feeling uncomfortable as an audience member — Page 2

When I saw Chicago, I was in the third row. And for those who are unfamiliar with the show, the cast, instead of going backstage, sits on the stage in chairs off to the side. Anyway, This one guy was STARING at me. It was sort of strange. But he was one of the poster boys for Broadway Bares this year...so it's all good. Just a little uncomfortable.

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I am very conscious that since the actors can't see past the first few rows, the sense they get of audience reaction may rest with those of us close to stage. I have this heightened awareness of need to be attentive and engaged. I have actually seen actors after the show hugging people in the first few rows---and saying, "Thank God for you. What a great audience you were."

I was thinking about this more after reading creative_lunatic's reply...

I realize I'm NOT uncomfortable when I make eye contact with someone when they're singing, only when they're just standing there on stage. Even if they're doing a monologue or acting a scene and eye contact is made it's not bad. When I'm singing (I notice this most in a concert setting) I LOVE LOVE LOVE looking at people's reactions in the audience. That's the best feeling in the world, to see someone smiling and really impressed by voice and/or interpretation of a song. So when I'm the audience member and someone is singing and we make eye contact, I smile and let them know they're awesome. It's just the whole randomly standing on stage staring thing that weirds me out.

Oh and I always feel bad if I start laughing if I'm in the front row, even if it's a comedy scene and I'm SUPPOSED to laugh. I was trying so hard not to laugh during "India, India" I probably was making some ridiculous faces biting my lip and such, and Mandy could hardly contain herself to not start laughing at some points. I hate distracting people lol. So I don't think I could ever see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from the first row...oh my God no way. I would be peeing my pants on the floor during Ruprecht for sure.

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I make eye contact as well, my problem is when you're sitting there watching and you feel someone watching you. That's kinda scary. lol

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Actually, if you like a show and you sit near the stage and you make eye contact with an actor, it gives the actor great joy. Audience enjoyment keeps actors going, or at least it keeps me going. I don't mind sitting close to the stage.

You want uncomfortable? Try sitting in the front row at Take Me Out.

Not really my story, but the people sitting next to me when I saw Altar Boyz. I was on the front row, and during last song on of them came down and put his hands out for a high five. It wasn't to me and my friend, but the tree middle aged people next to us. They gave him the biggest WTF look ever, and so the actor (I can't remember witch one it was) looked at us, and me and friend all burst out laughing.

oh BURN! ahahahaahaha...damn I'd be uncomfortable but I'd rather be uncomfortable than make the actor uncomfortable!

You know what else is uncomfortable? Being a mime and having to interact with people. You get a lot of "WTF?!" looks, and children throw things at you. Highly disturbing, I don't suggest it. Well no...some places it was fun because people were into it, but those few bad experiences make me wary of the general public haahaha.

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When I saw Chitty, we sat front row. During "Teamwork", it was incredibly uncomfortable for me. I hate kids, and they were literally singing to me. The dogs also made me uncomfortable, because I definately wasn't expecting that.

I'm not sure if I saw the most recent one..it was a couple of years ago.

I get uncomfortable in situations like that. Not sure why though.

I was in a production of Bye Bye Birdie in San Diego, during one song the entire cast had to go in the audience, which was set up in a cabaret/dinner theatre type setting with tables and dance around, and then faint because of Conrad Birdie, and then exit in a blackout. It was a disaster. People getting purse straps wrapped around their ankles, fainting in 90 year old women's laps, knocking over drinks. Ridiculous.

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Not so much "uncomfortable," but the first time I saw Q, and didn't know about The Money Song, I had NO cash on me, and so Gary Coleman stuck his (her?) tongue out at me. So now when I go to Q I make sure that I always have a dollar in my pocket, 'cause I don't like having Gary Coleman stick his tongue out at me. :)

what do you mean Rebekah? Are you asking why that actor started laughing when you made eye contact? 'Cause...I think you'd have to ask him/her that to get the answer lol.

That's hilarious you're afraid to look away...you could just smile and then look away, so no hard feelings are implied? Okay I just started laughing so hard because I was thinking about that...and I've probably inadvertantly done the exact opposite and made a really pissy face and looked away...I do that when I'm nervous and I totally don't even realize it. When people meet me, or just random people on the street have to interact with me I feel bad for them because I'm the most aloof, reserved, not-so-nice looking person. I sware I don't mean it! Defense mechanism I suppose. ANYWAY...try smiling, that's always a good thing!

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Updated On: 11/30/05 at 12:58 AM

I am laughing myself to near tears with some of these postings... :)
Ok, mine aren't very funny, but still the situations made me uncomfy:
1. I was sitting in the 2nd row at Rent with my daughter when she decided that singing along would be perfectly fine... loud and very off-key. I was ready to crawl under my seat... I was sure those on stage could hear her. (I didn't have the heart to tell her to shutup... she's my daughter... *laffs*)
2. When one of the Blue Men popped up to the mezzanine level and stared at me, I yelped loudly. Like it wasn't bad enough that the theatre looked like a serial killer's den, leaving me with a spooky feeling... but then one of the serial killing looking blue dudes just HAD to sneak up on me. LoL
3. While at Whoopi's anniversary show last year I sat by a big-name fashion designer... he had a loud donkey sounding laugh that drew attention. At first when he introduced himself, I thought it was cool... then after he started laughing his loud donkey laugh all I could think was "oh... my... gawd... please make him STOP... PLEASE don't let someone think I am with this person!" LoL
4. Finally... this one was irritating: while seeing Broadway SVU the jerk beside me kept shushing everyone around him when they laughed. It made things uncomfy because I was so araid if I laughed again, he would loudly shush me again.

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Updated On: 11/30/05 at 03:49 AM