Misbehavior at ONCE
Misbehavior at ONCE
#1Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 1:10am
Tonight, a man in the mezzanine brought the second act to a halt when he repeatedly asked "What did you say?" loudly enough for the ENTIRE theater to hear him. Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti were having an emotional moment (it was as they're the last two on the beach after the recording session), and this man brought the show to a screeching halt. He then asked security to take someone else away. (Kazee and Milioti handled it well, waiting for him to finish before continuing the scene)
I don't know the story, and I don't know who's to blame here, but please, for the sake of the other THOUSAND people who are watching the show with you and the actors who are trying to do their jobs, don't disrupt the show. Just don't.
Particularly this weekend, when audiences are already on edge about their safety at the theater, no one needs to feel endangered or taken out of the story when we go to see a show or a movie for escapism.
Please, be considerate of the people around you.
I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, but this really upset me—it upsets me in general when it happens, and it especially upset me tonight.
#2Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 1:16amI don't know the story, but I agree, what a tasteless thing to do on this weekend.
#2Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 1:28amThat's truly despicable. Glad it was handled professionally and I hope he was removed. In all honesty, for someone to shout like that during a live performance, I imagine there could be something wrong. That's just unfortunate for all involved.
#3Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 1:30amI thought you were going to say Fred Willard made an appearance. Anyway..to quote Ms. LuPone, "We have lost our public manners."
#4Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 1:46am
Honestly, that movie theater shooting has made me feel depressed all day. Not only for the obvious loss but for the manner in which the a-hole who did this is getting so much publicity. I know more about him and his life than that of any of his victims, who were undeserving of such a frightful, painful death. You know these losers choose that method specifically because of the attention and infamy it will garner and that is the press' fault for glorifying it.
They shouldn't bother making biographies and documentaries on that POS. No articles about his perfectly "normal" life. Eff that. Focus on the victims and refer to him as "scumbag."
Sorry for going off. I'm aware I'm mostly off topic but the mention just brought out what has been on my mind all day.
As for the incident being discussed, glad they handled it well. This isn't the time for a**holism, so glad they booted him out immediately.
#6Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 2:00amMisbehavior at the theatre is something I have no patience for. At The Dark Knight Rises last night, there was a group of parents with about 8 kids who were running, talking, giggling and laughing throughout the entire film. Management came in a couple times, but the behavior did not cease. I have a half mind to write to the management... Glad to hear that they actually booted these people out though.
#7Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 2:00am
I know, too bad. She'd pick up the tempos a little bit, at least.
Broadway Joe
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/10
#8Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 2:10amThe guy probably had one too many drinks at their stage bar
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#9Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 6:57am
A shame, but I do think its a bit silly bringing THIS weekend into it. And I'm sure that the man in the mezz didn't have that in his mind at all. Could he have been elderly? Could there have been some sort of confrontation going on (hence asking another to be removed)?
I would doubt the man SET OUT to ruin the show. It certainly sucks that it did, I'll give you that.
Quiche2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/12
#10Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 7:19amThat truly is a shame that he disrupted the show like that. I have experienced some rude people at the theater, but nothing like that. I think the worst behavoir I have ever seen at the theater was at Hairspray back in '08. Just as intermission began, the house light came up, the intermission announcement was announced, just like any normal night. Just as they finished announcing "There will be a 15 minute intermission", a guy in the first few rows of the orchestra went to the orchestra pit and yelled at the conductor very loudly. He listed about 15 reasons why he was unhappy with the orchestra. My 2 personal favorites were "Damn you the tempo is moving to fast!" and "You're playing too f*cking loudly!". My guess is he got drunk at dinner before the show.
SamIAm2
Featured Actor Joined: 3/10/09
#13Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 10:07amI suspect that `there may be some mental illness that caused this behavior.
#21Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 10:49amDon't take them as personal attacks. Everyone enjoys them, so relax!
grumpyoptimist
Leading Actor Joined: 2/26/11
#23Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 11:36amFunny you should mention the "on behalf of.." I got to go backstage after the show (my friend's doing), we got to talk to a few of the cast about it including the two leads. A couple of the non-leads said they considered breaking character and doing something exactly to that effect ("you know, there are 1199 people in the theater who don't care about your argument" type of thing), Cristin said she was trying to think of a way to make light of it in character but she and Steve just made eye contact that told her just to "hold". The cast handled it magnificently. The consensus among them was that someone shushed someone else or something like that, and at some point the loud guy felt his or his companion's honor was at stake. But it was amazing (in a "yes, you do have the biggest peni* in the theater and we're all really impressed" kinda way) that he picked one of the quietest, most intense moments of the show to do it.
#24Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 11:57amSounds like there's not enough information to really blame this guy. From what you described, it sounds as if he was being antagonized by someone else who ultimately caused the disturbance. But without any details, we can't know for sure.
#25Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 12:06pm
I have often struggled with the proper way to handle rude people without becoming a disruption myself. When I saw Once, in fact, the man sitting next to me kept shaking the ice in his drink and a few "are you kidding me" looks only brought a smirk to his face. I didn't want to leave my seat and miss something, and felt that any audible comments on my part would be equally disturbing to the people around me.
Of course, I believe theaters should serve drinks without ice, but that's just me own nutty version of the world.
#26Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 12:12pm
As I said, I don't know whose fault the disturbance is, but I am mad at the fact that it occurred at all.
And dramamama, I do think the timing was particularly bad—I've read a few pieces this weekend about how the shooter at the Batman theater violated the audience's trust and naievete when they go to see a movie—when we're watching a movie (or a play), we're much more vulnerable, because, if the story that's being told is good, we're so engaged in that that we're unaware of most anything else. There's no comparison between being shot at and having a musical interrupted, but it's more the wearing away at the trust and full surrender audiences have when they watch a good story being told.
I, too, doubt anyone set out to disturb the show, or set out to disrupt the audience this weekend, but I found the timing to be particularly bad.
(A similar occurrence happened when I saw Billy Elliot in L.A., and I was fuming then, too, but this makes me even angrier, just because of the timing)
grumpyoptimist
Leading Actor Joined: 2/26/11
#27Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 12:31pmFor those who weren't there, the one disturbing aspect was the guy who everyone could hear was speaking very loudly with a VERY aggressive tone...I couldn't see what was happening, but a lot of us afterwards were mildly surprised (and pleased) it did not escalate further. Keb2, the good news is, afterwards the cast was good-natured about it. Cristin was joking with the cast member we were talking to "How many times do you think "What did you say?" is worked into the pre-show tomorrow?"
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#19Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/22/12 at 11:25pm
To criticize this man would be terribly judgy. Don't you agree?
#20Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/23/12 at 9:13am
"Of course, I believe theaters should serve drinks without ice, but that's just me own nutty version of the world."
Or here's an even nuttier idea. How about forbidding drinking during performances in an unheard of return to the age when people could actually sit still and watch a show for a couple hours without aid of alcohol or other beverages? When did watching a Broadway show have to be like sitting in your living room in front of the TV?
Tom1071
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/04
#21Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/23/12 at 12:01pm
"When did watching a Broadway show have to be like sitting in your living room in front of the TV?"
I blame the theater owners for selling drinks and candy. If they weren't making money at it, they wouldn't do it.
#22Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/23/12 at 1:16pmWow. What did I miss?
Dangerous Jade
Understudy Joined: 7/5/12
#23Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/23/12 at 1:41pm
Wow - seeing Once seems to be more of an adventure than a theater-going experience! I remember a thread about a guy at Once who had a conniption fit and was fit to be restrained when someone touched his arm and urged him to put his Ipad away. Thank goodness the wife was there to calm him down.
#24Misbehavior at ONCE
Posted: 7/23/12 at 2:09pmI wish that had happened when I saw Once, at least I could have said I was entetained for a few seconds...
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