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Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone — Page 3

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#54

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 12:50pm

Wasn't a New York by-law passed 2-3 years ago that gave out a fine for anyone whose cell-phone went off disturbing a performance?

I'm all for using technology to battle technology: put blocks inside the theaters so that the cell-phones cannot be reached once a person enters the auditorium.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

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#55

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 12:50pm

I don't have a cell phone myself, but whenever I go to the theatre with one or more people, I make them turn their phones off before we go inside the theatre. And now it's not just the phones ringing but I have experienced people text msging during performances. The glow from the phone screen is just as annoying as having the phone ring.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#57

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 12:56pm

I have to say, if I was in her position I probably would have done something very similar. I remember once - during a performance of Anne Frank, near the end when Anne and Peter are talking - right after the line about "I still believe all people are still good at heart" a cell phone went off very loudly. I was so embarrassed for the cast.
#58

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 12:58pm

I mean come on, they announce before the show to turn off your cell phone, it only takes a few seconds to do that. People not only have to consider the perfomers, but also the people that pay the money to see a good broadway show.
#60

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:07pm

I love Patti even more after hearing that! She's simply amazing.

It really pisses me off, however, that paying theatre patrons don't just turn their phones off after being constantly reminded by signed in the lobby, notices in the Playbill and the annoucement before the curtain. While for some theatregoers, attending a show is not that big of deal because they can easily afford it, or whatever, for those who DO give the production the respect of turning off their phones, rarely get to New York or save every penny before seeing a show, it just extremely unfair and plainly rude to the other patrons and especially to the performers.
*end rant*
#61

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:08pm

It's a difference between an accident and a dummy. I agree that a ring MAY equal a slipped memory, but when it continues to ring...that's just terrible. When I saw LSOH, the gentleman in front of me's cell phone went off. Not only did it ring 4 times, but he answered it and talked! "No...no I can't now...I'm seeing a show...Little Shop...ya it's good." By this point we FREAKED out on him and he stopped. It was redonkulous.
Variations on a Theme blog: http://panekattack.blogspot.com/
#64

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:17pm

And now it's not just the phones ringing but I have experienced people text msging during performances. The glow from the phone screen is just as annoying as having the phone ring.

The other night at The Wedding Singer the text messenger was sitting close enough to me that I got to use this 'trick' for the first time: lean over, and start "reading" the almighty all-important text messages. I could not believe how fast this kid put her cell phone away when I did that.

(yes- I should probably feel bad about it or something, but sometimes one uses rudeness to fight rudeness.)

Is there anyone else here who is totally *paranoid* about turning their phone off? I mean- I turn my phone on silent, and then I turn it off too. Because that way, if the silent button is broken it's still off, or if the off button is broken it's still silent. Or maybe that's just my OCD-ness. :)

And add me to the 'love Patti for doing this' column.

Updated On: 4/13/06 at 01:17 PM

#65

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:22pm

Go Patti! Just the thought of her directing that at me makes me shiver in terror. Now I know why I check my phone a million times before a show starts just to make really REALLY sure it's off.
#66

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:28pm

Anakela, I'm VERY paranoid about my phone. I always check it half a dozen times before the show starts just to make sure it actually turned off. At the intermission for Sweeney yesterday, I think I checked my phone at least 10 times.

Updated On: 4/13/06 at 01:28 PM

#67

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:34pm

Yay, Patti! Unless you are a doctor on call or have a loved one on life-support, there is absolutely no reason I can think of to have a cell phone one (silently) during a performance.

In the old days, it was just people with flash cameras who were th problem. There is a famous story that during a performance of the musical COCO, someone took a flash photo upon Katharine's Hepburn's entrance, some 10-12 minutes into the show. Miss H stopped the show, walked right down to the edge of the stage, DEMANDED to know who the photo-taker was and just stood there -- STOOD THERE -- until the perpetrator was revealed. She then admonished him in only the way the great Miss H could and then, after making sure an usher had the man's camera, announced that since this man's behavior had ruined the show for EVERYBODY, they would start the whole performance again from the first note of the overture. And they did.

Yay Kate. And Yay Patti, too.
#68

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:36pm

I have actually been at a couple of performances where someone on stage - Paula Puondstone and Rosie O'Donnell to be specific - asked for the phone that rang and answered it themselves. Of course - this was stand up where a break could be worked in, and not a set show.

Last night I attended a performance of Matt Bourne's Swan Lake, and at the beginning came the usual announcement to turn off all mechanical devices. Imagine my surprise when in act one scene three - a cell phone went off. Except it was actually part of the Ballet - we all fell out! Too funny.
"Oh Link...your pork is ready..." - Edna Turnblad
#69

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:41pm

I was in in the front row aisle seat on the right side on February 18. Patti (while crazy) pulled a roll of butterscotch Lifesavers out of her little black purse. I leaned over to the person next to me and chucklingly pointed it out. Crazy Patti immediately caught my eye and began to try to get me to take one - "Ya want one, ya want one? Take it. Take it!". It was one of those theatre moments that I'll never forget! I briefly met her at the stage door and thanked her for that moment and we seemed to bond for a brief moment - such a cool moment from such an unbelievable performer. I was so thrilled to get my personal "Patti Moment"!

At that same performance, Michael was the last one to come out. I was the last one Michael greeted and we had a short conversation, just the two of us, out on the quiet, crowdless sidewalk by the Theatre - such a nice guy!. It was an absolutely fantastic experience meeting the most amazing cast I've ever seen on a Broadway stage!
#70

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:45pm

I always turn my phone off upon walking into a theater. Then I'll be sitting in the seat, and maybe I'll check my phone again to make sure it's off. Then, because I'm all kinds of OCD/paranoid, when they make the cell phone announcement, I unconsciously check it again before realising that I already did this. I don't like to disrupt a show.
You know it and you want it... you just can't believe you've got it.
#71

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 1:49pm

I'm definitely one of you all who checks to make sure my phone is turned off several times before the show. I can't imagine how horrifying it would be to be the one to disrupt the show.
You promised me poems. ~Tricky
#73

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 7:33pm

I totally applaud Patti for that. When I was at Sweeney the second time a cell phone rung (and it was a really annoying dance song I don't even know what) and luckily the person scrambled for the cell phone.

I'm going to bring in Wicked...so bear with me. But I remember reading that at one point during an OBC performance, Idina Menzel was saying how wrong it was for animals to be kept in cages, and at that moment a cell phone rung. Apparently Norbert Leo Butz said, "I think people who leave their cell phones on in the theatre should be kept in cages."

Updated On: 4/13/06 at 07:33 PM

#74

re: Sweeney Todd yesterday...cell phones and Patti LuPone

Posted: 4/13/06 at 7:37pm

I remember that. That was freaking funny (what Norbert said, not the fact that a phone rang). I think it's perfectly justifiable to call someone out on such a rude thing.
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The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
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