Worst Theatre Experience — Page 3

Pgenre, Ghostlight2 is correct. You are offensive and out of line. Averting PC bull**** is one thing. Talking like a total dick is another.

Short people do not continually dish out crap for tall people. It's very often the opposite.

Aside from an issue like the one we are discussing, how many instances in your life would it have been better for you to be shorter? I'm sure you would never trade places with a 5'7" dude like me, ever. Because of a genetic accident women are far likely to date you, people are far more likely to respect you and listen to what you say and you're more likely to get a high-paying job. If you have a gut it is also easier to hide, and if a thief is looking for someone to rob who do you think he'll choose, the tall dude or the short dude? In American culture, at least, added height is highly valued while lack of height is disparaged. That is why you see characters like Farquaad in "Shrek" and hear lovely terms to describe short people like "short ****."

The only perks I have thus far found for being short is that theatre seats are less uncomfortable, we age a little slower, gain muscle a little faster, impress people more easily because they tend to underestimate us and are less likely to die in an auto accident.

This is to say nothing of your comments on fat people. Many people are fat, but not all of them deserve it. People are fat for more reasons than just overeating or laziness.

All that said, I absolutely believe that tall people have a right to come to the theater and even sit in front of me. Only on rare occassion does someone's being tall alone make it difficult for me to see. It's when someone's head sways back and forth that really does it. At any height that annoys.

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Daddy Cool in the West End was awful - but at sometimes so bad it was funny.

Woman In White has to be the biggest snooze fest ever.

Idol: The Musical -- the show is probably the worst thing I've ever seen in any theater anywhere, but the audience was downright hostile to it, making it as uncomfortable as it was awful.

I am far more uncomfortable in my seat than you are in yours.

Especially if you're at the Vivian Beaumont or the mezz at Studio 54!

Of course they arent going to notice if one person isint clapping or not, And I did not say anything about having to give a standing ovation but it is respectful to clap and applaude their giving it their all (even if you didnt like it).

For 8 performances every week, performers give 100% and sing/dance/act for your entertainment. Even if it doesnt appeal to you, shouldnt you atleast applaude the effort? For example during birdie I thought Gina did a horibble job as Rose yet I still applauded. She sung (tried) to the best of her ability and did what she was supposed to do the best she could do it. That deserves an applause dispite her obviously being miscast.

It just looks obnoxious not showing that appreciation. Its basically saying that their performance which they delievered the best they can, was not good enough to deserve the guy in "row Ds" approval.

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Also aren't there some cultures where it is considered rude to applaud during a show? I think I remember reading that somewhere.

For 8 performances every week, performers give 100% and sing/dance/act for your entertainment. Even if it doesnt appeal to you, shouldnt you atleast applaude the effort?

Ah, but there are times when you can tell the performers are not giving 110%. I have been to several performances where at least one if not many of the actors were phoning it in. That does not deserve applause. I'm guessing you stand up for someone merely showing up on stage too?

Updated On: 9/21/09 at 12:41 PM

Not to mention they are NOT doing it for free. If I am not entertained my $122.00 worth I will be damned if I expend the extra energy to applaud!

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When I saw the national tour of Little Woman, there were three little girls sitting in front of me. One of them sat there quietly the whole time, but the other two were so annoying!

The first girl would repeat every line that she thought was funny (loudly), and the second girl (who sat on the end) would get out of her seat from time to time and walk over to the other end of their seats to ask questions to their so called "chaperone". She got out of her seat at least 5 times and the parent wouldn't say a thing!

Finally, during intermission, someone came up to her and asked her to quiet her kids.

You are missing the point. You said that you applauded for Gina Gershon, though her singing wasn't the best, she tried her best and made the effort. Why should I applaud someone if I didn't think they were giving a wonderful performance? How hard they try is of no interest to me, its the results that count. Its like tipping a waiter. If they do an exceptional job, they get a good tip. If their service leaves something to be desired, no matter how hard they are trying, the tip is minimal or non-existent. As an audience member, I am under no obligation to applaud. I applaud if it is deserved, not just because the performer finished singing a song. I am not of the mindset of "song is over, time to clap". Then applause means nothing.

If you want to applaud for "effort", that is certainly your perogative. But for you to say it irks you when people don't applaud after a number is just as ridiculous as if I were to say it irks me when people applaud for a performer who doesn't deliver the goods. Clap all you like, but there's no reason to get annoyed if not everyone shares your enthusiasm.

Updated On: 9/21/09 at 03:26 PM

I'm going to agree with the applause thing. Sometimes it doesn't even seem appropriate to clap or cheer at everything. I noticed the pace of the second act of Phantom left that many times. And I will say that Rent on tour seemed a little bit ruined in the second act where the storyline is getting more serious, but people were clapping and cheering for everything.

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"Even "phoning" it in like someone said prior to your comments, they are still doing a good job. Getting up on a live stage performing and not being able to make any slip ups, I think deserves applause."

Since when is phoning it in doing a good job? Just being onstage and not making any slip-ups deserves applause? You are an actor's dream audience member. "I don't have to work all that hard, just show up and don't make any visible mistakes ... they'll adore me anyway."

Not AT a show, but one of the worst experiences of my life was getting into Broadway on Broadway recently. We got there at an ridiculous hour and we're maybe the 10th in line, and everything was smooth and peaceful. At around 9:30 they told us we were getting ready to go in, and they tried to move us ONTO the street. Basically, every person that got there 20 minutes before found there way to the front with all of us over nighters. We had to wait in the barricades which were so tight and sweaty until about 11. I think everyone who had gotten there early managed to get in, but the process itself was a nightmare. I don't know if I'll go next year.

Updated On: 9/21/09 at 04:00 PM

SNAFU ... I gladly and willingly applaud your comments and agree wholeheartedly!