Worst Theatre Audience of my life (Joke Post check my latest post on the 3r

[PThespian]

I agree the post is probably bogus. 

I tesponded, however, because there is a slight chance it's not. That's pretty darn scary. 

[PThespian]

I agree the post is probably bogus. 

I tesponded, however, because there is a slight chance it's not. That's pretty darn scary. 

[mc1227]

My biggest pet peeve at theatre has always been people leaving at curtain call.  I will go as far as to not let someone by who is leaving my aisle.  I feel very strongly that the actors who have worked so hard to entertain you deserve that moment and it's an opportunity for the audience to show their appreciation.

that being said, I had a unique experience at a play last night where the woman next to me and I chatted pre-play about the background of the playwright, actors, etc and immediately after the lights went down, her head went down and she was fast asleep and except for a moment or two where she appeared to open her eyes, she slept the entire time!  Luckily no snoring and I almost wanted to elbow her but since she wasn't disturbing anyone, so I let her sleep...I suppose if you go to enough shows, you'll see everything.  

[South Fl Marc]

mc1227 said: "My biggest pet peeve at theatre has always been people leaving at curtain call.  I will go as far as to not let someone by who is leaving my aisle."

What a truly dumb and stupid thing to do. You have no idea why they might have to leave before the curtain call. I know one instance when I had to do it because the cancer drugs I was taking  had shortened my times needing to go to the bathroom and a particularly long second act had tested that. As much as I hated to do it I had to run as soon as the show ended. There a great many other legitimate excuses for people to do the same. For you to block their way because you know better is rude and ignorant.

 

[South Fl Marc]

.

 

[muscle23ftl]

People can be in a rush to go to the restroom and they were respectful to wait until the end to avoid an inconvenient moment. The audience was awful also when I saw "Comet" but the show is soooo bad, I didn't even care. Unfortunately people don't get why they need to put their cell phones away. 

[cjmclaughlin10]

I recently had to leave before the curtain call for the first time and felt terrible about it. I was getting one if the last trains back to Long Island before it got to be too late and I didn't want my ride to come get me from the train station at 1AM   I tried to buy a ticket for the matinee if this show so it wouldent be a problem, but they were sold out so I bought one in the back of the balcony on the Isle, waited for the lights to go down on the final scene and made my smooth and hopefully inconspicuous exit

 

just a reminder that not all theatre goers live in the city and are at the mercy of Public Transit scheduals. What I hate is when people leave early for the sole purpose of getting a good spot at the Stage Door

[SweetLips]

I certainly don't want to start a 'them and us' situation but I go to the theatre often in Australia-Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne/Adelaide and I can't remember when I last heard a mobile ring, saw txting or experienced bad audience behaviour. Staying to applaud[except for urgent exceptions] is part of the show[was blown away how Matilda did their bows].

Maybe I have just been lucky all these years--may it continue, but I DO blame a lot of people behaviour on the subliminal influence of television.

[mailhandler777]

mc1227 said: "My biggest pet peeve at theatre has always been people leaving at curtain call.  I will go as far as to not let someone by who is leaving my aisle."

You have no clue why the person is leaving and to prevent them is rude and stupid. I've only ever left during curtain call once in about 600 shows but if you blocked me trying to get out you would be knocked on your a**.

[mc1227]

mailhandler777 said: "mc1227 said: "My biggest pet peeve at theatre has always been people leaving at curtain call.  I will go as far as to not let someone by who is leaving my aisle."

You have no clue why the person is leaving and to prevent them is rude and stupid. I've only ever left during curtain call once in about 600 shows but if you blocked me trying to get out you would be knocked on your a**.

If 2 or more people with M&M shopping bags decide to sit through an entire show and then suddenly want to beat the crowd to the exit, they are not disturbing me to do it.  They can leave by going out the other side of the aisle.  If they want to take me down, they are coming with me.  Sorry, it's rude and if they truly have an emergency they should exit before curtain call, not right in the middle of it.  

"

 

[PThespian]

You're right. Be obstinate. 

Instead of letting the people make a quick exit sit there and fight with them so the view of everyone in the rows in back of you is being blocked. 

Now that's rude. 

Fighting rudeness with rudeness only makes things worse for everyone. 

[veronicamae]

mc1227 said: "If 2 or more people with M&M shopping bags decide to sit through an entire show and then suddenly want to beat the crowd to the exit, they are not disturbing me to do it.  They can leave by going out the other side of the aisle.  If they want to take me down, they are coming with me.  Sorry, it's rude and if they truly have an emergency they should exit before curtain call, not right in the middle of it. "
 

So they should leave during the show instead of after it?

I'm truly failing to see your logic. Let people leave if they want/need to leave. 

[jimmycurry01]

You left during the curtain call, and you have the gall to complain about the rudeness of others? Get bent.

[mc1227]

 Sorry if you don't like my answer or attitude, just being honest.  I tolerate all the rudeness of people checking text messages, talking, arriving late, rustling candy wrappers and yes, even watching two people actually sitting on the edge of the stage taking selfies during intermission yesterday, but I draw the line at leaving while actors take taking their bows.  Hopefully, you will never sit in my row and have one of those "emergencies" that suddenly come up during curtain call.

[smidge]

Hopefully someone will have to leave your row and then you attempt to physically block them. I can't imagine it ending well for you.

[mc1227]

smidge said: "Hopefully someone will have to leave your row and then you attempt to physically block them. I can't imagine it ending well for you.

 

It's happened twice already and I can only hope these people learned something and never did it again.  I'm still standing, btw.

 

[PThespian]

I promise you this much. 

You try to stop me I won't leave, but I will watch the end of it sitting on your lap 

[mc1227]

I didn't make a spectacle, I simply said that they would have to go out the other way.  No fuss or fighting occurred.  They simply exited the other way and people on the other side accommodated them, I didn't and won't in the future since that part of the show is very important to me and my experience.  I didn't really think it was a big deal but some of you seem to think it's criminal.  Whatever...

[South Fl Marc]

I know I would push your smug, arrogant ass out of the way if you did it to me.

[Margo319]

I love the now escalating threat of physical violence of this already weird thread.....I just hope you guys never meet at a show.  But if you do, post about it on BWW!

[StephieElise]

SweetLips said: "I certainly don't want to start a 'them and us' situation but I go to the theatre often in Australia-Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne/Adelaide and I can't remember when I last heard a mobile ring, saw txting or experienced bad audience behaviour. Staying to applaud[except for urgent exceptions] is part of the show[was blown away how Matilda did their bows].

Maybe I have just been lucky all these years--may it continue, but I DO blame a lot of people behaviour on the subliminal influence of television."

Alas, I have seen poor theatre etiquette here in Melbourne. At Lea Salonga's concert just a couple of weeks ago we had to ask the woman next to us to put her phone away because the light was so distracting. I've also experienced people who need to discuss every aspect of the show with their companion. It's not very common and I haven't witnessed anything horrendous (admittedly I'm usually in the front row to minimise distractions), but it does happen. I've never had anyone rush out before curtain call, although stage door's generally not as common here (we're sometimes the only ones there!) and more people are probably driving in than in New York. 

I agree though, the curtain call is a big part of the fun and if you run out early you can miss some amazing moments. My personal favourite curtain call was Strictly Ballroom - getting to dance on stage at Her Majesty's and hearing Loren Hunter's incredible vocals!

[Grace Omalley]

Ok, I agree the initial post was bogus.

Late August I saw Wicked. So very many, many people were constantly getting up- I can only guess to use the restrooms. OK, I understand that happens, but this was a CONSTANT exodus of the theater during the performance. My enjoyment of viewing was SO VERY distracted by the door to my left constantly opening & closing! This was absolutely non stop & it was not just children that needed to go potty, lots of adults too. Did they not know to use the facilities BEFORE the show begins? The light seeping in from the open door detracted from the shows enjoyment.

During the same show, a gentleman sitting about 5-6 seats to my left, pulled out his Chinese food & ate it all during intermission!! I guess I should be greatful it was during intermission and NOT during the show! Intermission over, doors closed, now the food aroma is trapped. Simply not pleasant! Now the potty breaks start up again, food smell alternated to slightly disapating when doors opened, to overtly cloying when the doors shut.

PLEASE make sure to use the restrooms BEFORE attending any show & for heavens sake, do NOT eat your meal in the theater! A quiet non smelly snack is ok. Go to lunch or dinner BEFORE or AFTER the theater!

[PThespian]

What never ceases to amaze me are the people who get up to use the restroom five mins after the show has begun. 

Did you not know five minutes before that you had to go?

There's also a dam effect. Nobody will go to the bathroom during the show until one brace soul does, and then the dam breaks. Everyone starts going to the bathroom as soon as they realize it's ok 

[mc1227]

South Fl Marc said: "I know I would push your smug, arrogant ass out of the way if you did it to me.

 

I've read many of your posts and smug and arrogant suit them very well.

 

[Islander_fan]

Teaching others about how to act in the theatre, or to enforce the way one should is not your job. If I were a patron, seeing a show, near you and you stopped me, you know what my takeaway would be if you tried to block me? it wouldn't be "oh, maybe I should learn for next time." It would be, and I am sure that it would be this way for many people (tourists and locals,) What a dick move/ what an asshole that guy was being, something along those lines.  It's not your place to judge, you're not the teacher for proper audience behavior. 
 

[SweetLips]

Steph----Did you enjoy Dusty?  I saw it 3 times then flew to see it in Adelaide--was even better there and being the final performance the crowd went crazy,

Didn't come down from Brisbane for Lea Salonga and she didn't perform here but friends raved about both her Melbourne and Sydney performances--you were lucky to see her.

I am sure you will be very pleased with this years' selection from The Production Company---might wave to you in the front row !

Ladies in Black is good-would have left out parts but the majority most enjoyable.