Bad Theater Behavior

[hes16]

Tonight at the Great Comet, when the actors started giving out and throwing dumplings, one of the actors threw one at my younger (child) relative seated next to me. He ended up not catching the dumpling and it landed on my seat behind my back. The lady behind me was just so keen on getting a dumpling that she reached her hand down onto my chair to grab the dumpling that was touching my behind... She then proceeded to proclaim to the world, "I got a dumpling!" like it was something so spectacular. 

It amazes me that she had the nerve to basically touch my rear end just to get that stupid dumpling that would have gone to a child...

[VintageSnarker]

A post in The Play Goes Wrong thread reminded me of my experience at On Your Feet. Throughout the performance there was a lot of whispering and people drinking beverages full of ice. I could let that go because it wasn't hard to follow the story and it was annoying but I wasn't that invested in what was happening on stage. But the woman next to me was unbelievable. She was a thin woman and didn't have any noticeable reason that she needed to take up more space. She had her legs crossed when I sat so that one foot was all the way in front of me. She moved it when I passive aggressively put my purse down. She then proceeded to talk throughout the show and yet she was the one who kept stabbing me with her elbow. The seats at the Marquis are not tight. I had pushed myself all the way to the opposite armrest so she had to reach over to keep hitting me in the side.

[AC126748]

Movie theater culture has so completely taken over, and it's sad. Last weekend at Picnic Off-Broadway, a middle-aged couple sat down before the show, pulled out a giant box of milk duds, and proceeded to chomp down the whole thing before the show started. Then at the first intermission, they pull out a similarly large box of skittles. It's like they had an entire candy store in their pockets. I'm glad they confined their eating to intermission only and didn't noisily munch during the show, but seriously--you can't go two hours without snacks?

[PThespian]

You'd amazed how many people ask me if we sell popcorn. 

[AC126748]

Didn't Hairspray used to sell popcorn back in the day?

[nasty_khakis]

Yes, Hairspray did. When I tended bar at other theatres people got downright mean sometimes when I said we didn't. "But Hairspray DOES!!"
 

Wicked's merch also made people think all shows had snow globes, golf balls, beach towels, etc.

[djoko84]

Thankfully theatres don't sell popcorn. I hate the smell and the noise people make when eating it in movie theatres.

[Marianne2]

Someone's cell phone went off at If I Forget on Saturday.  It's unbelievable how people ignore it and let it keep ringing. I have no idea where it was coming from either.  It didn't sound close. 

[rebeccmam31]

Marianne2 said: "Someone's cell phone went off at If I Forget on Saturday.  It's unbelievable how people ignore it and let it keep ringing. I have no idea where it was coming from either.  It didn't sound close. "

 

Last weekend at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh (during a performance of the Book of Mormon tour), I had my SECOND experience of someone TAKING A PHONE CALL during a show.  She answered it and had a brief conversation.  Just unbelievably rude.

[AC126748]

djoko84 said: "Thankfully theatres don't sell popcorn. I hate the smell and the noise people make when eating it in movie theatres.

 

"

The Kimmel Center in Philly (where I live) sells popcorn and small boxed meals--sandwiches, salads, etc--but they're very good about not allowing people to bring anything inside. In the several years I've been attending Philadelphia Orchestra concerts there, I've never seen anyone get a snack inside the auditorium.

[Lot666]

At last Thursday's Phantom matinee, a woman seated in the front row of orchestra center (who, I feel compelled to note, was wearing gold lame high-heeled sneakers bedazzled with faux diamonds), pulled out her iPhone 6 Plus at the start of the second act and began, not surreptitiously, to record video of the "Masquerade" scene. 

I was so awestruck by her gall that I could at first only stare at that large, garish screen, visible to virtually everyone else in the house. As my outrage overcame my awe, I leaned forward and tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned to me, I glared at her and said "TURN THAT OFF. NOW." She complied immediately.

[LxGstv]

Last night at The Price this woman in the box seats had her phone turned on and facing up, every time she got a notification that stupid screen would light up... it wasn't nearly as bad as people in the end that weren't applauding not because they didn't enjoy the performances, but because they were too busy taking pictures of the cast on stage... while I understand that it didn't affect the performance itself it just felt rude towards the actors, they deserve the applause at the end, they came out twice and people were still taking pictures instead of applauding... argh!

I also think it's funny that AC126748 posted that movie culture has taken over, its funny because I was talking to my partner about this yesterday, I have ran into worst behavior and ruder people so much more at the theater than in the movies to be honest... I can count on one hand the times I've had annoying people either talking or using their phones at the movies... can't say the same for the theater however, people pulling our phones or just talking happens way more often...

[muscle23ftl]

hes16 said: "Tonight at the Great Comet, when the actors started giving out and throwing dumplings, one of the actors threw one at my younger (child) relative seated next to me. He ended up not catching the dumpling and it landed on my seat behind my back. The lady behind me was just so keen on getting a dumpling that she reached her hand down onto my chair to grab the dumpling that was touching my behind... She then proceeded to proclaim to the world, "I got a dumpling!" like it was something so spectacular. 

It amazes me that she had the nerve to basically touch my rear end just to get that stupid dumpling that would have gone to a child...

 

the lowest of the low, but then that show is so bad, what can you expect? it sounds like a disaster in every way

 

[VintageSnarker]

I was at the opera and I thought I was going crazy because I kept seeing flashes of light. Eventually I figured out that it was a bunch of people checking their phones to see the time. Admittedly, it ran about 4 hours 30 minutes but they email you to tell you that in advance so it shouldn't be a surprise. 

[SweetLips]

Thankfully where I go to the movies you can sit where you want and I ALWAYS sit near the back in the last seat against the wall.

There is never anyone around me and those chomping and chewing through buckets of whatever--I see them struggling to carry that garbage up the stairs to their seat--never bother me, and yes, audiences are generally quieter at the movies.

Maybe because they are SO FVCKING LOUD these days you couldn't hear a tree fall in a forest--anywhere!!!

And I'm always perfectably behaved whenever I'm allowed out.

[@z5]

Today at Miss Saigon three people came in the middle of act 1 and spoke very loudly throughout the remainder of the show, and of course with their phones out too. If you come in late, at least behave for the rest of the show. I shushed them a few times, which made them stop for a few mins and then went right back to it. So frustrating. 

[StephieElise]

I saw a production of The Full Monty last night and experienced some of the worst theatre etiquette I've ever seen. During the first few minutes I kept thinking I could hear a strange noise coming from behind me, but due to the heavy nightclub style music it was hard to tell. Once the first song started though, it became obvious that someone's phone was going off. I turned around a couple of times, hoping they'd get the hint, but tried to just block it out and focus on the show. When the song had ended it became apparent that this wasn't just a phone ringing but actually playing music! I turned around again and the people behind just gave me dirty looks so I made the universal gesture for a phone until the culprit, sitting directly behind me, picked up her bag that was against the back of my seat and held it to her ear. It then took her and the person next to her a good couple of minutes to work out how to stop the music! Needless to say, I missed the entirety of that scene.

Then there was the Asian woman sitting next to me, whose English wasn't good enough to understand the show (absolutely fine, I'd struggle to comprehend a show in another language!), but this resulted in her continually pulling out her phone, sending and receiving messages and the phone ringing, her partner telling her to turn it off, her telling him that she couldn't understand the show anyway and then him explaining what was going on. I tried to tell her to put the phone away, my mum tried to tell her and her partner continually tried to tell her, but she apparently did not care at all.

And the real kicker - I was in the front row, so all of this behaviour was totally clear to the performers literally giving their all on stage!

[StephieElise]

Sorry - double post!

[PThespian]

PThespian said: "sorano916 said: "Last night, I was at MCC seeing "A Funny Thing..." and before the show started, these two girls in the row behind me were chatting really loudly. The show hadn't started yet so I didn't say anything. Then one of the girls propped her legs/feet on top of the empty seat in front of her! Really?! On what planet would this be okay? It wasn't the seat next to mine but one over from that. She moved them when the patron came to sit down in them but she had them up there for at least 5 minutes. SMH.

 

"

I can beat that. I was at a show at the Signature a few years back and the guy in the front row had his drink and his feet on the stage. 

It took quite awhile for the usher to notice. There's no way anyone would've let the show start like that, but it was interesting to see how observant they were. 

 

"

I was at that performance!!! I kept waiting too. 

People put all sorts of things on the stage. 

At SOR it is extremely common for people to put their children on the stage either for photos or to bundle them up to go outside. 

The other night a special needs child put her cellphone on the stage during the walkin.  

She must have pushed it or something because the father came up to me, very embarrassed, and told me it was up against the show curtain. 

One of the Stage Managers had to come out into the house and jump up onto the stage to retrieve it. 

[Chicken_Flavor]

Wow, these stories are crazy! When I went to see the OBC of The Book of Mormon, some VERY fat guy stood up right in front of me for about 12 minutes! I kept tapping him on the shoulder and saying sit down, but he wouldn't budge, saying the seats were too tiny. The woman behind me made an extremely loud groan, and when I turned around she had a camcorder in her hand trying to record the show. Great show, bad audience.

[SarahNYC2]

hes16 said: "Tonight at the Great Comet, when the actors started giving out and throwing dumplings, one of the actors threw one at my younger (child) relative seated next to me. He ended up not catching the dumpling and it landed on my seat behind my back. The lady behind me was just so keen on getting a dumpling that she reached her hand down onto my chair to grab the dumpling that was touching my behind... She then proceeded to proclaim to the world, "I got a dumpling!" like it was something so spectacular. 

It amazes me that she had the nerve to basically touch my rear end just to get that stupid dumpling that would have gone to a child...

 

That is awful. I was seated next to a young boy at The Comet-he looked like 15/16. I was on the aisle and got a dumpling handed to me. I asked the actor if the boy could have one as well because he was begging for a dumpling. The actor was like I gave one to you so he can't get one. I snapped a picture of the box and handed it to him. It's a DUMPLING. The young boy next to me seemed to really want it, and he was so happy when I passed it on to him. That woman should have made sure your child got it.

 

"

 

[KathyNYC2]

Just in general...I wonder actually who raised these theater goers who believe that the floors are perfectly acceptable garbage disposals. Did they not ever hear of trash cans? I am not even talking about someone who discreetly puts a used glass or package on the floor which is bad enough....I am talking about those that throw candy, old food, messy napkins, used tissues, and whatever on the floors, which promptly gets ground into the carpets as people exit their rows. It's unbelievable...and disgusting.

Add that to the people that practically demand Playbills when they enter the theater before the ushers have a chance to give them out..and look accusingly like they are going to be cheated out of something they deserve...only to leave those left behind and mixed up with the grungy garbage on the floor.

These are Broadway theaters people. Have a little respect for the theater and for the poor workers that have to pick up your mess 8 times a week, often twice a day. It seems to get worse and worse.

[Mediamaven2]

KathyNYC2 said: "Just in general...I wonder actually who raised these theater goers who believe that ..."

 

That's it in a nutshell! Who RAISED these people? The stories are awful. Some posters stated what action they took (good for you!) but I wonder about others...sometimes I get you have no choice but to be passive in disbelief because to act might be an even bigger disruption, etc. There isn't always the opportunity to 'tap' on the shoulder, or to speak to an usher at intermission, etc.

MANNERS.  I blame the british for alot but one of a few things they were so right about is this. 

[SarahNYC2]

KathyNYC2 said: "Just in general...I wonder actually who raised these theater goers who believe that the floors are perfectly acceptable garbage disposals. Did they not ever hear of trash cans? I am not even talking about someone who discreetly puts a used glass or package on the floor which is bad enough....I am talking about those that throw candy, old food, messy napkins, used tissues, and whatever on the floors, which promptly gets ground into the carpets as people exit their rows. It's unbelievable...and disgusting.

Add that to the people that practically demand Playbills when they enter the theater before the ushers have a chance to give them out..and look accusingly like they are going to be cheated out of something they deserve...only to leave those left behind and mixed up with the grungy garbage on the floor.

These are Broadway theaters people. Have a little respect for the theater and for the poor workers that have to pick up your mess 8 times a week, often twice a day. It seems to get worse and worse.

 

Probably the ones who were never taught that you dress nicely for the theater. Trust me I get no ones going all out unless it's a benefit, fundraiser-but nice slacks, skirt, dress, etc.

And also this is not a concert-don't sing along throughout the show.

 

[PThespian]

I was shocked when attending Groundhog Day Monday night (for many reasons).

Before the show the gentleman sitting next to me asked his companion what the show was about as he never saw the movie.

His companion then gave him a thumbnail sketch of what the show was about. It wasn't really a big deal.

He then asked her (I have no idea why he wanted to know before the show even started) how the story ended, and she told him!

I was kind of upset that she gave away the ending as I had never seen the film. Talk about a spoiler! I thought of saying something, but the harm was already done.

As it turns out knowing the ending in advance was the least of the problems I had with the production. I mean it was pretty predictable anyway.

My issues were with just about everything leading up to it!

[joeybiltmore1]

At AMELIE the other night the guy right in front of me filmed the entire show on his iphone. I kept thinking "I'll report him at intermission" until it became evident there was no intermission. The kicker: afterward, his companion asked him how he liked it and he said "Eh".  

(I myself was able to enjoy much of it despite the major, constant distraction).