Rude Patron Story At Cinderella- Page 2

[suestorm]

Posted: 10/9/13 at 3:35pm

"" audience members who apparently did not have time to eat before the show.... not to worry... if you forgot your own bag of M&M's - the theatre will sell you some, and in many cases make the sale right at your seat. But, be sure not to open them until the start of Act II.. crinkle - crunch - enjoy""

OMG, nail on the head! the actors should tell the theater to NOT sell anything that can be crinkled. I dont understand why people must graze like cows during a show. seriously? you cant control yourself? or if you must have crinkly bags, they should do like they do at ballgame with beer, empty it into a cup or cardboard box

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/9/13 at 9:54pm

"Do you take a survey of how much rude audience members pay for their tickets? "

At 20for20, virtually the whole house has been sold for $20. TDF tickets tend to be clustered in certain groups.

[two ladies tickets]

Posted: 10/9/13 at 11:26pm

In a lot of the Broadway theaters the majority of the house staff gets to go home after intermission, so that only leaves 2 or 3 ushers there for the walk out. I've noticed that in many cases there isn't even an usher in the house during act 2, that's not ok.

[xoffender45]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 12:38am

At A Streetcar Named Desire at Yale Rep, they made an announcement which specifically said that the light from your cellphones distracts those around you. I remember thinking, why don't other theaters do this?

I can't remember what show I was at, but I was sitting in the last row of the mezzanine, and the two (hot) jock guys next to me started texting. An usher came to ask them to put their phones away and they actually said "why? There's no one behind us..." People are actually CLUELESS when it comes to public decency, so I think it needs to be spelled out for them. In fact, I think the fact that people laugh anytime a pre-show announcement tells you to unwrap your candy before the show starts speaks volumes about how useless these announcements have become.
Updated On: 10/10/13 at 12:38 AM

[JBZicker2009]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 1:45am

On tour, we played in Santa Barbara, CA at the Granada Theatre for four days, and on our opening night there we had three middle-aged ladies in the front row, DRUNK OFF THEIR BUTTS. However, this was Shrek. They were reeeally obnoxious during some scenes, but sometimes it worked and was good to have them. They were into the show big time and getting the audience jazzed. In Cinderella however, I can't imagine that kind of behavior. I really cannot believe the house staff didn't act further than just relocating the patrons.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 8:46am

These stories are sad, to be sure, but are we really to be surprised by them when the crude ahd crass have beome the norm in all aspects of our daily lives, in our homes, our schools, our streets and subways, in the language and conduct now deemed acceptable on tv and film, and thus mirrored in real life? Have you seen some of the words emblazoned on t-shirts that people will wear in the streets without shame for the "delectation" of others, saving themselves the trouble of opening their sewer mouths?

And we're supposed to expect such antiquated notions as courtesy and respect for others in the theatre? We can rail all we want, but this is the future, and the future is now.



Updated On: 10/10/13 at 08:46 AM

[Rhoda4]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 9:02am

All I know is...... I have been attending the theatre for well over 30 years ago. It is extremely sad to see the complete lack of theatre etiquette in recent years. In the "old'n days" - The audience arrived on time - you could hear a pin drop during the performance - the audience stayed in their seats - there were no "sing-alongs" - you were never allowed to bring any food or beverages to your seats! Never! (Now they encourage it - is that almightly dollar worth it?) and.... there were no electronic devices! people actually went to the theatre to escape the world for 2 1/2 hours.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 9:51am

Rhoda,

I agree with you, and share your dismay.

But what can we do about it, but cry out as so many voices in the wind?

Nothing to do now but grin and bear it. That is, if one can muster a grin.

[BwayGeek2]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 12:12pm

At this point I'd say I see at least one cell phone at every show I attend. The worst was at a performance of Nice Work If You Can Get It when a woman actually answered a phone call. I mean, really? I have to say that the people she was with looked mortified, but I guess they didn't quite know how to stop her.

Another bad one was when Ricky Martin first entered in Evita and the audience went crazy, nearly everyone grabbed their cell phones (even iPads) to snap pictures of him and the ushers looked like they had just given up on trying to stop them.

I wish people understood that the pre-show cell phone announcements are not suggestions, but requirements.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 12:57pm

This is the reason why I always insist upon front row seats now. It reduces the number of people I'm surrounded by to only on my sides and behind me. Plus fewer distractions from cell phone glare. Usually people in the front row are better behaved (not always the case). If I can't get front row, I probably won't go.
Also, I've found theatre audiences in DC to be very well behaved.

[Jayar2]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 1:16pm

Question for you Broadway regulars-- I am by no means inexperienced when it comes to seeing shows (Been to close 100 now), but I have noticed something on my last visit to NYC that had me somewhat disappointed with how things are going on Broadway. In a word-- the USHERS! I did a marathon visit in May and saw Matilda, Kinky Boots, Pippin, Cinderella, and Rock of Ages. At four of the shows (all but Rock of Ages), I was left standing waiting for an usher to take me to my seat. After waiting for what seemed like forever, I found my own seat, put my stuff down, and had to find a stack of Playbills so that I could get one. Are ushers not seating patrons anymore? I don't want to sound TOO whiny, but I was kind of disappointed in the mob mentality of seating. When I go to see a Broadway show, I expect a certain level of behavior and service, and I didn't get it on my last trip. Thoughts?

[jaxandmci]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 1:33pm

Amen, Marc! I am a front rower, too. It's the only way to avoid sitting behind big hair, a Texter, a Kelvinator, or a Squirmer. Or this:

I once sat behind a guy who violently scratched his head--sometimes with both hands simultaneously--for the duration of a sold out and single act show (otherwise I would have moved). I asked him twice to stop but he just couldn't help himself. When the lights came up, I was horrified to see that his shoulders, the top edge of his seat back, and the lower thighs of my black trousers were completely blanketed with white flakes of scalp.

[RozeeRossi]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 1:49pm

About four years ago, I saw Wicked on tour (mostly for Colin Hanlon who's a big favorite of mine) and somehow managed to get a front seat. During the middle of Dancing Through Life, the woman next to be whipped her phone out. I wasn't too irritated as I can understand if someone needed to contact her immediately, however, I glanced over and discovered she was watering or fixing or whatever to her FarmVille crops. I can understand if you're not crazy about Wicked, but you're sitting front row during one of the biggest production numbers of the show and you're playing FarmVille?

[ojeight]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 4:28pm

When I saw Die Mommie Die! at New World Stages, it was a Plum Benefits Freebie. I was sitting the in the front row and this woman sitting next to me gets a phone call and took it. She must have been on at least 2 minutes and just kept saying she was at a play.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 10/12/13 at 1:05pm

Did anyone see the update on this story?

UPDATE: Since publishing this article, the cast informed me of the final chapter of this fairy tale. Before the man was removed from the theatre, he punched the house manager, Russ Ramsey, in the face—breaking his expensive glasses. He was then arrested. What a jerk.

I know I shouldn't be, but I'm glad this jerk got what was coming to him.

[MrFerriero]

Posted: 10/12/13 at 1:13pm

Saw First Date for the second time the other day and the guy behind me repeated almost every line with a laugh. "She said she's not a Jew! Ha!" Wanted to murder him!!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/12/13 at 1:45pm

Yeah, I learned the hard way for several years. Now, I only get front row of the orchestra, mezzanine, or balcony. I haven't had any issues since. That guy at Cinderella was an extreme case of course, but it's very disturbing that it escalated to that.