Worst Theatre Experience- Page 3

[Rudy2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:15pm

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.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:29am

Pgenere your comments are extremly offensive and rude. Just because the woman is Fat doesnt mean it is her fault. I consider myself overweight (you can see me in my icon) I am 5'9 and close to 200 pounds. I eat maybe twice a day and do not binge or over eat. I have a slow metabolism (which runs in my family) and it takes extremly long for me to burn calories.

People do not just "over eat" and gain weight. Though a large majority, that is not everyone and therfore cannot represent everyone who is fat.

People have medical conditions which cause them to gain weight. People suffering from depression or on medication tend to gain weight. People who even eat small ammounts of food dont eat healthy. Lack of sleep. Massive Stress. Etc.

This is one advantage of taking medical classes.

Please learn your facts.

[AnythingGoes2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 9:04am

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.

[boylikethat]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 10:24am

I have to agree with 'Othello' in Seattle. Most boring afternoon of my life.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 10:35am

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.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 10:51am

Some thoughts, and a warning, from a tall guy. I am 6'3", and I go to the theater. I try to arrive as early as possible so I can get to my seat right away. This allows those people sitting behind me to choose their seats knowing where I am. I would consider it an inconvenience to others for me to walk in just before curtain, and have those behind me have to shuffle their seating arrangements because I happen to be sitting in front of a short person.

Having said that, ask me to slouch at your own peril. I have long, thick, wavy hair, which I pull back before going to the theater. However, should you ask me to slouch, my only response will be to unleash my hair, leaving you with a worse view. Take heart, however, in the fact that I sit perfectly still throughout the performance, and I that I am far more uncomfortable in my seat than you are in yours.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 11:09am

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!

[WestVillage]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 11:16am

"It really urks me when some people dont applaude after numbers.
Once during Wicked I sat next to a woman who did not clap ONCE during the entire show. After every number and applause she just sat there. As soon as curtain call started she walked out (We were in row cc which is extremly close to the stage). I can understand if you dont like a show but atleast have and show some respect to its performers who give their all every night."

Why does that bother you? You'd hate sitting next to me. If someone isn't enjoying themselves, why should they applaud? I rarely applaud after every musical number in a show. At Birdie, like the woman at Wicked, I didn't applaud at all, and only applauded at curtain call for the very few performances I enjoyed. I also won't give a standing ovation just because everyone around me is standing. I don't care if I'm the only one in the theatre to remain seated (like when I saw Wicked). Being respectful is not talking, not using your cell phone, not causing a disturbance. Whether one applauds or not has nothing to do with showing respect to a performer. And its not like the cast is noticing that the person in row D, seat 111 isn't clapping.

As for the leaning issue ... I also am tall .. 6'2", and I NEVER lean forward. Even at my height, when someone shorter in front of me leans forward, it does obstruct my view, and I have no problem asking them to please sit back. Leaning forward is just plain rude and selfish (unless you are in the last row and no one is behind you).

[saveusmike]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 11:55am

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.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:02pm

Saveus, there were some shows I have been too where I expected the cast to applaud me for making it through and they didn't and I found it disrespectful!, (Koff BRK'LYN koff, koff!)

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:41pm

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

[WestVillage]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 1:20pm

"For 8 performances every week, performers give 100% and sing/dance/act for your entertainment."

And 5 days a week, for 9 hours each day I give 100% to my job. But I get a review and recognition once a year ... not at the end of each day.

I hate this putting performers on a pedestal ... "they give 100%" ... well they should, as do most people in their chosen profession. And if I'm entertained, I'll applaud. If I'm not entertained, I won't.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 1:31pm

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!

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 1:32pm

Absolutely. If I'm at a restaurant, and I don't like the food, I don't feel obligated to clean my plate even if the chef gave 110 percent that day.

I'm more annoyed by the "sitcom applause" some people give at shows. You know, the part where an odious character finally gets told off or such, and people applaud at the end of the speech as if Dorothy just told off that doctor who told her to go to a hairdresser when she had chronic fatigue syndrome.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 2:02pm

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.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:10pm

Broadway actor is not the same as Chef or office job or whatever you are comparing it to.
It is uncommon (no matter how good you are at these jobs) to receive applause. You recieve a check and if your "performance" is 100% you most likely would get a bonus of some sorts.

It is EXTREMLY common in the world of theatre to show appreciation at a show. About 98% of the audience does it. Every show. 6 days a week. It is a sign of appreciation and like.

I understand what you are saying that a job is a job. But you cannot compare these two types of jobs at all.

And Calvin you compared it to

"Absolutely. If I'm at a restaurant, and I don't like the food, I don't feel obligated to clean my plate even if the chef gave 110 percent that day"

You say you dont feel obligated to clean your plate so then in the same sense you are saying you would just leave the theatre?
Because if you dont you would only be contradicting yourself.

If you dont like it, you dont finish it.

A job is not always a job. Can you honestly compare a man working at lets say, a deli to the president and his job?
No.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:26pm

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

[saveusmike]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:32pm

I do agree with what you are saying with "song is over time to clap" applause would mean nothing then. Just even if I wasnt all that enaged I would still give a minimal clap (like you said a minimal tip). Of course your one clap doesnt make a diffrence and a actor isint going to wonder/care why you arent clapping. I just like to applaude the effort though because unless they are doing a HORRIBLE job. 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.

But I do completly understand what your saying.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:36pm

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.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:39pm

Marianne I dont mean cheering or clapping for lines or anything.
Ecspecially "Wooo"ing.

I just feel after a song is performed it would be nice to show that appreciation by a simple applause

[WestVillage]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:44pm

"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."

[saveusmike]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:50pm

You can only phon it in so much.. "I dont have to work all that hard..."

They are still singing/acting/dancing well enough to be on a Broadway stage are they not? If they did not do a job that people liked would they not get axed?

But of course you know the diffrence between giving 100% and 90% right?

Doing what they do everynight is already "Working all that hard".

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 4:00pm

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]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 4:35pm

OK Saveus, let's do this.... let's give a standing ovation to every show on Broadway every night because, heck even if they are just phoning it in, and garsh darn it they deserve it! Just for showing up! Applause because they are on stage and not screwing up? Entitlement much?
It is this type of attitude that makes for mediocre theatre and performers. I refuse to applaud for shows I don't enjoy or for performers I found lacking. They got my money and that is good enough!

[WestVillage]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 4:49pm

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