it."

As for the audience interaction, if you don't want it, don't get an aisle seat or front row seat! You can search "next available tickets" on Telecharge and most likely something else will come up.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 1:52pm

Also, whether or not you knew there would be cast interaction in the rear mezzanine, if you didn't want to see it at all, couldn't you have brought it up to your friend, sold the tickets and see something else? I am sure someone who lost the lotto would snatch up your seats at a fair price.

[lsinger2]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 2:06pm

Be ready- you will get a lot of tush slapping in standing room. High fives as they come in from intermission.

[TheGentleGiant88]

Posted: 7/4/09 at 2:13pm

I'M SOOOO EXCITED!!!! I purposely bought aisle seats...I'm sitting in row T, so it's a bit far back, but hopefully I'll get some major interaction from Gavin and Will...and the rest of the cast!!! I know that when it's time, I'm running my ass up on stage to dance with them all!!! I just wish Gavin and Caissie actually danced wtih the audience instead of dancing up on those platforms....I can't wait to meet them at the stage door either!!!! I've been waiting to see HAIR since I was 10 years old!!!