How to Behave in the Theater- Page 2

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/19/05 at 9:27pm

For starters, arrive on time. Than refrain from talking during the show. Keep your blasted cell phone off.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/19/05 at 9:35pm

They should also post the article on the seats of the ticket buyers and stick it in playbills.

Sadly, I don't think they will ever "get it". Things like this are going to keep on happening at theaters.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/19/05 at 9:40pm

I wish I could hand that out to the the people I seat at the Hirschfeld.

I also disagree with the dress code, to an extent. I wear jeans a lot of the time, but I always wear heels or boots and a nice shirt with them. And they're not ripped. Nathan Lane was wearing jeans at Fiddler. And that of course makes it okay. But seriously, some things should be off-limits (shorts, flipflops, miniskirts, etc).

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 12:39am

Yeah I dont necessarily think that people should go out and buy new fancy dresses for shows but I really dont think its appropriate to go in tiny minis, flip flops and see through T-shirts from abercrombie (IE: my sister the last time we went to a play) *rolls eyes* It was almost embarassing, she just kept moaning and groaning about not wanting to be there and slouching in her seat.

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 12:42am

Sorry for this quick interuption but...Dreamcatcher; where are you? I IMed you last night and no responce and ur not online now... where did I lose you? Last thing I remember is, well...ummm....I'll stop there.

But, where is thou?

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 12:47am

I'm right here. My AIM has been really screwed up lately and its just being stupid. Sorry for any trouble it might be causing. :-/

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 2:37am

It's what a person wears with the jeans that determines whether they are appropriate at the theater or other special events. Updated On: 1/20/05 at 02:37 AM

[AbsolutKnight]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 7:00am

A group of my friends all went to see Les Mis last year on tour, and during intermission my one friend got a hot pretzel. And I guess that wouldn't be so bad, but he wouldn't even start eating it until he got back to his seat, and didn't understand why he shouldn't (as we tried to explain)

[SamIAm]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 4:27pm

If they a) refused to seat people who arrived 15 min or more after the curtain and b) escorted people out of the theater if they let their cell phones ring during a performance, I'd be VERY happy.

Of course, that would mean we'd have to have ushers stationed at the end of each row to eject people.

Oh well, it was a good idea while it lasted.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 4:48pm

"I swear to God, I was ready to turn around and sock one of htem in the face."

No need. That's what Playbills are for.

[sanda]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 4:55pm

Two weeks before when I watched Fiddler, there are two couples with their two kids sat besides me. I should say, Fiddler is not fit for little kids. Especially second parts. They got boring and asking and crying and later left. what can I say. Little kids have right to express their feeling.

And the father besides me eat some peanuts during the second act. It is really a distraction under such a quiet, sad enviroment. Finally I said to him " you should stop this. it is noisy." He stopped with embarrance. I am sorry to sound rude. I never say something like this before. But in theatre, when you are so concentrated to the stage, it is hard to hold the temper.

[JakeB]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 5:00pm

Hitchcock told cinema staff not to let people into his films if they were late. The same should go for theatre. Nothing pees me off more than latecomers in the theatre.

As for dress, for most people going to the theatre is a special occasion, but when you go every week it kind of loses its attraction..

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 5:10pm

awesome article, but posting it here is preaching to the choir I wish that was required reading for every person who buys tickets!! However, I have to point out a mistake: that quote from Lemony Snicket is not from The Grim Grotto, but rather from book #5, The Austaire Academy. Just had to point that out!!

[BudFrump23]

Posted: 1/20/05 at 8:04pm

Actually, EverythingISRent, that quote is infact from The Grim Grotto, when Carmelita Spatz is singing to the rowers on Count Olaf's submarine in her outrageous outfit, while the Baudelaire's sneak behind her.

I loved that he used that quote. It's one of my favorites.

[QtKt]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:11pm

I absolutely hate when people talk during a performance, but i hate it more when they SING along... i paid to hear the people ONSTAGE sing, NOT YOU! *grrrrr*

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:14pm

Perhaps I'm becoming old and intolerant, but I decided last night while at LITTLE WOMEN that theater would be so much more enjoyable if only myself and my friends were in the audience. Not very cost-effective for the shows, I realize this. But the coughing, talking, eating, etc.! It's unbelievable!

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/22/05 at 2:57am

When I saw Thoroughly Modern Millie, the little girl next to me spent nearly the entire first act slowly unwrapping her lollipop. (It was one of those really long ones... I think they're called Unicorn's Horns or something assinine like that.) By the time The Speed Test came around, I couldn't take it anymore. I politely asked her to stop. (I promise, I was polite.) And her mother said, verbatim "You're being very rude. Unless my daughter attacks you with her lollipop, I'd like you to just relax and leave us alone."
AGH!

[gettinhep]

Posted: 1/22/05 at 3:49am

I agree that cell phones can be the bane of a theatregoer's existence. When I saw
'Raisin in the Sun', the fella next to me played a game on his cell phone through most of the second act. His girlfriend tried to get him to stop to no avail. I thought it was insulting to the actors on stage, to his girlfriend and to the audience members around him.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/22/05 at 1:21pm

About the coughing, I've actually decided to not go to shows in the past because I had a cold and I knew that my coughing/sneezing would be a distraction. Theaters are built to have great acoustics, and I really don't think the entire audience wants to hear me hacking up a lung.

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 1/22/05 at 1:39pm

If I have a cough, I arrive at the theater armed with a pocketful of cough drops and a bottle of water. If that doesn't keep me quiet, I won't stay.

[Xaviera]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 12:13am

So here's my question...

Would it be rude to print up a few copies of this article to take to the theatre with me and hand them out to violators??

I once invited a friend along to see "Fiddler on the Roof" who must have thought it was a singalong show! I told her several times not to sing along, then the people seated in front of us turned around and told her they didn't pay to listen to her sing and she indignantly shut up. She has never received another invitation from me!

X

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 11:44pm

Bump for Blue-Eyed Wonder.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 2:55pm

As long as we are bumping this old post I made in January, let me add that I DO NOT DRESS UP FOR THE THEATER. In years past I did but today I just try to arrive on time, keep my mouth shut during the performance and open my cough drops or hard candy BEFORE the curtain comes up.