Theatre Do and Don'ts Petition! — Page 2

ARTc3 said: "Part of the cell phone issue isn't that the announcement isn't effective, its that latecomers don't hear the announcement. Latecomers should all be personally be instructed to turn off their phones before being allowed into the house."

It's not just the latecomers. The truth is, people just don't have the patience to listen without additional stimulation to grab their attention in this day and age of instant gratification. After all, there's a reason why overtures are going by the wayside.

Although I support it, there is not much chance of getting jamming legalized; there are too many people who would worry about the implications. But I do not think any law would be broken by employing signal detection and it would force people to turn off their phones or at least put them in airplane mode. Since I am convinced that most phones that go off are owned by people who do not know how to make the sound go away, this would also provide them with what we like to call a learning opportunity.

Phantom4ever said: "...Then, the next day at school, one of them informs me that they are all protesting MY rudeness by not being part of the school musical production next fall. They understand that phones are bad, but they vigorously defended their right to quietly talk and make comments in live theater if only the people who are talking can actually hear them.

Normally students that I take to theater are perfectly behaved. But the world seems to be moving closer and closer to a place where we just have to give up and try our best to hear and see the show over the distractions. I know I am ready to give up.



"

We've had entire threads here where BWW POSTERS vehemently defended their right to talk during a performance. Of course they swear that THEIR mid-show commentary was brief, quiet and disturbed no one. But of course we didn't get to hear from their neighbors. Some people here even complained that applause after musical numbers "broke" their concentration!

As I used to say to box office patrons who whined when we only had singles left, "You shouldn't be talking to your companions during the show anyway."

***

I understand that smart phones have made theater distractions worse in some ways, but there have always been rude people in theaters. Before there were smart phones, there were flash cameras. And before there were flash cameras there were prostitutes and fruit sellers advertising their wares (see the Restoration Era). Moliere was famous for dealing with hecklers and doing so in rhymed couplets!

The OP rightly mentions the responsibility of the audience, but part of that responsibility is to learn to concentrate despite the fact that, as Sartre says, "Hell is other people."

Updated On: 5/6/16 at 11:09 PM

Playbill has nothing thing to do qith inserts.....the theater's ushers insert those.



I'm assuming the op suggests a permanent page to be part of the playbill.

It's not just Broadway where there's terrible Behavior by the audiences. I was at a performance at the Metropolitan Opera a few weeks ago. People were taking many many pictures during intermission , conversations were going on during the performance and one woman seated a few seats away from me was texting throughout the evening. It was a distraction to me as well as to the performers on stage.

Updated On: 5/7/16 at 08:26 AM

"The lack of any sort of a dress code simply pains me...Recently at The Father, I sat next to someone wearing a bandana...Really? How does anyone convince themselves this is acceptable?"



I understand and I felt the same way having brunch in Sardi's and seeing somebody there in gym shorts and flip flops.

i feel truly sorry for anyone "pained" by how someone else dresses. sheesh, join a club for old wasps.

That post didn't blame you. And even you have to admit.....not all ushers do the same job that you do.