Worst Theatre Experience — Page 4

I'll give you a standing ovation, snafu

The thing is, I'll almost always at least tepidly applaud the worst of shows (even the aforementioned Idol: The Musical -- and I was about the only one in the theatre doing it) just out of a matter of southern politeness. But I certainly have no ill feelings toward anyone next to me sitting on their hands.

"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".

Wow. If you're serious, that's really petty and childish.

I went to Jersey Boys in Chicago with my dad and my aunt. The lady behind me sang along with every single song in Act One. During intermission, I turned around and asked her politely if she could please stop singing along. Normally I would have just let it go, but I could tell my dad was getting ticked off and knew he was never going to say anything. The lady said "oh, okay," but then spent the rest of the intermission complaining loudly to her husband about how rude I was for asking her to stop, and that she had paid her money and if she wanted to sing along, it was her right, blah, blah, blah. And then proceeds to clap and sing along, louder, if possible, with Act Two. Fortunately, she apparently didn't know most of the later Frankie Valli songs, because she stopped after a while, but I was very close to popping her in the mouth by the end.

when i saw wicked for the 2nd time i had really bad seats (which was my doing) but a family of four in front of me kept leaning over the ledge on the balcony completely obstructing the view of the stage. i was also seated next to someone who talked the entire time. the whole show was a downer and the fact that im not a big wicked fan doesnt help/

Ha, I got so caught up in the tall people and no applauders debates, I never told my own worst experience, audience-wise.

When I saw Soul of Shaolin, just before the show started, a very sleazy leisure-suit-larry-looking middle aged man sat in front of me with two young 20-something girls flanking him. All had drinks in hand, and it was pretty obvious it was not the first drink of the night for any in the party. The girls spent the first act alternating between loudly commenting and narrating the action on stage and feeling up Leisure Suit Larry.

During the second act, after a few more intermission drinks, LSL passed out in his seat, snoring, leaving the girls free to make out with each other (still commenting on the action all the while). Ushers told them to shut up two or three times and people around us were getting up and changing seats, but I was far too fascinated and not invested enough in the show itself to move.

I hope LSL checked his pockets before sending the girls home.

eta -- oh, and to the applause question -- don't tell that to the people who saw Tosca at the Met last night!
Link

Updated On: 9/22/09 at 10:11 AM

Would anyone happen to know where I can find information about this Norman Conquests incident?

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Thanks, ghostlight :)

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So - how bad was TOSCA? Did the audience boo?

Wow, I actually forgot all about that Norman Conquests incident!

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Ha, the lady next to me sang along with Rosie the other night during Birdie, and believe me, anybody who heard her would have begged to hear Gina Gershon sing as an alternative.

I have often wished that at any but in particular at jukebox musicals a "please do not sing along" announcement was included in the turn off your cell phones announcement.

YES. And sometimes I feel worse at those shows asking people to not sing along, because I can tell they're reliving their youths and are in their happy place. But they're making it my sad place.

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Both of mine encompass the same issue - sing-a-longs.

Chicago - middle aged women behind me from Texas claiming to know all about the show because she loves the movie and that she cant wait to see Taye Diggs on stage. Then went on to sing all the songs loudly (not even the right words) and kick the chair next to me. Someone behind her asked her to stop and she got so mouthy.

Jersey Boys - Woman a few seats away loudly singing the songs and randomly standing up to bounce to the music (when not one other person in the theater was).

Cute story - My friend came with me to Tarzan and was seated next to a little girl. I guess at some point she got scared and instead of jumping to her left and hugging her father, she nearly jumped in my friend's lap and was hanging onto his arm with dear life. Very odd, but what can you do at that point but laugh and say "it's ok" until she calms down?

Oh and at The Little Mermaid (another sing a long experience) we had a mother who belched very very loudly.

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Why would I pay MORE money just because its hard for the person behind me to see? Maybe THEY should change seats, not me?