Three Penny Opera - Lauper stops show to correct audience member- Page 2

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 3:45pm

It is quite possible that the ushers didn't see it happening. I was in the second row seeing "A Raisin in the Sun" and these 3 girls whipped out their camera phones and started going to town. Me and a lady next to them told them to put them away. The ushers were nowhere in sight. Probably at the back of the house. I had a guy in front of me at the Tonys this year, snapping away with his cell camera. I applaud actors for doing this and can't wait until somehow someway, it is approved to deactivate cell phones in theatres. Between the pictures and the phones ringing, it is out of hand. And in a lot of instances, the ushers do nothing about it. JMO.

Updated On: 6/26/06 at 03:45 PM

Posted: 6/26/06 at 3:47pm

i think the accomplishment was getting them to stop taking pictures, not having them kicked out.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 3:49pm

When I was at a performance of 42nd Street the lady in front of me was video taping. I mentioned it to an usher during intermission, and he had his eye on her the entire 2nd act and quickly made his way to her row when she started taping again.

[timote316]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 3:55pm

Brecht would certainly be happy with this production in the past week. First, no mics and now Cyndi flipping out. Wonderful!

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:00pm

BSoBW, you can say and think that as much as you want.... blah blah blah it is in the style of Brecht, believe me i do realize that. But with her breaking character for what she did doesn't stay with the ideals of the show. Brecht made points and if someone should, were, or does it is suppose to stay in context of Brechts peice of work. If we want to use her stepping out of character she should have praised the girls for being rebelious and going against the law.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:03pm

No, her stepping out of character would be CYNDI LAUPER. And Cyndi Lauper was quite pissed off.

And I am pretty sure Brecht wouldn't want a phone going off in the middle of his show.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:08pm

"No, because I feel like if it's that out of control, actors should put audience members in their places. This way they're made a spectacle of so everyone can see it. Hopefully those people will be embarassed and never try it again and the rest of the audience can tell their friends what happened so that less people will attempt it."

This doesn't work. People don't embarass as easily as they used to. Look how many times this happens now. Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Stanley Tucci, etc etc have all had to stop the show. These days, there is a defiant "I can do whatever I want" attitude.

Additionally, I think some people might start doing it to see if they can get an actor's attention on them.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:22pm

Here is a question....I know it is not legal for theatres here to deactivate cell phones, is this something that can be voted on and changed? Let's say if theatre's got enough signatures to get it on a ballot? Just asking.

Updated On: 6/26/06 at 04:22 PM

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:24pm

I didn't pay to see Cyndi Lauper. I payed to see her play Jenny.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:33pm

Well, now you've just pissed off Lotte Lenya, who said the show should never become about Jenny.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:38pm

Trust me it wasn't.

In my eyes it was about Macheath and Mrs. Peachum.... or atleast this production.

[OSUBuckly]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:43pm

I was actually there on Saturday night.

I, for one, applaud Cyndi for stopping the show. It didn't bring anything to a screeching halt, and she was able to go right back in to the scene. Plus, there were a few other small problems that other cast members acknowledged on stage (Alan Cumming almost falling off his knee, bad mics.) Most ushers seem to have no idea what is going on in the house and noone can really blame them. It's dark and they don't want to be disruptive. They probably don't know anything unless somebody informs them of a situation.

As soon as the show ended, the ushers descended upon the front row to deal with whatever was happening. So to the person who thinks that Cyndi was not doing her job, I disagree. She was protecting the cast and the show itself. Disrespectful audience members deserved to be embarrassed. Then maybe they'll learn the proper way to behave.

-Buckly

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:44pm

Most of the ushers are volunteers. That's why.

[myManCape]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:46pm

I believe a few weeks ago Richard Griffiths stopped History Boys because someone was talking on their phone and waited for the person to be removed by the house staff before continuing.

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:53pm

DONT MESS WITH CYNDI!!

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 5:33pm

At one show I attended the other week, and I think it was at History Boys or Chaperone, The announcer before the show said "It is now against the law in New York to take pictures, etc. during the performance". (That's not verbatim) And the audience errupted in screams and applause. If this is true, why can't these people be fined?

[LucilleAndLeoFrank]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 5:39pm

I was at this performance of THREEPENNY and Cyndi was right to tell these girls off. They weren't even being discreet about taking the pictures; they were doing it all in a very blatent and distracting manner. I was sitting in the third row on the side and was very distracted.

At the stage door afterwards, Cyndi read them the riot act again and their faces turned beet red. I (and the people around me) could barely control my laughter. I say brava to Cyndi and hope we don't have to wait long to see her tread the boards again.
Updated On: 6/26/06 at 05:39 PM

[meggsison]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 5:42pm

I am so angry that I missed A Raisin In The Sun. I regret choosing not to see that so much after reading the play.

Anyway, first Richard at The History Boys about cell phones, and now Cyndi. All I can say is WOOT!

I love this. I love it so much.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 5:52pm

Good for Cyndi!!

It serves them right - how many times must one be informed that pictures during a show are illegal? And you'd think, you're close to the front of the stage, the actors can probably see you - it's just not smart to do that.

Cyndi basically did what I've wanted to say to those people who disrupt shows for a long time. It's just not right. I ditto the Brava, Cyndi.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 5:54pm

You know, it must be pretty damn embarassing to be yelled at by such a star like Cyndi Lauper. Again, good for her!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 6:09pm

I can't believe they even had the nerve to show their faces at the stagedoor.

[toomeytwopiece]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 6:10pm

"its a shame she didn't stop the show a month or so earlier, and just never restarted it. "

BEGONE, before someone drops a house on you too!! ;-p

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 6:11pm

Dottie - I'd be SO embarassed and just leave the theatre and cry lol. They must've thought they were awesome, and that Cyndi would forget the people who almost ruined a show.

[imafantu]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 6:42pm

somebody mentioned it before now i think, but don't you think the atmosphere and the fourth wall were already broken when the people who were sitting in view of them, started oggling the photo takers? If anything I think it was impossible to ignore- most normal theatre goers would have spread this like wildfire..."oh my goodness, do you see those two idiots over there taking pictures?"... "the lady next to me just said that someone down front is taking pictures" "oh- I think I see them, hey look at the 2 ding dongs taking pictures" and so on and so on.. within 5 minutes you can have at least a whole section watching the "show" that they DIDN'T pay for. and actors are able to tell when people aren't paying attention. This drew everyone's eyes forward, cuz now they are waiting to see if Lauper can get back into character...... It's definitely wrong to break character to say "hi mom!" or wave at a fan, but in this case I think she was right on, since the ushers weren't on the ball... why are you so opposed?

[luvliza89]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 7:00pm

I was at this show. Just got back from NYC today. I didn't see anything that had happened, but Cyndi I'm sure was correct in what she did. When I was at the stage door, she continued to reprimand the boy, saying how it was rude to do such a thing and they weren't at one of her concerts but rather at a Broadway show were there should be respect. He also messed up several performers with whatever he was doing, and although it wasn't noticable to me, nonetheless was surely rude. She was nice to me though :)