Mentally Impaired Audience Members

[tgn915]

Something has been bothering me since I saw Mary Poppins two months ago.

I was sitting in the back of the theatre (third to last row of orchestra) on the aisle. On the other side of the aisle was a wheelchair spot that was occupied by a person who had Downs Syndrome (mental retardation) in a wheelchair, sitting beside his mother. The person was not young, and obviously had a pretty severe case. The thing I couldn't help but notice was that he had been making noises a lot, and once the overture started the noises did not stop. Obviously, the sounds he was making were incredible audible because an usher came over to talk to this man and his mother. A few minutes later, they weren't seated there anymore.

Do you know if ushers have grounds to tell patrons to leave under this circumstances? Or do you think that they were just told to move to a different area of the theatre? I understand that it is very distracting to both the performers and the audience but it breaks my heart to think that, after probably receiving looks constantly and being constantly jeered at in everyday life, they were turned down from a Broadway experience.

Thoughts?

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Wow, that's rough. Do you think that your experience would have been better if they stayed? I think there should be a policy about that, so they won't grant tickets like that to save them the letdown of being kicked out. I hope that they ay least refunded their tickets! That is just heart-wrenching!

[tgn915]

Well, I think I would've rather bared the noise than have that feeling of hurt for the poor person. The mother wanted to take him out on a nice trip to the theatre, something they probably can't do much since I'm sure all the medical bills for a disorder such as that rake up after a while, and to be turned away is, like I said, heartbreaking.

[B3TA07]

Are you sure they were made to leave? The woman may have chosen out of respect for everyone else to leave. Either way it's a very slippy subject.

[broadwaytourist]

I would think they made an alterate accomodation for this young man. It would be a shame to be removed fro an area of public accomodation due to a disability.

[tgn915]

Nope, I'm not certain at all whether she was told to leave, requested to leave, or simply left on her own. I'm sure she was aware of how her son acts though, it wasn't a surprise or difference in attitude, I don't think. So I don't think she'd buy tickets if she would leave after him making the noise.

Yeah, maybe the ushers simply told them "if there is any way to make your son a little more quiet? It's a little distracting to the performers" and she left. I really just hope they didn't embarrass or offend them in anyway. The mother seemed like such a nice person, her face was so warm. :)

EDIT: (Didn't see the last comment posted)
That's exactly what I'm hoping. Maybe the brought them to the standing room area or to a less crowded area of the theatre and I just didn't notice.

[lakezurich]

Wow... this one has me conflicted, because I am a huge Broadway fan, but I work with the developmentally disabled for a living. So part of me would be a tad annoyed by the loud noises, another part of me would just be able to totally be able to tune it out. But there are definitely downsides to either action taken by the theatre staff.

[Jane2]

"I think there should be a policy about that so they won't grant tickets like that to save them the letdown of being kicked out."

There is a policy-it's called non-discriminatory. You cannot discriminate against a person because of mental illness.

You sound heartless.

[lakezurich]

And on a side note what was he doing that could be distracting the performers. Especially if he was sitting so close to the back of the orchestra?

[blaxx]

That happened to me when I saw The Lion King.
I felt bad too, but the boy was too loud, and it sounded like he was "booing" the actors. It got so bad that little kids started laughing at his sounds, and the attention was divided between him and the show. You could also tell the actors were upset about it. He was not there after intermission, so I'm sure these are grounds to ask someone to leave. As sad as it was, it disrupts the show.

[dancingthrulife04]

"I think there should be a policy about that so they won't grant tickets like that to save them the letdown of being kicked out."


Wow.

[lakezurich]

this one really has me torn...

[LePetiteFromage]

[blaxx]

lake, I understand your point of view, but as an audience member who paid A LOT of money to enjoy a show, this is a very tricky situation.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Perhaps they were moved to a box so as to be not next to anyone?

This happened to me when I saw JERSEY BOYS. I was in the front row, and everytime a song started I would hear this loud whooping noise coming from somewhere behind me on the left side. I thought it was someone who was a big fan of the songs and I was going to go over during intermission and tell them to stop yelling, but when the house lights came up I saw that the noises were actually from a severly disabled man in a wheelchair. I think his caretaker explained to him he had to behave or maybe she moved him elsewhere, because I didn't notice anything during the second act.

[lakezurich]

yeah, I know. like I stated I would be mildly frustrated on one side, and the other side I would be like "well, they paid for the tickets too, and it's not as if he/she can help it."

[Jane2]

As for being torn-you simply can't discriminate.

Now, my solution would be that if you are a patron who just can't tune out the noise, I'd ask the usher if you could be moved to a different seat.

As far as the noise being extremely loud, I'm guessing that the production has made provisions in their contract as to what steps should be taken.

[LePetiteFromage]

[Charlie No-One]

It isn't discriminating to tell a person who is making noise to leave. If they saw they had Downs syndrome before seeing the show and didn't give them tickets, that would be discrimination. If the person is audibly disrupting the show, on their own free will or not, then they should be accommodated so they aren't distracting, or if the person is unwilling to comprise, be removed.

[Greekmusicalfan]

I'm with blaxx ! It is a very delicate subject, but if you were in a show that wanted to see for long, paid a full price ticket and had your concentration and enjoyment totally distracted, you'd feel annoyed, no matter how much love and support you have ! And on a side note, I may be wrong, but if he was making noise it could mean that he was uncomfortable and was not having a good time ! Maybe the lights, music and noise from the performance were annoying to him and he was expressing his discomfort !

[lakezurich]

there is a way to predict what their response will be. The "Behaviors" of these people are fairly set. If that makes any sense.

[tgn915]

Exactly what "blaxx" said.
We were sitting in the back of the theatre, but the sounds were quite increased in volume. I would not be surprised if they carried to the stage.

[songanddanceman2]

Hmm this is a great thread

I work Front Of House at a huge touring house here in the UK and this incident is one which is problematic.

In our theatre we also have the wheel chair spaces at the back of the auditorium in the circle and have often had Downs Syndrome patrons etc that have made a lot of noise throughout a performance (of course not the patrons fault)

We would never ask them to leave but we have had to take a few steps to consider the patron and the audience around them.

Most of the times we will not do anything until an audience member complains about the noise.At that point we will speak to the chaperone and explain the situation and ask if there is anything they can do to keep the patron quiet, Sometimes the chaperone will choose to leave the show of their own accord because they dont want the enjoyment of the show to be ruined for others.Sometimes they will take the patron out of the auditorium ever 15 mins or so in to the bar area or on the prom and then go back in once the patron has quietened down.

Other times we will re seat people around them (if we have room) and thats normally fine.

The production which is in understands that these things happen and are used to it, it may be distracting to the performer but they understand, its not like some bratty kid heckling etc.

We would never ask them to leave though, its not fair but we will do EVERYTHING we can to work the situation for all parties involved

[lakezurich]

And if the individual was uncomfortable their caretaker should be able to recognize it. So I would think that the caretaker would remove the individual before it escalated (which can happen very quickly).

[blaxx]

My friend's comments after the show made me think a lot about it back then.
I know that a lot of things could happen during a performance that may disrupt the experience, but it is a Front of House responsibility to deal with it, somehow.
I tried to be understanding, but we certainly didn't pay our money to be understanding, but to enjoy the show.