Why I walked out of Gypsy today

[jazzicat]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 4:49pm

I have to add to the posts I have seen about rude behavior at Gypsy. So- I'm trying to be better about my spending lately and I thought that instead of getting orchestra seats as usual I would suck it up and enjoy myself in the balcony. BIG MISTAKE. My seat was fine, I did my homework and got an aisle seat with a full view of the stage. I was by myself, but like any new yorker had my IPod and looked forward to a matinee.

During the first 20 minutes of the show, this group of women decided finally that they couldn't see so they started playing musical chairs. First they were two rows in front of me, moved up one row and decided that they still weren't high enough. Then instead of all moving together, one by one they decided to uproot themselves. Every time one decided to move up to be with their friends, they knocked my purse and my playbill out of my lap. These were not small women. And they were talking the whole time. Usually I am very gracious and respectful to people but my experience was disrupted five times. Five times I had to get up. Five times they knocked me over. The ushers did nothing. I realize these were cheap seats and all, but their behavior was deplorable. Finally I couldn't take it. I ran downstairs and asked to see the manager. I was so embarassed, felt so disrupted and was so emotional that the house manager couldn't calm me down. He of course couldn't give me a refund and offered to seat me somewhere else, but I was just so angry and disappointed. How could they not control these animals in the balcony.

So I told the house manager who was very nice that, I'm sure it is a great show, but I just am so upset-- I can't stay. He just shook his head. You know, I just wanted a nice peaceful afternoon, but I felt beaten up. Maybe I overreacted, but people should know how to behave and not ruin it for others. I mean at least be quiet.. or there were so many empty rows.. why make me get up five times so you can be one row closer. Or at least apologize. Women like this make me hate tourists. I guess I know not to sit with the masses next time. SO disappointed. I walked home so embarassed and just sad. I hate how i can get so emotional. I really wanted to see the show, but not sure I can go back after this.

Fixed. Sorry for the vent. Updated On: 5/24/08 at 04:49 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 4:54pm

Oh wow, posts with no spaces and paragraphs make me emotional! I must see the BWW manager!

Updated On: 5/24/08 at 04:54 PM

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:00pm

(I'm speechless)

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:07pm

When I saw the show, May 22nd of previews (the day before Easter), I was seated on the right orchestra, third row from the stage. A woman and her granddaughter were seated in the first row, quite far to the right. Once the overture started, they too decided that the seats were inadequate, and got up, walked all the way through their row, disrupting those patrons, and then perused their way through my row, forcing all of the third row to stand up as they worked their way past. Once they sat down on the far right of the fourth row, I believe they moved once more. Luckily, I do not believe they moved once any of the performers entered the stage - only during the overture. (Not that its any less frustrating...)

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:13pm

How did you know they were tourists? New Yorkers can be just as rude in theaters. And I would have taken the offer of another seat.

Updated On: 5/24/08 at 05:13 PM

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:17pm

cry me a river.

people are rude. tourists are rude. tell them to stop being disrespectful. I hate when people just complain, and dont do anything about it. If someone is bothering you, kindly ask them to stop disrespecting the actors onstage, and the other patrons, and remain in their seats.


uncageg- I find that new yorkers are not as rude as they pretend to be. New Yorkers tend to have better theatre etiquite(sp?) than tourists(who tend not to go to theatre... not talking about theatre people who have flown into the city)

[jazzicat]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:23pm

yeah, I know. wahh But honestly I got upset.. I admit it, but it's not my job to teach them how to behave. And I guess my only other point is that there are folks whose job it IS to control this kind of behavior at shows. If they are just going to let it happen and I have heard multiple reports, then Gypsy won't be open for very long. period. Maybe the investors don't care.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:25pm

I think it is our job to teach people how to behave...some people aren't aware they are misbehaving.

I would have had NO problem telling them to sit down and shut the f*** up...

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:26pm

This is just one of the reasons I refuse to sit farther than 8th row orchestra for any show. I've had only a couple of bad experiences in the past 20 years, and both those times I was sitting far away from the stage. It seems the farther from the action, the more people think it's OK to behave like idiots.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:27pm

annoying audience members is NOT going to close the show(unfortunately.)

and yes, its not your job to teach them theatre etiquite, BUT not everyone knows how cathardic of an experience theatre can be for some people, and some people(often tourists) plainly do not know how to behave in a theatre. If their behavior is bothering you, make your voice heard instead of crying about it to the manager.

Yes, ushers should be keeping it under control to an extent, but they cant babysit the entire audience once the show starts.


EDIT: agreed tom!
Updated On: 5/24/08 at 05:27 PM

[dayao]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:33pm

It is very disheartening to find out that the lack of civility that has become a common occurrence at movie theatres everywhere has now infected musical theatre. I don’t care how much you paid for your seats of if they were in the balcony. You have a right to expect that the other patrons around you behave in a fashion respectful of the performers on stage and the other theatergoers around them.

Maybe you did over react to the situation but not taking the manager’s offer to move to a different location. Nevertheless, if the show was already ruined for you on this occasion you probably did the right thing by leaving. But I strongly recommend that you not let these cretins win and go back to see GYPSY. Also, before doing so, I would call the main office of the theatre and inform them that their ushers are not doing their jobs properly. They should make it clear when seating people that it is against theatre policy to repeatedly change seats and disrupt other patrons’ enjoyment of the show. The only seat that you are entitled to occupy is the seat number on your ticket. Sadly, an alarming number of people in public venues these days have to be reminded that they are not sitting in their underwear in front of a TV at home.

Updated On: 5/24/08 at 05:33 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:42pm

Like they say in Dubai: "...you get what you paid for."

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 5:43pm

Instead of leaving and feeling like it ruined your experience, just take the seat offerd!!! You shouldn't have made a big deal out of it.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:02pm

Welcome to insensitivity central.

Jazzicat, sorry you had a bad day at the theater. Thanks for being sensitive enough to feel you could share it with people who share your interests. I think a majority of us feel for you.

A few of the rest of you, stay after class. I want a few words with you about civility.

[nmartin]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:14pm

This kind of behavior is why I stopped going to movies years ago. Considering theatre ticket prices, it is even more intolerable at a live performance. I feel for you on this one.

[amalou]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:17pm

Some people are more sensitive than others. It's just a fact of life. But there's nothing wrong with that. I can understand getting upset over something like that. It's frustrating. You'd think grown women would just know how to behave in public. It's aggravating. It shouldn't be everyone else's problem or responsibility to kindly remind people how to friggin behave. People should just know better!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:25pm

Amalou, GREAT avatar. I'm counting the days til the Venture Brothers return.

Now Brock would have done something to shush these evil ladies (or perhaps The Phantom Limb!)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:26pm

Why does the fact that Jazicat had an Ipod have anything to do with the rest of her post?

I'm also confused about how she equates the quality of the show with the behavior of a group in the audience?

What ever happened to logic?

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:38pm

I don't know, let's stay after class to have allofmylife teach us a lesson - I like it hard!

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:44pm

IF there is ever a situation like this... what I normally do is lie and tell the audience member in a VERY stern whisper that I paid well over a 115 dollars for this show and I'm capable of watching the show without YOUR commentary.

Usually they shut up...

[TomMonster]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:45pm

How big is his ruler? I haven't been asked to "stay after class" in a LONG time...

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:50pm

"Why does the fact that Jazicat had an Ipod have anything to do with the rest of her post?"

That's what I was thinking, lol.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:54pm

^ I was also thinking that. Also, what does your homework have to do with this? You were planning on listening to your IPOD and do your homework during Rose's Turn?

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 6:59pm

^I don't know what the ipod had to do with the post, except creating imagery, but I think the OP meant "I did my homework and decided to purchase an aisle seat", meaning they researched where to buy their seat.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 7:03pm

If you gad spoken up and said something to these women after the second one got up, you more then likely would have gotten the behavior to stop and been able to enjoy the show. Sometimes we allow ourselves to take part in creating the events that upset us, even if it is passively.