Well I have never experienced this type of situation in all of my theater going life and I hope never to agian. I "attended the tale" (sorry couldn't resist) yesterday and student rushed it. I ended up getting front mezz which I was thrilled about. The show started off great until Perille's Miracle Elixer bit. Just as Donna started her bit, a cell phone started to ring. Unfortuanatly, it didnt just ring once, it rang four or five times. At about the 4th ring, Patti looked at the orchestra and very seriouly said "answer it already". I almost audibly gasped. It was just horrifiying and if I were the person, i'd be scared out of my mind! If that wasn't enough, during another portion of the first act, a cell phoen went off agian. Now this time, you could see the whole cast just look down in dismay. Michael had teh razor up and he just let it fall to his side, Patti shook her head and Donna looked horified. It was just a disturbing expiernce and speaking from an avid theater goer, it was very hard to get back into the show. This of course, didn't affect the amazing experience that I had yesterday seeing it for the 5th time but it was a saddening experience. I know there is talk about movie theaters electronically disconnecting all cell phones and I think this should happen in broadway theaters as well. If a person can not turn off their cell phone after the announcement then something should be done.
I really wish people would just take the 2 seconds to turn their phones off before going into the theater. It's really not all that difficult. I've been on both end of that problem. It's annoying having a cell phone go off while you're watching a performance, and even worse when you're ont he stage! I know I hate hearing cell phones go off during my own performances, so I just try to return the favor and remember to shut my cell phone off. If you absolutely have to have it on, put it on vibrate.
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!)
I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
Unbelievable! I had won the Wicked Lotto once and the person next to me had her cell phone go off and started looking through her bag to find it, after ringing for about the 10th time it stopped and after she then finally managed to find it, she did not turn it off for good....oh noooo, she had the nerve to call the person back (this is sitting center in the 1st row!)! I was in complete shock. Who is THAT rude? I told her to turn off her f***ing phone...
the whole breaking character really surprised me coming from Patti. I don't know though. Its a thin line you have to cross, especially in this production where alot if not most of the dialogue is directed towards the audience.
I don't blame the actors one bit. It was justified.
Some people are just thoughtless, self-involved idiots... and they need to be called on it, not ignored, and held accountable for their stupid behavior when they ruin a show for hundreds of other people... not to mention the concentration of the performers on stage.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Ushers should have the authority to come in and remove anyone whose cell phone rings during a performance. It's no different than standing on your chair and screaming at the top of your lungs.
Richard Griffiths will take care of those clods, though.
I think that especially since it rang twice (i don't know if it was the same phone, though it had the same ring) action should have been taken. When they made teh saem announcement before the second act, people started to cheer loudly. Many theater goers were affected by this incident and there should be repercusions.
Breaking charcter from Patti doesn't really surprise me. If you read her Web she vents about her frustration with the rudness of the audience, this just sounds like the straw that broke the Divas back.
I Wish... Madeline Kahn could have played the Witch in Into the Woods. She would have rocked!
I'm sorry you had to experience that! It is really annoying when cell phones go off and people don't realize that they are ruining the show for everyone else.
I applaud the cast of Sweeney for being upset!
"Michael's got a head like a Ping Pong Ball"
-The Cast of Sweeney-
I recall back when I saw SOUVENIR way back in December, a cell phone went off during the first act. Twice. I remember that right before the second act they had to make an announcement to turn off all your cell phones.
Some people. I'm glad that Patti was upset. When I saw the show, I met Patti at the stage door. I told her that I loved her ramblings on the website, and her response:
"Ugh, it still goes on!"
Tsk, tsk tsk.
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
Hah! Once again, don't f*** with the Patti. Good for her -- if people insist on being morons, when they've been warned again and again and again, somebody ought to call them on it. They ought to KNOW they've ruined the show for EVERYBODY.
I think Patti was wrong. It's not her job to do that, let the ushers deal with that and she should just worry about staying in character, which is VERY hard because I've experienced this many times when performing.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
While I wouldn't have taken the same approach, I think Patti was perfectly jusitified in doing what she did.
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!)
I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
If my memory serves correct, I heard a story that in Death of a salesman, Brian Dennehy, actually stopped the show, asked the guy whos phone went off to be escorted out, and started the show over.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
Umm well first thing first, I could be a better perfromer than her, because you don't know who I am. And I'm not doing that at all.
I just thought it was in poor taste to break character like that, just my opinion, you don't have to share it.
I just re-read my post and don't see how you get me equaling myself to her. If you're confused on my post, PM me.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!)
I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
I would have been pissed if i was there not for the fact of the self ring but for Patti being tasteless like that. Yes i understand people are stupid and don't turn there cell phones off but you have no right as a person to cut someone down for a mistake they made and degrade them as a human. ( Yes i do consider ordering someone around degrading). She is not paying to teach manners. She is played to perform a role in a show.
...but you have no right as a person to cut someone down for a mistake they made and degrade them as a human.
And yet, that's what you're doing to Patti right now, only not to her face. You may think it in poor taste, but she might not have.
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!)
I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler