CRITICS RAVAGE BROADWAY AUDIENCES- Page 3

[DAME]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 12:50pm

I know. But she was talking about someone getting caught up in the joy at the moment. Not someone that pulled out a meal and ate during a entire act of a show, not someone that had a phone conversation, not someone that was talking. Just someone that got sincerely caught up in the show and really meant no harm. We know the difference; right?

[newintown]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 12:54pm

Actually, I think not - no matter how "innocent" the motivation, part of being a member of a group means being aware of the needs of the rest of the group.

Do you really think disruptive people are doing what they do from a wish to harm others? No - they're doing what they think is the right thing to do at that moment. And yet their actions still have negative repercussions, don't they?

Someone who takes out his phone and texts during a show might be trying to find out if his sister's baby was born yet - a joyful motivation, but still disruptive to those around him.

What matters in our relations within the group is less the motivation than the effect it has. I'm dancing for joy, but I'm stepping on your toes. Which is more important?

Updated On: 7/2/14 at 12:54 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:01pm

Having a good time and enjoying the show is what is most important. And of course doing it in a good communal way while at the theater is always best. I just think your being a tad much. But that is just me. At Kinky last week this guy in front of me stood up and gave a ovation after Billys second act number. He was the only one standing. It was right in front of me. I just tilted my head to the right for the 6 seconds he was up. Didn't bother me . And he seemed honestly moved by the song.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:04pm

It's so hard though to be part of a group and to be THE ONLY ONE who knows exactly how the rest of the group needs to behave and to have no way to control the others. It's almost as if a group is made up of a bunch of "I"s.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:05pm

As has been seen in this thread, there's a great difference in opinion as to what annoys different people. Isn't it best to err on the side of trying to bother the least number when sharing a public experience?

You aren't bothered by someone standing during the show, but you are bothered by talking or food. But you have to admit (or should admit) that there are distractions that bother others as much as your list does you, right?

You wouldn't say that it's only valid to object to the things you personally find objectionable, would you?

Updated On: 7/2/14 at 01:05 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:09pm

No I wouldn't. But I never thought i'd live to see the day when someone would consider giving a honest and genuine ovation at a show.. wrong. Now I am not talking about just standing and blocking someones view.


And also.. sorry.. but Talking, eating, and cell phone usage, candy wrappers, .. are in NO way part of what should be the theater going experience. Those are just wrong.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:10pm

newintown, I think you want to overlook the (to my way of thinking) unfortunate reality of this country, the myth upon which it was founded: the primacy of the imperial "I". Rugged individualism, going it alone, willfully ignoring collective responsibility. There was a moment in the latter half of the 20th century when SOME people tried to get others to think collectively, but at this point when you go to the theater you are sitting with the offspring of Ronnie Reagan, who told the nation that is is all about YOU, the singular YOU.

It's a cultural thing and there's really nothing that can be done about it at this point.

Updated On: 7/2/14 at 01:10 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:11pm

"It's so hard though to be part of a group and to be THE ONLY ONE who knows exactly how the rest of the group needs to behave and to have no way to control the others. It's almost as if a group is made up of a bunch of "I"s."


BINGO.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:18pm

"But I never thought i'd live to see the day when someone would consider giving a honest and genuine ovation at a show.. wrong. Now I am not talking about just standing and blocking someones view."

When it's the same thing, two sides of the same action, both aspects should be acknowledged - the good and the bad. You accuse me of considering "giving a honest and genuine ovation at a show.. wrong." Wrong. I consider blocking someone's view wrong.

And I believe that the standing happened during the song; it wasn't quite what we'd call an ovation, is it? That's for the end.

And Namo - you've said a mouthful there.

Updated On: 7/2/14 at 01:18 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:20pm

Not accusing you of anything. As I said.. you are being a tad much.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:21pm

I was just at the opening night of GHOST, here in LA at the Pantages, and the couple seated next to me just carried on conversations as if they were the only two people in the room. The friend I was with knows that I can't stand that sort crap (neither can she) and she was holding on to my arm as if to say "I know you want to yell at them!"

I had to use the restroom before the end of the act and decided to sit in some of the empty seats in the back. My friend came up and said, "I should have let you yell at them. The minute you got up and left, the husband pulled his phone out and started texting"

I would have lost it, and he would have lost his arm.

Good thing I had a cocktail before hand.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:22pm

Well, now, that's just... disingenuous. Or is that a "tad much" by your standards?

You see, you're just not acknowledging the point I'm making - you appear to believe that your list of bad behavior is the only real list of bad behavior, and that what others may object to is just "a tad much."

Which is exactly how the eaters, talkers, and texters feel.



Updated On: 7/2/14 at 01:22 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:24pm

I wish you would have yelled at them. Better than sitting there frustrated for 2 hours.

Diva.. I got into it with a texter at the Pnatages. House gave me a comp for a future show. You have to speak up for yourself. A loud " Shut the F up! - works wonders.

Updated On: 7/2/14 at 01:24 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:26pm

Diva, those two people's conversation was probably more interesting than anything in Ghost.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:34pm

" I just saw "The Realistic Joneses" and someone asked if that was considered a Broadway show, or Off-Broadway show?!"
THE HORROR! I hope you slapped them.

[theaternut]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:42pm

newintown, I am a little mortified by you. When I saw Gypsy with Lupone some of the audience rose to its feet right after Some People. It was a wonderful and heartfelt moment for the audience. Same happened during Dreamgirls right before the curtain came down for act 1. When I saw "The Rink' Chita got a entrance ovation. And the same thing happened with my audience when I saw Kinky Boots last year after the second act number. These are heartfelt and genuine moments. They were not someone standing there blocking ones view. They weren't eating and talking in the theater. I agree. You are coming off a bit much.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:48pm

"Mortified?"

Although I don't personally care much for standing ovations at the end of a song, it doesn't particularly bother me. What was being discussed here was one person standing up in the middle of a song.

"Mortified?" You feel embarrassed or foolish by me?

Updated On: 7/2/14 at 01:48 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:53pm

"During Defying Gravity, as soon as Elphaba sings. "It's me !" and begins to rise, Joy was on her feet cheering with tears in her eyes. It was so genuine and heartfelt that our entire section broke out into applause. It was the first time after seeing that show numerous times, I was truly moved. Yes, sometimes audience responses really do enrich a show!"


Doesn't sound like anyone had a problem with it. In this case the audience response enriched the show. Someone standing in the middle of a number.. sure.. that sucks. But that is not what happened here. It was something different. Anyway.. done with going tit for tat with you.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:54pm

Being done is fine - happy to let you have the last word here.

[theaternut]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 1:55pm

""Mortified?" You feel embarrassed or foolish by me? "


YES!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 2:09pm

Once I was sitting in front of a little girl of about 7 or 8 at Phantom in Las Vegas. She was SO excited to be there and when the chandelier formed, she said something like, "Mommy, look! It's so beautiful!" and made a few other exclamations. There was NO WAY I was going to shut her up. What if this was her first live musical? She was having the time of her life. And she didn't really talk for the rest of the show either.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 2:16pm

theaternut, I certainly don't want to make you feel embarrassed or foolish. But I don't see how I did that to you...

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 2:32pm

[theaternut]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 2:45pm

I am embarrassed for YOU. YOU are are the one coming out as foolish. You are taking something someone said and twisting it and twisting it. You have been told more than a few times that the moment was not just someone standing in the middle of the song. But about something else. No one here would like someone up in the middle of a show and blocking their view. That has been made clear. But that isn't what the poster described. They are talking about someone beeling so taken and enraptured that they leaped to their feet in joy and the audience loved it and was with her for it.



Updated On: 7/2/14 at 02:45 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 2:47pm

I don't have a problem with audience behavior when the actions come from a genuine and engaged place. Cheers, woo hoos, extended applause or laughter- it's all good by me. It usually means the audience members are involved and paying attention to the action onstage.

The texting, eating, talking, etc fall into a different category because these are all things that distract the audience member and those around him or her from the proceedings onstage.