pet peeves in theatre

#1

pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 6:55pm

just curious, what are some of your pet peeves in theatre? when actors forget their lines, when the audience isnt into it, when the person in front of you is too tall? what bugs you? i get annoyed when the audience isnt into it and isnt appreciative of the talent up onstage.

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Bob: "there is a chance, albeit a microscopic one, that our baby at some point in his or her formative years will get lodged in a tree" ~Related~

#2

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 6:58pm

When things are dropped onstage and people think it better to just ignore it. I have been onstage, in the wings and in the audience. No matter what PICK IT UP! it won't hinder the performance it only makes it natural. Just find an appropriate time and do it!

#3

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:00pm

i had to do that once. i was supposed to be getting robbed (nice huh?) and the kid robbing me never grabbed the coin, it fell out of my hands and onto the stage floor. i just looked around helpless as usual then when i sank down to the ground reached out and picked it up, still acting terrified. hey, i tried!

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Bob: "there is a chance, albeit a microscopic one, that our baby at some point in his or her formative years will get lodged in a tree" ~Related~

#4

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:03pm

When people have bags and start ruffling them around. Like at Beauty and the Beast some lady behind me (I was in the second to last row of the mezzanine) had one of those annoying plastic shopping bags and she kept going in it to get something and the bag was very loud. I kept looking at her, she didn't seem to realize she was being very loud and annoying!!!

I could name many other instances, but I guess rude audience members in general is a big pet peeve. When actors forget their lines or drop things on stage, I guess that can suck when you are so into the show, but nothing is more annoying than a rude theatergoer who just takes everyone's attention away from the show. Grr...

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"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

#5

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:09pm

Three things:

1: When people sneak in snacks from intermission, and decide to munch loudly away during the rest of the show

2. Prepubescent, tone deaf girls or boys trying to sing along, thinking they'll magically be discovered from Row M in the second mezzanine.

3. Running Commentary from surrounding people. Oh. My. God.

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~And let us try, before we die, to make some sense of life~

#6

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:09pm

women in hats
out-of-control children

and ushers who do NOT stop people who bring food into the theater after intermission

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It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

Updated On: 10/3/05 at 07:09 PM

#7

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:19pm

1.) CELLPHONES. And then worse when people ignore it and pretend it will just go away, so it rings and rings and rings.

2.) Crinkly bags, food, or otherwise. Especially when people have merchandise bags and feel the need to go into them during the show.

3.) Late comers. I dont mind so much during the begining of the show, but I hate it more when they're late from intermission.

4.) Talkers. A comment here and there isnt so bad, but I HATE it when its just CONSTANT. Especially when its negative feedback.

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*Krissy* **Support the use of illegal wood burning stoves. Get your own metal trash can today!**

#8

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:35pm

I just had a new one this weekend--
The guy sitting next to me at a show had his phone on vibrate, which is much better than having the ringer on, although I really think you should just turn it off completely (our culture has become so tied to their electronics). Anyway, his vibrate was really strong, so I could feel it in my seat!

#9

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:40pm

Hearing Aids with dying batteries!!!!!!

I can't tell you how many shows I've been at where someones Hearing aid is dying and it creates that high pitch noise. Apperently, I have learned that the noise is created to tell the user that their battery is dead. One problem... the user needs assistance in HEARING in the first place! So it just keeps Buzzzzzzzzzzzing the whole show! When you leave the theatre every Dog in a 50 mile radius is waiting outside!!!!

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"It's like children's theatre for 40-year old gay people!" - XANADU THE MUSICAL

#10

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:42pm

That is a new one..

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*Krissy* **Support the use of illegal wood burning stoves. Get your own metal trash can today!**

#11

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:46pm

personally, i hate when people move into "better" seats before a show even starts, crinkle mcdonalds wrappers, eat burgers, and talk obnoxiously. i can understand moving at intermission, but taking other people's seats before they have a chance to get to them, COME ON! (cough-people at last ASU performance-cough) ugh so obnoxious

#12

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:46pm

When the audience leaves right before or during curtain call. Um, okay, the cast just gave their all onstage for about two hours, you couldn't bear to stay for two minutes more?

#13

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:47pm

Constant talking/people who feel the need to repeat punchlines to their friends, and the parents who ignore badly-behaved kids bother me. I don't think it's fair to blame a young child for not being able to sit still for the duration of a show, but their parents/guardians should definitely know enough to tell them to be quiet and stop kicking the chair of the nice girl in front of them...

#14

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:54pm

Coughing!! When one person starts and you get this chain coughing effect across the audience.

Also theater patrons who hog two armrests.

People who don't like a show and make everyone else miserable too.

#15

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 8:07pm

When people see that one of the leads will be an understudy and roll their eyes and groan.
When people critique the entire performance and act as if they could do it so much better.

#16

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 8:10pm

I can't stand talking and those who repeat lines to the less hearing astute. When I went to see '1776', there was a group of people yapping in Russian behind us and they seemed upset.

As my sister was turning to say something to them, I said "Maybe they thought they were going see "1917"

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'Take me out tonight where's there's music and there's people and they're young and alive.'

#17

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 8:29pm

lol, wexy....that was a good one

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It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

#18

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 8:43pm

Rude Ushers....gaw.

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"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999

#19

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 8:47pm

1.) Ringing cellphones
2.) Loud children
3.) Eating, drinking, chewing gum, etc.
4.) TALKING OF ANY KIND while the show is in progress
5.) Loud listening devices/hearing aides

#20

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 8:58pm

When people are in the aisle behind me trying to get to their seat and manage to bash me and others in the head with a purse or some object. Happened recently at Sweet Charity. A woman beaned at least five of us on the noggin as she made her way to her seat. And the purse was one of those sturdy purses that made a nice clunk sound.

Oh, she also sang along during Big Spender.

#21

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 9:09pm

I think people who sing during shows should be ejected from the theatre. Its more obnoxious then a ringing cellphone.

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*Krissy* **Support the use of illegal wood burning stoves. Get your own metal trash can today!**

#22

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 9:11pm

And be put on some kind of black list that allows them to NEVER see a musical EVER again.

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"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

#23

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 9:22pm

Not a real peeve but a good story. When I saw "Tru" with Robert Morse, I was in the second row and the woman in front of me was fast asleep, old cold.

Morse was carrying an ornament to place on a Christmas tree stage left, directly in front of this comatose woman.

He came over with the ornament, saw her out cold and looked me right in the eye while continuing with his monologue, put a finger to his mouth and went "Sshhh"

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'Take me out tonight where's there's music and there's people and they're young and alive.'

#24

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 9:34pm

Wexy, that would have been extremely funny! Did the woman ever wake up?

I hate it when people sing along. I was at Les Mis, and a man behind me sang along to the INSTRUMENTALS of Master of the House. He ended quickly, but I don't think I could have survived if he hadn't stopped!

Yeah, cell phones, hearing aids, seat theft, the usual stuff - makes me cringe! Especially at CCBB - there's people eating, chatting, and singing all over the theatre. Which stinks, because I think I would've enjoyed the show if it weren't for the audience! I did enjoy it, but it was just so ANNOYING!

#25

re: pet peeves in theatre

Posted: 10/3/05 at 9:35pm

I was just rereading the original post and I think it had mentioned Actors who forget their lines as a pet peeve. I was going to say I disagree because frankly, forgotten lines have often led the some of the funniest adlibs and improv ever! :)

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*Krissy* **Support the use of illegal wood burning stoves. Get your own metal trash can today!**