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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2018 22:49:58 GMT
At Six today, a woman decided to leave halfway through the penultimate song, coat and handbag in hand. She walked along the walkway at the front of the stage, making it extremely obvious to the actresses that she was leaving. It just seemed extremely rude and disrespectful towards the actresses who had sung, acted and danced their arses off for the past hour. Apart from that, it was a good audience. Quite a few empty seats, but the audience that was there apart from that woman loved it.
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Post by bellboard27 on Dec 23, 2018 11:04:46 GMT
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Post by missthelma on Dec 23, 2018 12:47:03 GMT
Now we have all had to eat at the theatre haven't we? Be it a quick sandwich because we're running late or a pack of crisps/bar of chocolate simply due to being starving. Theatres obviously make matters slightly worse by selling edibles like the ubiquitous eye wateringly expensive ice cream. When I have to indulge I do it with shame and swiftly and obviously before the start or at the interval.
But, this is not the Cafe Bon Bon or even the snackateria (God Bless Victoria Wood)so a little restraint would be welcomed with your victuals.
Drawing out your tupperware container of prepared food, with cutlery, seems to imply this is not a last minute fix but your intent, to then follow with a fruit course shared with friend seems crass. Obviously some crisps are needed after to cleanse the palate. A second fruit course follows a little later, which is good, you know aiming for that five a day, but then obviously you spoiled it with the chocolate bars and biscuits. Still not sated? Okay well let's move on to the wrap/pizza slice/pitta bread/whatever that was produced next. The inevitable reward for this was an Act 3 belch, held in obviously, we're not animals, but audible to these in close proximity.
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Post by lynette on Dec 23, 2018 15:24:59 GMT
At this point I will introduce a family anecdote. My father and his mother adored the cinema. They went all the time and guess what ? They also adored chocolate and sweets. This was before rationing came in, so before WWII. They were so so messy with the wrappings, leaving it on the floor, that one day, the manager approached them and stopped them going in! I think they sneaked in later... So I come from darkness in the bad behaviour department. Being in the army for six years during WWII and just after only served to increase my dad's love for movies and choc. Later we lived right by the Cadbury factory...another story.
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 26, 2018 14:56:16 GMT
Already mentioned on the Snow White thread, but there was a woman directly in front of me texting during the entire first half of the show, in the most massive font, asking Rachel to go and turn off her office alarm as she was stuck in the theatre.
I actually have to take the ushers to task here. She was in seat 2 - ie. near the end of the row - so they could easily have spoken to her. Also, unlike most sneaky texters, she was holding her phone right up to her face and, therefore in my direct line of vision. No usher approached her at all. Also, her entire party of 4 was standing in the aisle during the interval and when the second half began suddenly, they took about a minute to get comfortable, making the children behind me complain bitterly that they couldn't see. Surely it is the ushers' job to make sure everyone is seated when there is no notice given before the second half starts? This just added to the whole feeling of no one caring about anything at that show.
Still. Every cloud and all that. The Tibettes have now had to stop telling their friends that I text in the biggest lettering of all time! This woman's font was truly giant. Laborious one-finger texting too. I had desperate urges to grab her phone and finish her sentences for her....and spell them korectly as well (before hurling her phone into the abyss.)😖
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Post by profquatermass on Dec 26, 2018 15:21:19 GMT
Already mentioned on the Snow White thread, but there was a woman directly in front of me texting during the entire first half of the show, in the most massive font, asking Rachel to go and turn off her office alarm as she was stuck in the theatre. I actually have to take the ushers to task here. She was in seat 2 - ie. near the end of the row - so they could easily have spoken to her. Also, unlike most sneaky texters, she was holding her phone right up to her face and, therefore in my direct line of vision. No usher approached her at all. Also, her entire party of 4 was standing in the aisle during the interval and when the second half began suddenly, they took about a minute to get comfortable, making the children behind me complain bitterly that they couldn't see. Surely it is the ushers' job to make sure everyone is seated when there is no notice given before the second half starts? This just added to the whole feeling of no one caring about anything at that show. Still. Every cloud and all that. The Tibettes have now had to stop telling their friends that I text in the biggest lettering of all time! This woman's font was truly giant. Laborious one-finger texting too. I had desperate urges to grab her phone and finish her sentences for her....and spell them korectly as well (before hurling her phone into the abyss.)😖
Why didn't you ask her to stop? I would have done so
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2018 15:25:46 GMT
Because sometimes the fuss caused by asking someone to stop whatever they're doing causes more trouble than the thing? because sometimes you have't got the energy for an argument? because some people naturally shy away from confrontation? because it's Christmas and we're feeling charitable? because we're terribly British?
I mean every other post on this thread could be coupled with 'but why didn't you stop them?' because frankly it's not always worth the hassle.
(Do agree the ushers should have stepped in, they at least have the authority and backup of House Managers etc to try and stop it)
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Post by profquatermass on Dec 26, 2018 15:35:42 GMT
Because sometimes the fuss caused by asking someone to stop whatever they're doing causes more trouble than the thing? because sometimes you have't got the energy for an argument? because some people naturally shy away from confrontation? because it's Christmas and we're feeling charitable? because we're terribly British? I mean every other post on this thread could be coupled with 'but why didn't you stop them?' because frankly it's not always worth the hassle. (Do agree the ushers should have stepped in, they at least have the authority and backup of House Managers etc to try and stop it) Another audience member can't stop someone wandering onto the stage. But they can politely ask someone to switch their mobile phone off (something the ushers can't always do if the culprit is in the middle of a row). Bad behaviour continues because the culprits don't necessarily realise how disturbing they are being. I have asked people to switch off their phones on about half a dozen occasions and I can honestly say that the worst thing that has happened is that the other person...switched off their phone. I can see it might not be worth the hassle but then it's probably not worth moaning about afterwards
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2018 15:56:32 GMT
Last time I asked someone to turn off their phone, she had a massive go at me - while the show was in progress - because she wanted to film the show for her child and I ruined her recording. So, yeah, some of us are just conflict-averse, but it's not because we're irrationally worried about potential conflict, it's because we've had conflict before and really don't have the energy to risk a repeat performance. Dead happy for you if you've never experienced it personally, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
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Post by bengal73 on Dec 26, 2018 15:59:19 GMT
I can safely say, as one who shys away from confrontation,that the one time I've asked someone in a theatre politely to switch their phone off it caused a foul mouthed tirade against me from the woman's partner and a show stop. Needless to say this has put me firmly back in my box when it comes to intervening in such situations.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2018 16:01:16 GMT
Because sometimes the fuss caused by asking someone to stop whatever they're doing causes more trouble than the thing? because sometimes you have't got the energy for an argument? because some people naturally shy away from confrontation? because it's Christmas and we're feeling charitable? because we're terribly British? I mean every other post on this thread could be coupled with 'but why didn't you stop them?' because frankly it's not always worth the hassle. (Do agree the ushers should have stepped in, they at least have the authority and backup of House Managers etc to try and stop it) Another audience member can't stop someone wandering onto the stage. But they can politely ask someone to switch their mobile phone off (something the ushers can't always do if the culprit is in the middle of a row). Bad behaviour continues because the culprits don't necessarily realise how disturbing they are being. I have asked people to switch off their phones on about half a dozen occasions and I can honestly say that the worst thing that has happened is that the other person...switched off their phone. I can see it might not be worth the hassle but then it's probably not worth moaning about afterwards Great! I'm glad all the people you've asked have been polite reasonable humans. But like @baemax I've had (more than one) incident of asking someone politely to either turn a phone off or stop doing something else that is universally regarded as 'a bit rude' and had them royally kick off at me. So to be honest, yes I'm more inclined to put up with a phone rather than risk a person screaming at me.
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Post by bengal73 on Dec 26, 2018 16:03:42 GMT
Have to say @emicardiff that based on my experience above I probably came away more embarrassed by far than the wrongdoers.
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 26, 2018 17:39:28 GMT
Already mentioned on the Snow White thread, but there was a woman directly in front of me texting during the entire first half of the show, in the most massive font, asking Rachel to go and turn off her office alarm as she was stuck in the theatre. I actually have to take the ushers to task here. She was in seat 2 - ie. near the end of the row - so they could easily have spoken to her. Also, unlike most sneaky texters, she was holding her phone right up to her face and, therefore in my direct line of vision. No usher approached her at all. Also, her entire party of 4 was standing in the aisle during the interval and when the second half began suddenly, they took about a minute to get comfortable, making the children behind me complain bitterly that they couldn't see. Surely it is the ushers' job to make sure everyone is seated when there is no notice given before the second half starts? This just added to the whole feeling of no one caring about anything at that show. Still. Every cloud and all that. The Tibettes have now had to stop telling their friends that I text in the biggest lettering of all time! This woman's font was truly giant. Laborious one-finger texting too. I had desperate urges to grab her phone and finish her sentences for her....and spell them korectly as well (before hurling her phone into the abyss.)😖 I can assure you Tibidabo that had this happened to me she certainly would have stopped texting!!!!! I am afraid I am getting totally sick and tired of this selfish, entitled and anti social behaviour everywhere and, of course, especially in the theatre. The issue is, quite frankly, that if no-one says anything it only enables the behaviour and it will become the norm. I will not tolerate it and always confront it (politely) if it is in my reach. I have not encountered any problems ...yet!
Rant over! As you can see I am full of festive goodwill to all men (and women). However, I trust everyone on this board who are immaculately behaved in the theatre is having a wonderful Christmas.
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Post by 49thand8th on Dec 28, 2018 15:03:20 GMT
I can safely say, as one who shys away from confrontation,that the one time I've asked someone in a theatre politely to switch their phone off it caused a foul mouthed tirade against me from the woman's partner and a show stop. Needless to say this has put me firmly back in my box when it comes to intervening in such situations. This has totally happened to me before, and though I understand it having a negative impact on you in this way, I look at it as: it's not making anyone look bad except THEM, not you.
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 29, 2018 11:04:11 GMT
I can see it might not be worth the hassle but then it's probably not worth moaning about afterwards I'm not moaning. See thread title. But I won't post here again as it seems to be my 'bad behaviour' in not wishing to ruin a family day out that has ended up being discussed, which is surely not the point of the thread.
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 29, 2018 11:21:15 GMT
Yesterday at my last visit to 42nd St. A woman next to me got out her mobile phone half way through Act One and started texting. I say "started" as she did not have the opportunity to finish the text!!!
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Post by rockinrobin on Dec 29, 2018 12:52:23 GMT
Myself - again! I sat in someone else's seat last night, after the interval. It was the same row, the guy seated next to me was bald so it all seemed fine until I found out it was not the same bald guy... Wrong aisle! I profusely apologised and returned to my old seat a few metres away. Ah, the Olivier.
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Post by tysilio2 on Dec 29, 2018 22:37:33 GMT
Myself - again! I sat in someone else's seat last night, after the interval. It was the same row, the guy seated next to me was bald so it all seemed fine until I found out it was not the same bald guy... Wrong aisle! I profusely apologised and returned to my old seat a few metres away. Ah, the Olivier. I hope you didn't use the usual excuse of "you bald people all look the same.."
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Post by bimse on Dec 30, 2018 9:40:06 GMT
Another audience member can't stop someone wandering onto the stage. But they can politely ask someone to switch their mobile phone off (something the ushers can't always do if the culprit is in the middle of a row). Bad behaviour continues because the culprits don't necessarily realise how disturbing they are being. I have asked people to switch off their phones on about half a dozen occasions and I can honestly say that the worst thing that has happened is that the other person...switched off their phone. I can see it might not be worth the hassle but then it's probably not worth moaning about afterwards Great! I'm glad all the people you've asked have been polite reasonable humans. But like @baemax I've had (more than one) incident of asking someone politely to either turn a phone off or stop doing something else that is universally regarded as 'a bit rude' and had them royally kick off at me. So to be honest, yes I'm more inclined to put up with a phone rather than risk a person screaming at me. I agree, if you’ve never experienced horrendous abuse when you’ve intervened to ask someone to stop disturbing you , you’re incredibly lucky . The last time I very politely asked some people to stop texting (two of them constantly texting and talking during a performance, one was leaning forward and had his phone next to my knee, right in my line of vision) I was treated to verbal abuse . As per usual no other audience member supported me despite the fact that those behind must have been disturbed. The two texters carried on, then left . They came back after the interval and actually apologised .... now that was amazing , but intervening is not something I’d recommend doing, it’s important to remember that no one will support you, probably not even ushers, and people these days think they are entitled to so many rights , they don’t think about those around them having the right to not be disturbed .
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Post by rockinrobin on Dec 31, 2018 18:15:40 GMT
"Company" this afternoon. A lady next to me is texting furiously (we were in the gods so Patti LuPone couldn't see it...). "Sorry", I whisper, "could you switch it off please?" "I will when I'm finished!", whispers the lady angrily.
I wanted to step on her foot in the interval.
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Post by lynette on Jan 1, 2019 23:16:56 GMT
"Company" this afternoon. A lady next to me is texting furiously (we were in the gods so Patti LuPone couldn't see it...). "Sorry", I whisper, "could you switch it off please?" "I will when I'm finished!", whispers the lady angrily. I wanted to step on her foot in the interval. Whaaat? She a brain surgeon or someat giving instructions to save the life of a child? No, don’t think so. I can’t say I would have said anything else, I’m a born coward.
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Post by Michael on Jan 1, 2019 23:19:16 GMT
Tonight at Tina, front row. The guy next to me smell stank badly. Don't people shower anymore before? I was close to vacating my seat and standing at the very back of the Stalls and was so happy when I was outside again for some fresh air.
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Post by Paul on Jan 3, 2019 0:11:50 GMT
The man behind me at Company this evening did not stop kicking my seat for the entire performance. He had a coughing fit during the second act and part of me wished this would get so bad that he would have to leave the show early, however, he survived and the kicking continued.
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Post by lynette on Jan 7, 2019 23:47:49 GMT
I expect to be unpopular after posting this but perhaps you can enlighten me. Do people still spot empty stall seats from the gods and come down to them in the interval? I ask because in the first interval for The Inheritance tonight, a women gave me the third degree about whether the seats I was in were my seats , actually were they my seats! I cottoned on to the fact that she had spotted two empty seats which were in fact in front of me. So I was just standing in what were I thought my seats for the imterval. End seats. Actually because my OH had moved to allow people to get out of our row, I was standing in the empty seats, hence her questioning and my confusion. But she was downright rude. Sure enough, her little band came down and sat in the empty seats plus two further long for the rest of the show. I know I’ve lost you by now.
She said the seats upstairs were 'sh*t'. So why get them? Always gamble on sporting a stalls seat in the interval? It did look a bit planned with this one woman telling her friends where to sit. Of course I paid more than twice as much for my seats as she then had. To top it all, they jumped to their feet at the end and I couldn’t see the curtain call.
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 8, 2019 0:00:42 GMT
^ I've occasionally switched seats within the same area but have never level-jumped. I suppose some people will though. I've overheard hopeful seat-switchers politely asking "Do you know if these are taken?", been asked it myself. That's all that's needed, I don't get why this woman would need to be rude about it, even if there was a bit of confusion. So yes, file under Bad Behaviour. A definite FUBB.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 8, 2019 0:09:55 GMT
^ I remember getting a cheap ticket for something at The Playhouse, and being in the second to back row with about 4 completely empty rows in front of me. I asked the usher if I should move forward and was told no because those seats cost more ! So I sat at the back on my own.
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Post by drowseychap on Jan 8, 2019 0:59:29 GMT
It’s a difficult one isnt it I’ve moved seats many occasions when theatre is half full etc is guess the actors would rather see faces than empty seats ?? I remember when the play that goes wrong first toured I had 6 empty rows in front so moved forward Some theatres if you ask are fine but some get really funny about it . I like it in USA if there’s empty seats as you go in the ushers ask If your happy with your seat .... u can tip them and they take you to available seats. For Bette midler I paid $60 for the gods and then got moved to $250 seat for $30 tip same with jersey boys got moved from balcony to stalls for $15
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 8, 2019 8:28:22 GMT
^ I remember getting a cheap ticket for something at The Playhouse, and being in the second to back row with about 4 completely empty rows in front of me. I asked the usher if I should move forward and was told no because those seats cost more ! So I sat at the back on my own. In those sorts of situations, I tend to just go ahead and move without asking any staff and have never been picked up on it. The one time I was told I couldn't move was about 12 years ago when Richmond Theatre screwed up a booking which led to a need for us to be re-located on a very busy evening, and were re-allocated terrible seats - we eventually left at the interval as the production was ruined by the high set being badly blocked by the circle overhang. The whole front row was empty but we were told we couldn't move there as the company specified it be held off-sale as they felt the view from there wasn't good enough.... yet seemed fine with these rubbish rear stalls seats being on sale even though they gave a significantly restricted view.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Jan 8, 2019 8:43:18 GMT
I've had this at the ENO - came back in at the interval and someone had plonked themselves in my seat and got fairly sniffy when I asked them politely [1] to move. I think it's fine to shuffle along a bit to a better empty seat (done this myself when in restricted view seats at the Almeida or Harold Pinter and the ones next to me are free) but there are limits.
[1] well, politelyish
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Post by Mark on Jan 8, 2019 12:42:54 GMT
I'll admit to sometimes doing it, although usually up in Sunderland rather than the West End, and usually just budging along from a restricted view side seat to a more central one. Of the few times I've done it in London, I remember once was the Garrick and I was front row stalls and the stage was very high, so I moved about half-way back just before the show started (theatre was pretty quiet).
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