People talking during shows- Page 3

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 3/28/23 at 12:05pm

SeanD2 said: "Oh who cares if people talk. Shows today are so over-amplified that you'll still be able to hear it over people talking. And I'm so sick of this puritanical "theater etiquette" that demands you sit absolutely still, don't talk, don't laugh, don't engage. That's not the way humans are meant to engage in theatrical storytelling. And it's only a relatively recent development. The Greeks weren't sitting silently. Nor were Shakespeare's audiences. We need to stop gatekeeping the theater by moderating behavior and open the theater back up to the people."

You cannot possibly be serious with this garbage. The Greeks and Shakespeare's audiences were not paying $200 or more for their tickets. It's not unreasonable to expect people to be quiet and watch the show.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 3/28/23 at 12:14pm

Matt Rogers said: "SeanD2 said: "Oh who cares if people talk. Shows today are so over-amplified that you'll still be able to hear it over people talking. And I'm so sick of this puritanical "theater etiquette" that demands you sit absolutely still, don't talk, don't laugh, don't engage. That's not the way humans are meant to engage in theatrical storytelling. And it's only a relatively recent development. The Greeks weren't sitting silently. Nor were Shakespeare's audiences. We need to stop gatekeeping the theater by moderating behavior and open the theater back up to the people."

You cannot possibly be serious with this garbage. The Greeks and Shakespeare's audiences were not paying $200 or more for their tickets. It's not unreasonable to expect people to be quiet and watch the show."

I hope I never sit anywhere near that person during a show if they think it's okay to talk throughout the whole thing. Getting clarification on what a character said? SURE! I have said that's okay (I have also never said nor implied that I make the rules). I have just said anywhere you go, sporting event, opera, theater, there are rules. If you don't want to adhere by them and ruin the experience for other people, maybe the theater is not for you. I'm thinking about one specific example that I don't mind-the catfight scene in Wicked. When Glinda says "yes, well a lot of us are stealing things that aren't ours, aren't we?" or something along those lines. I Always love hearing how the audience will vocally react to that. But loudly talking back to the performers, to your fellow theatergoer, no. That is not okay. Again, NOT gatekeeping. Allowing people who paid a lot of money to enjoy the show as it was meant to be experienced. 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/28/23 at 9:07pm

TImely topic as a Wall Street Journal article today had this headline:

Why People Are Getting More Disruptive at Concerts

"It isn’t just about the music anymore: Fans want their viral moment with a superstar."

It is paywalled, but here's the link anyway:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/concertgoers-are-behaving-badly-blame-tiktok-11ce4737?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

 

[Listener]

Posted: 3/31/23 at 1:01pm

You are not crazy, OP. People - not all but some - have started to treat live theatre like a rock concert. I don't understand it either, but keep in mind, people have been cooped up for a bit, are restless and used to being on their sofas, and culture has really swung around towards commentary. People are rewarded these days for sassy remarks and observations that make them seem "clever" somehow. Some folks - the elderly, the genuinely confused - ask questions because they innocently aren't getting something. Others treat the performance as their own personal experience, disregarding others.

I have definitely gotten dirty looks and nasty remarks from people I have been forced to say something to. It's a common and childish response for someone to snap back at you for pointing out their poor behavior.

I was at a show recently where two grown women began singing along and swaying side-to-side - drinks in hand - as soon as the opening musical number began. I really gritted my teeth. Thankfully, they settled down after a few minutes. If they'd continued to be distracting it would have ruined the evening for everyone and as you've correctly pointed out, there's no easy way to get them to knock it off.

Matt, I'm so sorry for that horrible experience. What a disappointment I hope the theatre was good enough to give you replacement tickets for taking all that abuse.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 3/31/23 at 1:07pm

Listener said: "You are not crazy, OP. People - not all but some - have started to treat live theatre like a rock concert. I don't understand it either, but keep in mind, people have been cooped up for a bit, are restless and used to being on their sofas, and culture has really swung around towards commentary. People are rewarded these days for sassy remarks and observations that make them seem "clever" somehow. Some folks - the elderly, the genuinely confused - ask questions because they innocently aren't getting something. Others treat the performance as their own personal experience, disregarding others.
 

Exactly. It's so rude and the worst part is, they don't even care. They also paid money so they think they're justified in their behavior. They think it's impossible to sit still, so they are justified in moving, in talking, in taking out their phones. No. That's not how it works. If you can't sit still, you shouldn't be there. Certain behavior is expected everywhere. It's not your choice to listen. It's what you agree to when you go. 


I have definitely gotten dirty looks and nasty remarks from people I have been forced to say something to. It's a common and childish response for someone to snap back at you for pointing out their poor behavior.

I was at a show recently where two grown women began singing along and swaying side-to-side - drinks in hand - as soon as the opening musical number began. I really gritted my teeth. Thankfully, they settled down after a few minutes. If they'd continued to be distracting it would have ruined the evening for everyone and as you've correctly pointed out, there's no easy way to get them to knock it off.

Matt, I'm so sorry for that horrible experience. What a disappointment I hope the theatre was good enough to give you replacement tickets for taking all that abuse."

People think we're gatekeeping by saying "no we should be allowed to talk back to the actors"-NO. Like I previously stated, if it's a moment like Wicked with the cat fight, sure. Otherwise, hush. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/31/23 at 9:38pm

Matt Rogers said: "Went to a show at the Tilles Center on Long Island last week.

When we arrived at our aisle seats 15 minutes before showtime, there was a couple sitting in them. The usher told them they were in the wrong seats but they refused to move. Only upon her getting a manager did they begrudgingly move to their real seats, which were unfortunately right next to ours. The wife sat next to me and the husband one seat over.

Before the lights went down, there was the usual announcement about no photography or recording of any kind.

The split second the lights went down, the husband whips out his phone and starts filming. Since he was one seat over from me and because I kind of got dragged to a show I didn't really care much about, I didn't say anything.

However, in act two, after having filmed all of act one, he whipped out the phone and started filming again. This time, he had the light on full blast and it was extremely annoying. After fifteen minutes of this, I leaned over and said very loudly "ILLEGAL!" This was met with an immediate "F*CK You."

"Oh really?" I said, and I jumped out of my seat and went out of the theatre to find an usher. They were all sitting around in a little group, so I said, "Excuse me, are people allowed to film the performance with their phones?" And one of them actually said "I think so as long as the light is not bright."

I said "Well they made an announcement at the beginning that it was not allowed, and the guy next to me has been filming every second of it since it began."

She said "Oh...well let me check on that." She asked where I was sitting. I told her, and then I went back to my seat.

As soon as I sat down, the guy gave me another loud "F*ck you" to which I said "You're the one illegally filming he entire show, a$$hole - do you want to reimburse everyone around you for their tickets for being so annoying??"

To which I got my third "F*ck you" of the evening.

Then his wife jumps in and screams "His daughter is in the hospital!!!" (what that had to do with anything, I have no idea)

Now it was a full disruption of the show, and the people behind them started telling them to shut up, but instead, they gathered there stuff, got out of their seats and left the theatre, but not without one final "F*ck you."

Pure class. And by the way, the ushers never made another appearance at any time."

I was at the Tilles Center last week for Patti LuPone's concert. No on DARED to film the show.