PipingHotPiccolo said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Jay Lerner-Z said:
"Samantha did nothing wrong. Not at the show, not on twitter."
She should not have called out Lillias White by name on Instagram over what was clearly a misunderstanding. It served no purpose. All she had to do was say "an actor in Hadestown," and it would have accomplished the same thing, without opening up Lillias to unnecessary and undeserved bashing."
I have no problem with this person calling out Lillias by name, or mentioning the show, or sharing her experience-- so long as she does it accurately. Her initial post is WILDLY different from her subsequent clarifications, namely she completely walked back the notion that Lillias White stopped the show to humiliate her, called her out, etc. She now admits NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.
Lots of people seem to be making perfectly valid but totally inapplicable points. It IS unprofessional for Patti LuPone or Lillias White to break character to scold an audience member. That didnt happen. Ushers must take more accountability for policing audience misconduct. But here no usher was ever notified, because the entire thing happened at the top of the show and the actors stay onstage for almost the entire first half, and it seems whatever Lillias did at the top of the show happened and then finished. (Contrary to the initial tweet that suggested multiple yellings and humiliations).
The theater should (and does!) accommodate all people with all sorts of needs and actors should 1000% be aware of those accommodations. If the original tweet had been "Actors seemed to think I was filming, made me uncomfortable, @Hadestown you must do better!" - GREAT. What a learning experience. But Lillias White stopped the show to humiliate me, it was my worst nightmare, oops, I meant she never once broke character or even spoke to me--- yeah quite a big oops.
My heart goes out to Lillias who it seems AT WORST made a mistake and shot a dirty look into the audience, but is now being subjected to a public hanging as Enemy of the Deaf. Truly despicable.
"
I think we have to realize that someone's perception of what happened may be slightly different than what other people see or notice. Also she is hearing and vision impaired.
She could very well feel the entire cast or audience was focused on her when this happened, even though nobody paid attention to her. That does not make her feelings any less valid.