LDJIN Audience Disruption

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 5:06pm

I'm not sure if anyone else was at this performance but on May 22nd(Sorry for posting so late. Haven't had the chance.) at Long Day's Journey....I was sitting in front of a woman who was so disruptive I was furious that none of the ushers took action to eject her. 

During the intermission I overheard an older man she was with say "Do you want to go home" 

The first scene after intermission: All was calm

Then the second scene....perhaps the longest section of this play: I have never felt so trapped in an audience. The woman began uncontrollably laughing and what sounded to be artificial laughs that were making me uncomfortable. LDJIN is not a comedic play. After a couple minutes of laughing the laughs turned into moans. Loud moans. Then she proceeded to yell out things to the actors and responding to the action such "Don't go up the steps" "No" Stop it". All the while the man she was with was trying to tell her that he was going to leave and to shut the F@%K up. After this she began sobbing....loudly sobbing. After the show I ran into a friend sitting on the opposite side of the house and I asked if she heard this commotion as well, and she said yes very audibly. 

I cannot tell you what happened in the second half of this play and I was outraged. If it wasn't for being a 4 hour play I would have asked for a new pair of tickets to go back on another date.

[NYactor85]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 7:40pm

I was at that show (possibly next to you. I was rear mezz row E). I posted about this that night. Was in bathroom line dusing intermission so missed that.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 9:15pm

This is the post.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1093166

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 10:29pm

Yes I believe I was sitting next to you. I'm surprised I never saw the thread you had started about this situation, but anyways after reading the other thread, I wonder where is the line that we draw from understanding and accepting the responses that audiences have during a show from being disruptive? As an actor, I can see how powerful it is to move the audience and being able to appreciate these responses to the work. But on the other hand, an audience member like myself suffered from being severely distracted and being so uncomfortable to the point where it was painful to hear her response. Walking out of the theater is not disrespectful in a situation like this, and I was mad at the management more than the woman for not acknowledging this was happening.

[NYactor85]

Posted: 6/11/16 at 11:52pm

It's a tricky line. I missed the explosion during intermission so I just heard the random screaming and crying. I actually thought the laughter felt genuine in that weird cathartic way. Granted  as an audience certain things should be upheld.

I am shocked I was able to enjoy act 4 with that weird reaching noise she made that convinced me I was going to be puked on for a good time minutes. 

 

Still amazing show