Put Off The Damn Phone! Butcha Will, Ya Will!

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 4/26/12 at 10:50am

Audience members were left fuming and others embarrassed after a performance at Swansea Grand Theatre was interrupted a number of times by mobile phones.

The opening show of hit comedy Bette and Joan at Swansea's Grand Theatre, was disrupted as audience mobile phones rang and bleeped loudly throughout.
This was despite a subtle pre-show announcement, which warned: "This play is set in 1962 — before mobile phones were invented".

Greta Scacchi, playing Bette Davis in the two-woman play, was visibly annoyed when persistent ringing interrupted her speech and deliberately paused mid-way through a scene until the phone stopped.
The audience was left awkwardly shuffling in their seats while the distracting jingle continued for more than thirty seconds.

Rebecca Thomas, 29, from Sketty, was in the audience on the opening night.
She said: "I felt sorry for the actress who had to pause, and embarrassed when the offender didn't turn off their phone. It was just cringe-worthy to sit there.
It's common sense to switch your mobile off during a performance and if it's not obvious, the theatre announce it at the start of the show. It's not difficult to check your mobile is off before you go in. Otherwise it spoils it for everyone around you."

The offender left the theatre of his own accord before staff had time to intervene.

Theatre marketing manager Paul Hopkins said: "It's one of those unfortunate things. But it does happen from time to time. We actively encourage people to turn their phones off or to silent to show consideration. People who don't switch off their phones, don't show respect to other members of the public. When it does happen, a member of staff will ask them to switch off the phone or leave the theatre."

He said that after the show both actors admitted they were bemused as to why it happened, but were generally very pleased at the warmth of the Swansea audience.

'Bette And Joan' runs at the Grand Theatre until Saturday.

[abitoftap]

Posted: 4/26/12 at 10:56am

Hunt them down and ban them from every theatre in the land.


Updated On: 4/26/12 at 10:56 AM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 4/26/12 at 11:01am

Greta Scaatchi should have to taken the gift from heaven opportunity to have ripped this person apart in full Baby Jane viciousness!
I would have put my phone ON if I knew she would have done that!!! lol

Updated On: 4/26/12 at 11:01 AM

[bob8rich]

Posted: 4/26/12 at 2:13pm

I will be seeing this at the Swansea Grand on Saturday. Hopefully it will not happen again! It is so totally ignorant to not switch your phone off before entering a theatre - shows a total disregard for other people. In fact, I think phones should be OFF not even on "silent" - people shuffling and reading messages during a performance are equally annoying and inconsiderate IMO. For God's sake, it's just an hour and a half at most per act - anyone who can't keep a phone switched off for that amount of time is seriously mentally challenged lol.