Very bad "Fiddler" behavior the other night

[Marway44]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 7:05am

So, I went back to "Fiddler" the other night to see it after opening, having seen it in previews.  I was sitting, third row, dead center, which are premium seats.  To my right, was my wife and to her right were 2 ladies.  They ladies were the only ones wearing jeans and loud shirts.  They came in with what had to be tons of food that of course had to be unwrapped after the show started.  The lady to my wife's right paused stuffing her face to sing along with Tradition, Rich Man, To Life and Sunrise Sunset.  Now, she was not just singing; she was belting!  Dirty looks surrounded us as people tried to figure out where the obnoxious noise was coming from. 

Each and every time, she sang the lady to her right was filming the show on her cell phone.  But, you don't think she was hiding the phone or the glare from the screen.  No, she was watching the show through the phone to make sure she captured it to her liking.

At intermission, everyone was talking about the behavior when the ladies rushed out of their seats as soon as intermission started and the lady behind me said she was going to get an usher.  An usher and a house manager came to the row, but there were no ladies to speak to.  We were all relieved when they did not come back from intermission, figuring they had left.

But no, they came rushing back, stepping over people to get to their seats in the dark, stepping on one mans foot and he loudly let out a grunt as they continued storming past the row.  The lady to my wife's right brought back a plastic cup with ice and was sipping the drink, then slurping the drink, then shaking the cup to get the ice and shaking it again to get the ice into her mouth.

By now, my wife was done.  She looked at the lady, put her hands up and said "stop with the ice"!  The lady looked at her companion and said in a loud voice "this woman is so rude"!  You have to laugh at that one.  If that isn't the ultimate case of the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is.

At the end of the show, the 2 ladies were the only one's in the theatre not engaging in the standing ovation.  They were too busy checking their cell phones.  Why it couldn't wait 2 more minutes, I don't know.  But I do know that the hard working actors deserved more than that from these two!

After curtain call, they stood up and started to climb over the people they stepped on upon arriving late from intermission.  They were 4 elderly people who sat back down to collect their things.  The same man who's foot was stepped on, once again let out a grunt, but this time he said very loudly and very nasty, "Excuse me"!  Of course, not a word from them as they stormed out of the theatre.

I just don't understand people like this.  Don't they realize they are not in their living room, but in a giant room with 1,800 other people?!

Enough ranting though.  On the other hand, the show was incredible!  I noticed Danny is no longer acting, especially during "Rich Man".  It didn't seem forced like it did in previews.  When I watch Danny, I don't think about Topol or Harvey or anyone else I've seen play this iconic role.  Danny has totally made the role his own and he's doing a damn fine job keeping the tradition alive!

 

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 7:37am

 

What color were they?  Asking for a friend.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 8:53am

This is the New Broadway tradition.

 

To Growler. What the hell difference does the color make?

[newintown]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 9:04am

I'm with The Growl. I suggest that you tread lightly, Marway, very lightly. These gals might publish an article about how they almost slapped you (and your wife) for disrespecting their right to enjoy the performance in the unique and honorable fashion appropriate to their culture.

[Marway44]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 9:13am

To answer the question for the Growl, they were Caucasian.  I really did not want to make a separate thread about this when we already have a bad behavior thread, but I just needed to vent.  I feel like I could have done so much more but it is difficult when you're 3 rows form the stage, smack in the middle. 

Does anyone know how to deal with similar circumstances in the future without disrupting others, let alone the cast?

[gypsy101]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 9:22am

wow that's shocking! maybe the ladies have some kind of social disabilities or behavioral problems. usually in the theater you feel societal pressure to act accordingly, clearly these women don't feel the same way as most.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 9:26am

i think the statement about race was in reference to that recent event when that award winning author almost slapped a rich white lady that bought her a ticket

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 9:28am

It should not enter into these conversations. Bad behavior is that no matter who does it.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 9:35am

I'm saying I think themysteriousgrowl was asking about the ethnicity satirically

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 10:21am

Nothing he does is satirically

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 10:32am

I think patrons who are singing out loud should be told to stop, disruption be damned. For reasons I don't understand it has become the norm to sing along at rock concerts; the behavior is encouraged by the bands, because it's the absolutely cheapest way to get spectators invested in a performance.

 

We here tend to think everybody knows theater customs, but the fact is most people rarely attend professional theater even once in their lifetimes. Yes, anyone brighter than a moron would notice she was the only one singing, but some people are just that: morons.

 

So let's do them and everybody else a favor and tell them to shut up, politely the first time and then with whatever tone of voice works. I'd rather you distract me once for a few seconds than make me listen to some amateur sing for 2 and a half hours. Most musicals have lively numbers somewhere near the beginning which provide excellent cover for an intervention.

 

(Yes, of course, there are exceptions. If the play is set in a church and seems to treat the audience as the congregation, then I'd let folks sing along with the hymns. But such exceptions are rare.)

Updated On: 1/14/16 at 10:32 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 10:35am

The last time I shushed someone semi-effectively was also my 4th or 5th try that evening with the same people. Eventually I rolled up my Playbill and used it as an amplifier. It kind of worked.

[Marway44]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 10:41am

I agree Roxy. Inconsiderate is the perfect word to sum this one up.  I also appreciate Gaveston's insight of maybe they didn't know any better.  You can sing along and film a concert most of the time.

Or they were morons. Like some pre show announcements now ask you unwrap food or candy before the show stars, maybe they include no talking or singing. 

[tgrabon2]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 3:32pm

I had four chatty older broads from Italy (they were speaking Italian so I guess that's where they were from) sitting in the row directly behind me at Sister Act. A few nasty glares sent by me their way didn't silence them. "Shut the **** up" it turns out is universal and they did just that. At intermission I stood and turned around to see if we needed to discuss anything. They stared at their Playbills or rummaged through their shopping bags. Act two went by with out a peep.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 4:06pm

Earlier in the week I was at a different show..a man in the front row aisle seat was taking out his phone to take a photo of the two performers singing on stage. He wasn't even trying to hide the phone..he was aiming the camera high up and getting ready to take the picture and another man across the aisle just SMACKED him hard in the shoulder. The "photographer" was so shocked he put his phone away...and said nothing.

 

It was about 20 minutes before the end of the show. When it was over, "the smacker" just raced up the aisle before the crowd developed. The one who was hit was walking out and was mumbling to his friend that he had no idea why this guy hit him...figured he was a nut case and hoped he didn't hit anyone else..

 

The things you see and hear in the theater..LOL

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 4:15pm

I stopped reading at this line, because there could be none better.

 

They ladies were the only ones wearing jeans and loud shirts.

[nsguy45]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 4:23pm

I don't understand why food is allowed to be brought into the theatre.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 4:34pm

They ladies brang it in.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 4:47pm

I am appalled security let them in. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 5:53pm

tgrabon2 said: "I had four chatty older broads from Italy (they were speaking Italian so I guess that's where they were from) sitting in the row directly behind me at Sister Act. A few nasty glares sent by me their way didn't silence them. "Shut the **** up" it turns out is universal and they did just that. At intermission I stood and turned around to see if we needed to discuss anything. They stared at their Playbills or rummaged through their shopping bags. Act two went by with out a peep.

 

"

I wonder if you would have done the same thing if it was four chatty Italian muscle guys.

 

[SweetLips]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 6:05pm

 This has to be a broad generalisation but in all my years of theatre going as an audience member in England/Australia and the 70/80/90s New York ,I have never witnessed the scenes described in these threads[and certainly believe they are true]--I've had to shoosh a few people over the years--so why is NOW so different[don't want references back to Shakespears' days] ?  I blame reality TV audiences where the audience is required to be as much a part of the show as those up on stage.There is now a general lack of manners/respect/discipline everywhere-not just in theatres. Entitlement comes before consideration in todays' world.

 

SL.....x

Updated On: 1/14/16 at 06:05 PM

[Mike66]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 6:22pm

Why didn't the OP stand up, walk over to the house manager and complain when it happened?

 

Unless and until people do that -- and the more people who do it the better -- the longer it will take before the behavior stops.

 

It's true that unless you and I and we make a fuss over these things, the house staff will prefer not to pursue it. 

 

And yes, I have done what I am speaking of.  Stand up, go to the first usher you see, ask for the House Manager, and complain and insist that something be done.

 

And yes, it's terrible, because I am coming in from out of town and I cant just come again next week.  But the truth is that when the person was doing that, I wasn't going to enjoy the show at all with all of that going on next to me.

 

What has to happen (and it doesn't have to happen very often for the word to get out) is for the people to not only be escorted out, but taken to the nearest police station.

 

And before we get too much in the weeds about this -- when I buy my ticket, I am purchasing a "license" to enjoy the show in person, without recording it.  And I am entitled to be able to do so in peace.  This is the contract provided by the theatre management to me.  They are required to allow me to enjoy the show on those terms.  And it their responsibility (just like your landlord has a requirement to keep your neighbor's in line) to do so.

 

But you need to tell them, or they (a) may not know and (b) definitely wont care.

 

 

[Julie Yard]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 7:02pm

I have a teacher friend who is the best shusher ever (I've never seen her go to STFU), and watching her I have become pretty good at it. If shushing people doesn't work absolutely get out of your seat, stomp over the offenders, and get and usher/house manager. No one has the right to spoil your theater experience!.

And I had to laugh at tgrabon2's post about the 4 chatty Italian ladies at Sister Act. Those ladies were sitting behind me at A View From the Bridge (Liev Schieber) and after the shushing failed I gave them the STFU and that worked. I'm seeing the new production this weekend and if they show up I'm going straight for the cursing!

[pmensky]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 8:54pm

Snipers.  That's the solution.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 8:55pm

I hate to sound like an old fart, but I fear SweetLips is right about a general decline in decorum.