Musical Theatre Pet Peeves- Page 4

[matt schneider]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:10am

Late arrivals and jazz hands

Also when I saw sweeney they wouldn't let you in if you were late till 40 in after performance started. I think that is strict, but a good thing.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:12am

"when actors put their mics on mute and then forget to take it off mute and wonder why their mic wasnt on for their song!"

On broadway, tchi, actors have NO control over this. You'll have to blame mic failure or a technician.

"When old people comment on who an actor or actress is, it just drives me crazy."

But it's okay if a young person does it, volleyballer?

I also really don't mind ultra casual dress, as long as they're coming to see the shows (and keep their shoes on).

Hmmm. I guess my pet peeves are other people's pet peeves.


Updated On: 8/19/06 at 01:12 AM

[brdwybound2]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:13am

thevolleyballer, I love your second point.

[crazy smiles]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:56am

My pet peeve would have to be the "know it all" theatre gurus who comment on how superior they are to others that may not know theatre so much. Christ, so what if they like the popular musicals. Instead of ranting how you are a theatre expert just introduce them to the more greater pieces of theatre. Don't act like you're a more important person because YOU know more about theatre than others. It's a bit much to be full of yourself.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 2:14am

Yeah, I don't like the know it alls either.

The latecomers thing I can get over because I don't know their situation. Now, if it's after intermission and they were just talking in the lobby, that's annoying, but I can understand if something happens.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 2:46am

I like getting dressed up to go to the theatre, but sometimes people have to wear jeans. I was in New York once, and I saw Wicked in jeans because there was no time for me to change because my group was touring. They were nice jeans though, and I had a collared shirt.

I saw the Lion King once, and someone near me kept FARTING thru the WHOLE show. And there were the really bad rotten egg farts too.

I agree w/ the standard phones/late people/talkers/and movie know-it-alls. I also agree w/ Julian. When I saw Wicked, I had VIP seats and was surrounded by people who could care less.


As far as actual shows...Rent kinda pissed me off because of the fact that they sung EVERYTHING. I know they were going for a rock opera, and operas are sung...but it sounds really stupid when mark is all "MAARK! MAARK! I'm MAARK!" It worked better for Phantom, cuz of the repeating musical lines. When they sang something that probably should have been spoken, it was allready a familiar tune, ya know?

AMAZING shows that get turned into crap films.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 2:51am

As far as actual shows...Rent kinda pissed me off because of the fact that they sung EVERYTHING.

Everything? Like "We begin on Christmas Eve, with me, Mark...", "Take your AZT," and "You were flirting with the woman in rubber," right?

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:10am

Touche.
But there are plenty of other lines that could do with some regular speaking.

PS - smartass :)

[LyTeMyCanDyI]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:10am

I don't think it's a big issue to wear nice jeans and a nice T-shirt. Jeans with holes in the knees and mud on them are, of course, no nos. I kinda of go by the type of show. For something like RENT or Ave Q I don't get too dressed up...nice jeans will do. If it's a more mature, serious show like Les Mis, Miss Saigon, etc. I feel like I should be more dressed up in slacks or something. It's wierd, I guess...
On the other hand, I don't like when people get super-dressed up. When I saw The Wedding Singer people were in evening gowns? Any show, unless it's Opening Night does not warrant an evening gown. At least it wasn't a prom dress. Imagine sitting next to a girl in a big poofy prom dress. I'd cut it off of her...

[HumATune]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 6:30am

I’ve never actually been in one, but I’ve heard there are theaters where you’re actually allowed to eat while watching the show. Sorry but I think it’s rude to eat food while you’re watching live theater. Save that for sports and the movies.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:01am

So, nobody minds sitting next to a "conductor".

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 12:56pm

"As far as actual shows...Rent kinda pissed me off because of the fact that they sung EVERYTHING. I know they were going for a rock opera, and operas are sung...but it sounds really stupid when mark is all "MAARK! MAARK! I'm MAARK!"

I know, it's pretty odd when they sing EVERYTHING. In the RENT movie, I liked how they changed a lot of the sung stuff that sounded wierd, to regular speaking.
Updated On: 8/19/06 at 12:56 PM

[brdwybound2]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:04pm

crazy smiles, I agree with you, and I guess my last comment sort of could have come off as me sounding like I was a "theatre know it all", but what I was trying to point out that annoyed me was after my friends say RENT the movie they thought THEY were the "theatre know it alls", which really bugged me because they haven't heard the OBCR ever so they think the movie is like the best thing to ever happen.

Anyway, so if your comment was directed towards me, that's not what I was intending to say about myself. I'm not a theatre know it all by any means, but I do love it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:48pm

I’ve never actually been in one, but I’ve heard there are theaters where you’re actually allowed to eat while watching the show. Sorry but I think it’s rude to eat food while you’re watching live theater. Save that for sports and the movies.

The Willows Theatre in Concord, California is one that does. I've seen several shows there, and it's an interesting phenomenon: People eat and drink quietly, if they drink at all.

They wait for applause, they don't unwrap or slurp during songs or dialog, and they're quite polite about it. I've been next to parents with small kids who have lemonade or soda (with load ice bouncing around) and they won't let their kids drink until there's applause.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:57pm

I have to agree with the peeve on shows being entirely music. "Rent" is the lesser of some, definitely, but "Les Mis" (see, I used to say Les Miz, but I changed it just for you guys), as amazing as it is, just bothers me. I know why, though. I love writing, but I definitely excel in dialogue, and so I'm always interested in the book rather than the rhyming lyrics. Still, it's a peeve. :)

Wait, can I say that? It's a 'peeve?' Does it have to have 'pet' in front of it? Can it just be a 'peeve'? Eew, I don't like the sound of it. Fuhgeddaboudit.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:12pm

Ugh, god. The worst was the Wednesday night when I saw Wicked.

Some person in the row in front of me decided that right in the middle of "As Long As You're Mine" was the PERFECT time to turn her cellphone on, open it up, and use the light to read the bios in the program for the ENTIRETY of the number.


What the heck, man?. Read your freaking playbill at intermission or after the show. It was SO annoying. I was ready to slap her very, very hard.

I also agree with the people who have mentioned audience members talking over the overtures. I'm here to enjoy an evening of music and acting...so LET ME LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.

Also, when people just leave playbills lying around to get trampled on after the show. Those cost money, people! And are collectibles to a lot of us Broadway freaks...

I know I have more, but am at a loss at this moment.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 4:06pm

I hate when people open up their phones in the middle of the show to text, or see what time it is. They think, that just because they're opening up their phones just a tiny crack no one can see the bright light emitting from it.

Haha, yea three somewhat days later and I finally decide to edit this thing.

Oh and person who posted above me I was at Wicked Wensday night too! I just thought you needed to know that. Updated On: 8/22/06 at 04:06 PM

[crazy smiles]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 4:27pm

brdwybound2 it wasn't directed towards you. It was just in general.

[Matthewjames]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 4:28pm

i don't like lateness it interupts the show
i went to a show on daylight savings time and got there an hour late. so i didn't go in i just got my tickets postdated.

and got better seats by the way.

and i think the dress cde thing depends on the show.
I did dress up the last time i saw rent but hey..i was trying to catch Antoniques Eye.

but like wicked i mean come on..it's not south pacific.
but sweeney, dirty rotten scoundrels, the phantom.. stuff like that i think flip flops and such are a no no.

but jeans with a nice top is good to most shows
but the basketball jersey thing made me laugh.

Updated On: 8/19/06 at 04:28 PM

[zerodanny]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 4:41pm

I was at Mary Poppins on monday the 14th August and a group of girls two rows behind were singing the words of the songs and when the didnt know the words as most of the lyrics for the songs that are in the movie have changed the were humming all the way through....VILE!!!

Danny :)

[Julian2]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 6:05pm

As far as the standing ovation thing goes, yeah, its sucks that its power. The only way you can really tell is how long it takes some times, like when they're RIGHT on there feet.

[Duckie93]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 6:56pm

o something that neaver happen till yesterday ( well atlest when i was there)
i was at a Frankie Valli consert and these two woman wore completey drunk. and wore being complete ***holes to the stagedoor guy. I mean if you have one drink at a show thats fine, but not so much you get drunk.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 7:03pm

It's a pet peeve when people say 'wore' instead of 'were.'
Updated On: 8/19/06 at 07:03 PM

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 9:21pm

jazz hands
singers who freak out on me for my pre-show habits (soda, ice watrer, and chocolate have little to no effect on my voice) and run around weilding "vocal tea"
and from audience members the follwing interaction;
idiot: you were great!
me(or whatever other actor they're talking to): thank you so much
idiot: who did you play?

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 9:26pm

Well, when I was at Tarzan, this guy shouted "YOU'RE HOT" when grown-up Tarzan came on stage.
Then, when Terk sings "Who Better Than Me?" and swings, the SAME GUY shouts "WHEEEEEEE!"
So I guess inapropriate behavior/being drunk really ticks me off
:)