Bad Theater Behavior

[Matt Rogers]

To the petite woman above who likes to get aggressive in these situations, I would just say to be very careful. The below is a true story.

A few years ago, I was at a movie and these two idiots (one man, one woman) would not shut up. There was a petite woman in front of them and after enduring the blabbering for at least 30 minutes, she turned around and very agressively told them to shut the hell up. Before I could think "good for you", the female idiot got up, charged into the petite woman's aisle and punched her right in the face. Super hard.

Chaos ensued. Police were called. The good news was that the movie sucked and everyone got a free pass to a future movie.

The moral of this story is that confronting a jerk rarely ends well and could result in assault. Do yourself a favor and don't ruin your expensive night on Broadway. Get an usher or house manager and make them do the job they are paid to do.

[Emma White]

"But worse than this was a woman sitting next to my partner who had smuggled in an order of McDonald french fries in her pocketbook."

I laughed out loud. That's hilarious. And also the most horrendous thing I've ever heard. Like, what makes someone THINK that would even be CLOSE to acceptable behavior?

When I was at Matilda, the children sitting around me were quite chatty, and the girl next to me was eating pretzels. In a VERY crinkly bag, and then chomping away. She was eating them THROUGHOUT THE FIRST ACT, and then INTO THE SECOND. The bag just never ended. Finally, during Quiet, her mother took the bag from her.

[theatregeek6]

At Matilda had a similar situation where the adults were more annoying than the kids. Noise (crinkling water bottles) talking and taking pictures. It really ruined the experience. I spoke to the house manager at the Shubert (who asked if I had reported it - no it got MUCH worse the 2nd act and there was NO WAY any usher could have missed this

HM didn't care and the killer is my wife, outside the theatre' heard someone saying "and this idiot is in there complaining about noise. Doesn't he realize this is a kids show ? "

[musicalperson17]

I went to Glass Menagerie in it's final week and was pretty horrified by the audience and the ushers. For such a delicate, quiet, and beautiful production, five cell phones went off during act one alone, the ushers were seating people half and hour late mid-scene. One woman got up in the middle of a scene a few rows in front of me to go to the bathroom I presume. The ushers kept in and out of the door to the lobby and were selling food in the theatre like it was a sports game - the usher was literally yelling "Get your water now cause this show's gonna get hot!" and at intermission "This show's gettin even hotter so get your water". I don't know who's worse, the audience or the ushers for not stopping any of this behaviour and selling things like its a sports arena. Such a shame cause it was one of the best shows I've seen in years.

[LizzieCurry]

To the petite woman above who likes to get aggressive in these situations, I would just say to be very careful. The below is a true story.

Thanks for the warning. I'm willing to take the risk. I'm incredibly disappointed in people who let things go. I'm okay with someone swinging a punch at me. (Here's hoping 10 years of martial arts experience pay off.)

Also, movie theaters seem way more risky to shush someone in than a live theatre. I did not say a thing when I was at the Les Miz movie and a group of 5 or 6 teenage girls decided to take selfies WITH FLASH during all of Confrontation.

[NYadgal]

Crinkling wrappers.
Singing along.
Texting.
Cell phones ringing.
Cameras and videos.
Talking.
Strong perfume that gives me a migraine.
Wearing hats and puffy hair-dos.

All of these annoyances have become part of our theater-going experience, and it becomes more and more frustrating as common sense seems to just be lost.

A few weeks ago I was taking some friends to see Pippin. I was in prime seats in the center of the orchestra. A very large woman came in and sat down in front of me. (Ok, that happens and there is nothing to be done. Just bad luck). However, she proceeded to take off her coat, fold it up and sit on it, adding about another 6 inches of height and completely blocking my view.

I debated what to do, and decided to tap her on the shoulder and politely ask if she would place her coat elsewhere, as the 'booster seat' she just added for herself made it impossible for those behind her to see. Fortunately she was VERY polite about it. Apologized and said that she understood, and for what we all paid for the seats she was glad I said something.

I know in this crazy day and age you always have to be careful when approaching a stranger. But, I do think that if one is approached in a polite and thoughtful way it can help.

Not always.
And that's where ushers and house managers come in.

[Phantom4ever]

Last week at the national tour of CHICAGO in Chicago, I was sitting in the 2nd row of the center orchestra. The pre-show announcement was clear and crisp about putting away cellphones-anything that lights up, and no texting during the show. I always appreciate when they are so specific and when they don't do it in a cutesy way (for example by saying that there were no cellphones in the 1920's or something).

Well the girl next to me texted through that announcement and the lights went down and she texted through "All that Jazz". At the applause for that song, she put her phone away, which made me say "Yay! She put her phone away!" during the applause. She looked at me, stared, and rolled her eyes.

She took out her phone a few times through Act I but managed to keep it so far inside her enormous purse/bookbag that I couldn't see it.

Act II started and she hunched all the way over so all I could see was the back of her head. She stayed like that until "Razzle Dazzle". Kind of a long time. During Razzle Dazzle, she slowly inched her way up until she was texting with the light in my face again. So I finally said "will you please put that away and stop texting?" She put her phone in her bag, put her bag on the floor, and crossed her arms, all while staring at me with a pissed-off-teenager look on her face.

Obviously with the man being shot and killed at the movie theater over texting, we do need to be careful. But I don't think we need to just let it go and accept the bad behavior either.

I had a bit of a conundrum at "Beautiful" because I had a crinkly plastic bag on my lap that I could not put on the floor because I had purchased a ton of tiny souvenirs (long story) that could too easily fall out or get broken if I put them down. So since I had the bag in my lap, it would occasionally make a crinkly-plastic-bag sound. I did my best to keep it totally quiet. But the lady in front of me darted her head around and stared at me every time my bag made a noise. I wanted to explain to her that I get it and I was sorry my bag made noises but I was doing the best I could. Who knows maybe she is reading this lol.

[Gmerchant123]

At the horrible national tour of Godspell in Dallas a few weeks back. I had gotten two free tickets on the first row of the Mezzanine and from where I was sitting you could see everyone in the orchestra. Well during the "gestures game" during the show one of the Godspell cast members went down to get someone from the audience. The cast member went to where his "cue seat" was and the woman refused to get up because she had to text. It was such a awkward moment for the whole theatre.

[Sutton Ross]

"the woman refused to get up because she had to text"

No has to text, it's a conscious decision that people with absolutely no manners or respect engage in during a performance. They honestly think it's a concert where that kind of behavior is ok. They should be grateful and excited about seeing live theater, something millions of people will never get to experience. She should have been asked to leave the theater.

[VotePeron]

A girl next to me at The Book Of Mormon on Tuesday was texting the entire second act. God knows how much she paid to sit there. And text.

At another show I was at tonight, a husband was talking extremely loud behind me commenting on the show, while his wife took pictures with the little iPhone shutter sound ON. I just don't understand people. We pay so much money to see things, and as long as it's not ruined for THEM, its fine for all of us.

[Mr Roxy]

These idiots have to show everyone how important they are by paying a ton of money for a seat and than acting like they were sitting at home. "See me aren't I important. Take notice of me". The same holds true with idiots who come in habitually late . Maybe they think the that management will hold the curtain for them because they are ultra important - in their own mind.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

I had a horrible experience at CINDERELLA as well. Interesting how many stories are linked to that show. It was terrible; I had to say something to the people causing the disturbance not once, not twice, but three times. And then I was glared at throughout the entirety of the intermission as if I was the one acting like an assh*le.

[LizzieCurry]

That's too bad, and I'm sad/surprised at the Cinderella stories here! I thought the audience experience I had at Cinderella was one of the best (mostly OBC, last June).

[Eris0303]

You shouldn't have hot food in a theatre, because as the foodis heated, it does give off that horrible stench. which I completely agree with, that such food shouldn't be eaten in the theatre. BUT I had a couple of people tut and another couple shake their heads, when I started eating some take out sushi which is cold and doesn't give off a smell, I got reported to an usher and they threatened to eject me, I informed the usher, that I had finished and apoligised in the interval, this happened during Romeo and Julliet four months ago, people need to get over themselfs, Sushi does not give off an aroma as it is cold, I cannot believe how I was treated!

Sushi is super yuck. And it doesn't matter whether it smells or not. There is a very clear "no outside food or drink in the theatre" rule. And, I have heard several times from several people that there are mice in the theatres. That's another reason for the "no food" rule. Hope next time you don't find a mouse in your bag.

And a few things:
apologized
Juliet
themselves

That's too bad, and I'm sad/surprised at the Cinderella stories here! I thought the audience experience I had at Cinderella was one of the best (mostly OBC, last June).

I've seen Cinderella three times - once last March, once in June, and then again this past Saturday. I had no issues with the audience and actually had a nice conversation with the woman next to me before the show and during intermission.

[Jane2]

""You shouldn't have hot food in a theatre, because as the foodis heated, it does give off that horrible stench. which I completely agree with, that such food shouldn't be eaten in the theatre. BUT I had a couple of people tut and another couple shake their heads, when I started eating some take out sushi which is cold and doesn't give off a smell, I got reported to an usher and they threatened to eject me, I informed the usher, that I had finished and apoligised in the interval, this happened during Romeo and Julliet four months ago, people need to get over themselfs, Sushi does not give off an aroma as it is cold, I cannot believe how I was treated"

You're kidding with this, right? YOU need to get over YOURSELF. Where do you come off thinking it's okay to attend a broadway show while eating your dinner? Smelly or not, you cannot bring in outside food. Oh, but I guess the rules are for someone else, not you. You are exactly the type of person we're complaining about in this thread. You cannot believe how you were treated? You're lucky you were allowed to remain inside the theater. Seriously?

[newintown]

Only a truly and unalterably grotesque person would eat anything in a (non-movie) theatre.

I wonder if there's a cultural explanation behind these increasing examples of people who haven't developed social skills? I remember as a child in a Midwestern suburb in the 60s and 70s, people (not just children, but adults, too) were frequently outside interacting with one another. Now, wherever I go (not just urban areas, but suburban and rural), every place looks like a year-round ghost town. I rarely see children playing outside in groups or even pairs; I don't see adults in their yards or on their porches, talking to neighbors.

Has anyone else witnessed this change in our social dynamic? I can see how it could inhibit the development of social skills.

[BudFrump23]

At "Mothers and Sons" last Sunday, I was distracted through half of the show by not one, not two, but three different people eating. The first man opened a bag of chips, proceeded to munch on them for about 10 minutes, and finally finished. He was on the opposite side of the Mezzanine, but everyone on my end could still hear him. Everyone glared at him, and I cannot believe nobody shushed him.

As soon as he finished, a large man a few rows behind me took out HIS snack and began loudly eating M&Ms or some sort of candy that would make noise every time he'd reach his stubby fingers in the bag. He got shushed several times but kept on going.

And then several old ladies decided they needed some soothing lozenges throughout the show, so that happened multiple times. A 90 minute play is the worst: You can't complain at intermission, you can't move to different seats. I don't know how these people can't sit still for 90 minutes without having to shovel something into their mouths.

[Movidude742]

"Only a truly and unalterably grotesque person would eat anything in a (non-movie) theatre."

I don't know that you can say that when nearly every house sells snacks that you can take to your seats.

I try to get that done before the show or at intermission, but still . . .

[neonlightsxo]

Even just sitting by people that check their phones drives me crazy. The person in front of me at If/Then on Wednesday night checked his text messages every 20 minutes or so. The glow of the phone lights up EVERYONE around you- it's maddening.

[Eris0303]

Has anyone else witnessed this change in our social dynamic? I can see how it could inhibit the development of social skills.

When I was little I knew all of our neighbors. I can tell you the names of maybe two or three now. There was a time when no one had any fences and we could run from yard to yard without ever going into the street. Now everyone has fences. We used to have block yard sales, parties, etc. Some people tried to organize a block yard sale but they did it in November which kinda sucked. No one really got involved. Our neighbor's house is for sale and when the new people move in I fully intend on showing up on day one to welcome them.

[Jane2]

"And then several old ladies decided they needed some soothing lozenges throughout the show, so that happened multiple times."

I'm with the several "old" ladies. I'm sure I don't speak only for myself when I say that having lozenges or some other candy to suck on is a must when going to the theater. Many of us, old AND young, may feel a coughing spell coming on. No one wants to be that person. I don't go to a theater without lozenges in my purse.

[dreaming]

The lozenge part I don't mind (I've had an especially bad year with throat issues myself), but could we unwrap some before the show and then again at the end of intermission? Please?

[LizzieCurry]

I've been there. But I feel like if you have to open them up at all, open them up within your pocket or within your purse, to minimize noise. Or do it during applause.

[Jane2]

I personally open mine at home and put them in a ziplock bag. Unfortunately, you can't time your coughing to be in sync with applause.

[Mr Roxy]

Every theater should have a kill switch to immobilize all cells until intermission and than again until the end of the show.

[Sutton Ross]

"I don't know that you can say that when nearly every house sells snacks that you can take to your seats."

That's simply not true. Some theaters sell snacks, most you cannot take anything to your seat besides beverages. As for the annoying cough drop thing, I was so happy the first time I went to Carnegie Hall. They had paper, Ricola wrappers in large dishes that made NO sound. If you're in a theater, you should only be able to use those. It's incredibly disgusting that people can't go a few hours without eating (I guess not surprising given our obesity rates) and treat theatrical productions like movie theaters. Once you venture off Broadway, this is not the case.