Terrible Audience Experience. — Page 2

On January 2nd, Wicked, two little girls talking about the show and saying how her daddy told her it was the Witch's "last" performance.

Rent- 3 little girls, one explaining the plot. I mean, c'mon! I know it was kid's night on broadway but still! They stopped though. the best was when this at least 7 year old boy was like, did Mimi leave yet?

How did he know you were a "Wicked head"?

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Had a man sitting next to me yesterday that smelled like sour milk. Not much I could do, but was really not enjoyable !!!

when i saw rent in boston this summer the woman sitting next to my mom got a nosebleed towards the beginning of the 1st act. the for the remainder of act 1, she dug through her purse looking for a tissue. when she couldnt find one, she instead LICKED THE BLOOD OFF HER FINGERS. now i know that getting a nosebleed and not having a tissue or anything isnt her fault but i would have rather stood up for a couple seconds to let her go to the bathroom than having her making noise and making people sick. thankfully, i wasnt next to her but unfortunatly it ruined the show for my mom and now she hates rent.

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Updated On: 3/3/05 at 07:04 PM

I don't really feel that sorry for people complaining about Kid's Night on Broadway. You knew going in that there were going to be lots of young children there and they do not know the rules of theater etiquette yet. Yes, I could see complaining about your woeful situation on a regular night, but you knew what you were getting into with Kid's Night.

chasgoose, there are plenty of people who unknowingly buy tickets for KNOB. The tickets are on Ticketmaster/Telecharge just like every other night.

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I have one of the the ultimates:
While viewing (I'm embarrassed to say) "The Sound of Music" (ok--stop laughing) at a matinee (which I should've realized would bring out every kid in the state and beyond)----some kid next to me brought out a bag of-------grapes?(no)-----cheerios? (no)---He brought out SALAMI!!!!!!!!! Stinky, smelly salami which he waved around---slice after slice!!!! He then proceeded to sing along with the cast (that was almost acceptable---by then my senses were dulled anyway)

I think many people are just simply unable to adjust their behaviour to the "Public" mode. They just are so used to sitting in their living room talking to the TV or farting or eating or talking on the phone that when they get to the theatre they simply don't realize that any behaviour modification is needed.

And it's not just the theatre-- Movies, concerts, art museums, you name it. Places where people need to be quiet and respectful of others have become full of noisy rude oafs. Pity.

I resort to the usual formula: Alarmed Glance. Long, meaningful stare. Polite but firm request for peace & quiet. Second Chance. Then request the intervention of an authority figure. Especially when you are paying $100 a ticket at a Broadway show, if the person next to you is impacting your enjoyment, demand satisfaction. And, I tell them upfront what I expect: "There is a very loud and rude person behind my seat, Row X, Seat X. You need to either get them to be quiet or refund my ticket price."

I had a Movie theatre manager tell me once that she was too scared to confront customers. I told her then that she could give me a refund. She refunded my ticket, gave me 4 passes to come back and a $5 concession stand gift card. I came back on a weekday afternoon when the place was all but empty and had a lovely time.

I was at ALL SHOOK UP, and at really random times -I'm going to guess ppl about 18 or 20- they screamed and whooped and shouted for not even the jokes!! It was really annoying, because when they announced technical difficulties at the beginning of the show ( it started a few minutes late), they were like WHOOWHOO!!!

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I also seem to have bad luck with the people I'm seated next to. During the Little Shop tour, this man sat there crunching his popcorn; it sounded like gravel. On the other side of me, some teenage girl was talking to who I assume was her boyfriend, on her cell phone.

And when I went to see Hairspray, this little six-year-old girl was running back and forth through the row trying to sing along. And there was this person behind me who kept screaming encouragements; like when Cindy said "If we get any more white people in here it'll be a suberb," the lady behind me screamed "Tell it like it is, honey" and when Link walked out on Tracy she yelled "You son of a b*tch!!!" It was distracting - to say the least

Now, don't get me started on candy wrappers...

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Chinkie, if Hugh had seen you using those he would have given you a hard time.

Unfortunately, I get pissed off easily by noisy people in the theatre. I don't know how many times I got really annoyed and it can really spoil the show for me.

Worst thing that ever happened to me was actually during Les Mis in London. Eponine just started singing 'On My Own' when the guy behind me starting opening his candy bag and eating his M & M's. So first I just turn around to look at him, doesn't help, so I turn around again, he continues. At the end of the song I turn around and quietly say to him 'Is this really necessary?' and he answers very loudly 'Shut the f*ck up and mind your own f*cking business or I'm gonna beat the sh*t out of you' while putting his own on my shoulder.

Actually now it almost makes me laugh but I was really upset when it actually happened and he certainly ruined the show for me. I remember he said it that loud that even the conductor turned around and I was sitting 7th row orchestra!!!

Nowadays, I'm a lot more careful about saying somthing to people in the audience... not becuase I'm sacred but simply because if I get stupid back-chat I get so pissed off and can't enjoy the show anymore.

QM

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