To: Guy Who Screamed Obscenities at the Ballet the Other Night:

[StageGuy99]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:35pm

Don't really post much on here, generally just read, but found this post on the SF Craig's List and thought y'all would appreciate it, or atleast start some discussion....



To: Guy Who Screamed Obscenities at the Ballet the Other Night:

Date: 2007-05-07, 11:59AM PDT


It was Don Quixote, a rather fun full-length ballet, nobody dies like in the dreary Giselle or Swan Lake.

Another fantastic performance by the SF Ballet. I know you enjoyed it. Our whole section knows you enjoyed it. Every time a dancer would perform a particularly impressive jump, or a series of 3+ pirouettes, you would say, "Whoa!" or "Jaysus!"

This, I didn't mind. As a former dancer and now a season-ticket holder of our City's fine company, I get a kick out of hearing others' excitement for an artform I hold dear. Much better than the guy next to me whose head started to fall like a kid in an 8th grade math class.

So, the curtain falls. The end. Applause.

Curtain comes up and the dancers begin to take their bows. You notice a few people standing up. Was it an ovation? NO! They were LEAVING! These people could not WAIT to get to their cars (they were obviously not MUNI riders, walkers or cab-hailers like most of us in the City)! They had no time for CLAPPING! They had to get out now!

It was then you yelled, in your beautiful gray-haired old crotchety man voice, "WILL YOU PEOPLE SIT DOWN AND LET THE *POLITE* PEOPLE SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION?!," slight pause, "YA A$$HOLES!"

Now, I have seen dozens of ballets in my relatively short lifetime of 25 years. Never, not once, have I encountered a fan of ballet quite like you. At the ballgame, sure, that kind of yelling is par for the course. At the ballgame we eat peanuts and leave the shells in piles at our feet.

Sir, this was THE BALLET.

And for your outburst directed at the people who think somewhere in their tiny brains that it is even remotely acceptable to get up and leave during the curtain call, remotely acceptable to not even clap for the world class artists who just performed a most difficult and worthwhile ballet for our enjoyment (artists whose salary is about that of a standard office receptionist), remotely acceptable to WALK OUT while the house lights are up and we can all (including the dancers) see...

Kind sir, for your outburst, screaming at these "a$$holes", I thank you from the bottom of my art-loving heart.

I've been wanting to say that for a long time.

And WOW! They sat their asses down, didn't they?! A few were even clapping.

You are the BEST.

Cordially,
Fellow Supporter of the Fine Arts in San Francisco


http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/326175577.html

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:46pm

This is the best. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about the underlying issue, but this entry made me laugh pretty hard. You know, its is NICE to someone so devoted to the arts and appreciating the artists, even if it is in a tacky way.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:53pm

This cracked me up. I was waiting for the writer to bitch out the cusser, but then he thanked him instead. Hell, I think I probably would have given the cusser a pat on the back. I hate people who walk out during curtain calls. I always feel like trying to trip them if I'm in the aisle seat.

[Danielm]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:57pm

Wow, I have so wanted to do this at so many shows when people start bolting for the aisles as soon as the final applause starts. I've had my feet trampled on as they make for the doors, I've been blocked from seeing the bows. I could never scream out in a theatre like that--but I have really wanted to.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:33pm

That's hilarious! Bravo to the old guy!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:38pm

"Every time a dancer would perform a particularly impressive jump, or a series of 3+ pirouettes, you would say, "Whoa!" or "Jaysus!"

The part especially cracked me up

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:41pm

That totally rocked.

[lildogs]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 2:09pm

I don't let them get out now--they wait until the show is OVER if they're inside my row. Leaving early is just as bad as arriving late--unless you have a kidney to transplant in which case you shouldn't be seeing a show in the first place.

[raphael06]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 2:15pm

I have always wanted to say that! I saw The Light In the Piazza a few weeks ago and the moment the lights came out for curtain call, half (no jok) the audience was running out to get to your cars. I was livid and felt bad for the actors (who gave INCREDIBLE performances that night).

[keybowvio]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 3:09pm

I was at the met. opera house the other night, the curtain didn't even get a chance to come back up again before about half of the people had already left.

I despise people who get up before the final bows.

another time:
I saw Joshua Bell perform, amazing, and right after he exited the stage, literally half of the house was emptied.

He came back out and said (and I quote) "I was planning on an encore, but I guess I wasn't that enjoyable"

And with that He left the stage and did NOT come back.

I was disapointed, but why should he of given an encore, it was obvious that several people were more interested in getting to their car than hearing him play again.

In general though, I find that broadway audiences aren't nearly as bad as other performance arts (ballet, opera, orchestra, classical solo musicians).


ssssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo annoying.
Updated On: 5/31/07 at 03:09 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 3:13pm

This gets the FARK Hero tag!

[avab802]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 3:19pm

This is awesome. You go old guy! I hate people who leave before/during the curtain call. It's so disrespectful to the performers. Even if you didn't enjoy the performance you should have the courtesy to sit quietly in your seat until the bows are over.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 3:31pm

I remember a time when I almost said the same thing.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

When I saw the revival of Into the Woods, a woman laughed when the Baker's Wife's death was announced. I almost yelled, "Hey, that's not funny!!!!"