Two Drunk Women Kicked Out of 'Rock of Ages'--10/2/09- Page 3

[EveHarrington]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 8:12pm

No bias here, only saw ROA once and the crowd was fine (with a few exceptions), but the producers of the show need to make a concrete decision about where the line between "appropriately irreverent" and "distracting and rude" is, and then enforce it strictly. If they want to allow shouting at the performers, singing along, standing up and dancing, drinking etc. etc. then that's their prerogative, but it should be made clear to audiences that these behaviors will be a part of their experience at the show in advance so those who don't want to be party to that/find it unpleasant can stay home/find another show to see, rather than being annoyed and then complaining about it online. By the same token, if the producers think the current level of behavior isn't maybe what they intended or expected, offenders should be dealt with swiftly and the message that though the show is irreverent, there are still levels of decorum that apply to the audience should be conveyed in a stronger way.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 8:27pm

I don't think that'll ever happen. The bottom line is still money, and if you warn potential patrons about something that MIGHT happen inside that they MIGHT not like, you're nuts.

If there were enough protests from the public about what goes on in this show, and attendance went down, there'd be some changes.

[Jersey Girl2]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 1:32pm

>>but lets not make it like the show is the equivalent of going to Sunday mass.

No one said that.
LOL

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 2:19pm

I have the solution to this drinking problem. Patti LuPone as Sherrie.

[withoutlovewithoutU]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 2:21pm

Ooo, those we metal images that I did not need! Eeek! lol

[JP2]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 2:34pm

" My wife went on Tues, and she said the crowd was out of control. "

I was there Tuesday and the crowd was just fine. O_O

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 3:27pm

I'm I the only one who would really like to see Rock Of Ages, but I'm afraid of the drunken ill-behaved audience a show like this inevitably attracts?

I'm interested in the show because I grew up on the music but am concerned about the behavior of the audiences. I don't think every person who attends the show is a "dreg" and if you like the rowdiness then that's fine. But I know the day I go is the day that an overly rowdy drunk is going to be seated next to me and in front of me.

And it's sad that the front row of the Brooks Atkinson has become such an undesirable place to be. It used to be a blast.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 3:34pm

I have the solution to this drinking problem. Patti LuPone as Sherrie.

Totally Jazzy.

[James885]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 3:43pm

^^^
I dunno. I think if Patti tried to pull a Gypsy during Rock of Ages, the rowdy drunks might actually yell back at her!

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 3:44pm

Which would cause Patti to PHYSICALLY spring it to action & start breaking spines.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 6:10pm

<< >>but lets not make it like the show is the equivalent of going to Sunday mass.

No one said that.
LOL
>>

No, but you did imply that seeing "ROA" is basically the same as seeing any other show.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 6:14pm

<< " My wife went on Tues, and she said the crowd was out of control. "

I was there Tuesday and the crowd was just fine. O_O>>

Its a pretty big house... possibility exists that you might have been sitting in different sections, and the people around her were rowdy. Just a thought.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 7:00pm

I saw the show in previews, and there were a few obnoxious audience members, but there was nothing too bad. The worst that happened was when Sherrie said "I'm a stripper!" some guy shouted "woo!" and a few people started singing along to "Wanted: Dead or Alive". I would say not to be afraid of drunk people ruining it. Think of all the performances where nobody has complained about drunk people and compare that to the number of performances where somebody has complained about drunk people. One of these numbers is probably much larger than the others. Just because that article a while ago about London theaters hiring bouncers said that at a performance of A Little Night Music somebody peed on a while doesn't mean that that the wall of the theater is the unofficial bathroom used whenever a patron needs relief.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 10:58am

MisterMatt knows all about what I think of people who see (and enjoy) ROA...he's just trying to start an argument.

No, no. I never tire about hearing how anyone who not only enjoys, but merely attends shows you don't like are beneath you. Which apparently includes all the critics as well.

By the way, I didn't start anything. I was responding to your comment.

Updated On: 10/6/09 at 10:58 AM

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 11:36am

In a very tangentially related question, when did the guys with the big cardboard boxes with the $4 bottles of water begin popping up both outside theatres before the show and in the aisles during intermission? I've started to notice them only in the past few months, but they seem to be at every single show now.

[withoutlovewithoutU]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 12:14pm

I think they were there at one of the two performances I saw in July, so maybe it started around then?

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 2:02pm

Not really on topic, but I was at the third preview of that God-awful revival of Bye, Bye Birdie and the problem was the singalongers. Whether they were drunk or not, their singing just about ruined it for me (I take that back -- the production itself ruined it). And this was from the first number on -- I tried staring them down, but there were just too many of them. I paid to see what was going on onstage, not that inconsiderate audience. Drunk or sober, just shut the f__k up and let the show play itself.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 6:50pm

All of this "drunk talk" reminds me of the Ethel Merman story from Elaine Stritch At Liberty". Where a drunk man was talking back to Ethel while she was singing the money song. They have taken the link down from Youtube...sorry I can't post a link