Worst Theatre Experience- Page 4

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 5:01pm

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.

[Weez]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 5:32pm

So when someone's sat next to you and isn't applauding... ever think they might have arthritis, tendonitis, or any of a number of painful ailments that would have them weeping silent tears of agony if they smacked their hands vigorously and repeatedly together? Just a thought. :P

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 7:14pm

"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.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 7:23pm

When I saw Chita Rivera: A Dancer's Life on tour, I moved to the second row center during intermission. The couple in front of me started drunk dancing in their seat and raising their plastic cups full of booze when Chita performed "All That Jazz." I felt embarrassed for them since they were in front row.

I also recently saw the Jersey Boys tour in Boston, and the lady behind me sang, clapped and made noises to the beats of each song. She was in the second row! I was so annoyed with her, and I knew the performers onstage couldn't miss her. A few of us around her were laughing and making faces at each other. She ruined "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" for me.

[K8eeyore]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 7:51pm

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.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 7:57pm

K8eeyore, I had a similar problem, as you can see. I didn't bother saying anything to the old lady, because she seemed like she would have a hissy fit if anyone said anything to her. She had a really high and shrill voice. Most annoying sound ever. I should have, because she did ruin moments in the show for me. But I try to avoid confrontations in the theater, especially if they look like they will have a meltdown.

One time a guy started clapping in the middle of Sweet Charity at a random moment, and I just looked back, and he was so offended. I didn't even do anything. Okay, maybe I looked for a second more than I should have.

As I am typing this, they are dancing to Beggin' on Dancing With the Stars, ha.

Updated On: 9/21/09 at 07:57 PM

[jonmbway4652]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 8:05pm

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/

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 8:21pm

This whole thing reminds me of the WithoutaTrace Norman Conquests incident.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 10:11am

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

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:37am

"This whole thing reminds me of the WithoutaTrace Norman Conquests incident."

Ugh, I had forgotten about that one. Truly horrendous theater behavior. Luckily, the show itself was outstanding.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:47am

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

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:55am

Norman Conquests story

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:01pm

Thanks, ghostlight :)

[Hrududu]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:12pm

When I went to see Wicked I was sitting beside a little girl who would randomly turn fully and stare at me. It freaked me out as everyone knows little girls have evil powers.

The couple in front of me then proceeded to kiss and cuddle for what seemed like ages. I kicked their seat. Only I made sure to kick the seat to the left so when they turned around it looked like the starey little girl had kicked it.

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:22pm

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

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:26pm

Apparently, during the curtain call (see the link below my comment)

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:33pm

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

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:39pm

Calvin, I forgot mine as well. I've been pretty lucky most of the time, but once when I saw The Marvelous Wonderettes, I apparently was the only random single seat behind and in between a group of women who came in obviously drunk and proceeded to sing along loudly and badly, dance, wave their hands in the air, talk loudly and obnoxiously across several people to another, etc. all the while acting like they were completely entitled to do all of that. For a moment I was afraid I was going to show up in an episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey or something similar they were acting that obnoxiously. I would have expected that at say Rock of Ages, but not Wonderettes. I was even more shocked to learn that they were all friends of a cast member. Though that might explain their sense of entitlement.

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.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:43pm

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.

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:46pm

wonkit ~ From what I could tell when I was waiting for someone in Times Square and the broadcast was on there, the audience did applaud and cheer loudly for the performers. The boos started when I'm assuming the director and designer etc. came on stage. I didn't see the entire opera (though had I remembered they were broadcasting in Times Square I might have gone in to see it), so I don't know if there were boos earlier, but at curtain call they appeared to be reserved for the creative team. Or I'm assuming it was the creative team. They definitely cheered the cast.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 1:19pm

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.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 4:24pm

I haven't really had a horrible theatre experience yet, but I would probably say when I saw a performance of Othello at a university. It was a performance for students from various high schools, and nearly all of the kids were horrible audience members. Like, they catcalled Desdemona when she was in a nightie during the last act (it was a more modern staging).

[MotorTink]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 4:36pm

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.

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 7:17pm

Sitting through Roundabout's god-awful revival of BYE BYE BIRDIE.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 7:27pm

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