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Post by fiyero on Jan 16, 2024 15:23:57 GMT
When did no late admissions at all go out of fashion?
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Post by Dave B on Jan 16, 2024 15:25:51 GMT
When did no late admissions at all go out of fashion? Around the same time as 'no readmissions' I'd guess
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Post by avfan on Jan 16, 2024 15:57:48 GMT
I went to see Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy for what will be the last time before it closes tonight, and honestly it felt like a bus load of horrible people who shouldn't venture anywhere near a theatre got a group discount. I had a brilliant seat in the stalls, but shortly after I sat down an older couple sat behind me in the next row. From the minute the man sat down he was moaning about the seat, the theatre and being openly rude and abrasive to people who were very politely asking to get to their seat, as he was on the aisle. I was also on the aisle of the row in front, so when someone asked to get past me I of course stood up and walked to the side to let them past, when I heard a really loud EXCUSE ME in my ear. I looked behind and it was the man going berserk at me, claiming I had knocked over his drink that was next to his seat. I looked to the floor and noticed that his drink was very much still in tact and about 2 metres away from me, if anything closer to the people behind him. I genuinely didn't know what to say and didn't want to be rude, so asked 'Sorry, is there anything else at my feet?' and he again very rudely shouted 'YES I THINK YOU CAN SEE - WATCH IT!'. This whole exchange was so pointless and didn't need to happen in any way whatsoever, as nothing had been knocked over. To add hypocrisy to the mix, the man then extended his leg out towards my seat, resting it right next to me and eventually knocking over my bottle of water during ACT 1 - I definitely feel that it was an act of defiance. There was a technical problem that delayed the start of the show by around 10 minutes tonight, and honestly the amount of moaning that this man did when he was waiting drained my soul. He just kept huffing and puffing, complaining about the seat and saying how uncomfortable he was at having to be in it for 10 minutes more than he had to - Why bother coming to the show at all? Just before the show started he said 'If this doesn't start soon I'm leaving', and honestly I wish he had. To add to this lovely experience, a family of four sat in the row in front of me and chatted throughout the entire first act. The lady next to me took matters into her own hands and told them to be quiet, but they didn't take any notice and continued in a whispered tone - Again, why bother coming? I paid just under £100 for my ticket, so decided I wasn't having it and spoke to a FOH at the start of the interval who said they'd have a word and were very helpful. Just after this I walked over to the bar and witnessed another older man screaming the face off of the FOH at the bar, I was genuinely shocked at the amount of terrible behaviour I was seeing in one night! She called the manager over before serving me and the man continued to argue, saying if service has to be this slow then he has a right to shout at anyone he wants to. There were literally about 5 people in the queue including me, so again a totally pointless argument. I ended up having a mutual rant with the FOH at the bar about how terrible the audience was and felt slightly better, but she was physically shaken. When I got back to my seat though I found the older man behind me in the middle of complaining to a FOH about me, saying I was 'constantly' knocking over his things. He was also speaking to the FOH in such a rude and unnecessary way, and she just looked at me and then back to him and said 'Sir perhaps if you hold onto your things and then move them to your feet when the show starts and everyone is seated, then maybe this won't happen again' - I have no idea who this lady is, but she's my new hero! The man then just gave us both a look of distain and mumbled 'disgraceful' under his breath. To top all of this loveliness off, I waited until almost the end of the interval to go back to my seat as I had hoped that FOH will have chatted to the people in front before I got back, However, they came just as I sat back down and the family really didn't take it well. The dad stood up and turned to everyone behind him, saying 'Right, who's been complaining about me?' and was told to sit down. The wife then said 'I'm sorry but can I just say we were only chatting during the quiet bits where nothing good was happening', to which the FOH of course said they shouldn't be disrespectful enough to chat during any part, but they were so riled and entitled about it. The man then just kept constantly turning his head back and looking at the people behind him, as if someone was going to just jump up and shout 'IT WAS ME!'. They then continued to chat throughout act 2. The only redeeming funny moment was when Tom stripped towards the end of the show, and the mum turned to her seemingly teenage son and said 'Those are like the pants you wear' - He looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole! Overall I don't think I've ever seen so much equally bad behaviour in one night at the theatre. The show was brilliant, but I was happy to leave when it was over. I was at this performance as well and I don't know if you saw it, but I was horrified at the man who got out of his chair, walked to the front and shouted at the MD during the delayed start, as in his words "There are thousands of people bloody waiting get on with it". To my horror some audience members started to applaud him. Luckily the people around us were pretty well behaved apart from that but sounds like you had a nightmare. My heart went out to that poor actor who brilliantly stayed in character on stage for the entire 15 minute delay. I really felt they should've taken her off and made an announcement that there was an issue but I still massively disagree with the idiot who shouted at the poor MD.
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Post by sph on Jan 16, 2024 18:32:14 GMT
Shouting at the MD as if it's their fault is truly bizarre behaviour. That man should have been kicked out. People not only seem to have no idea how to behave at the theatre, but seem to have no clue how a live performance works.
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Post by sweets7 on Jan 16, 2024 22:04:12 GMT
There has been a change since Covid. Something has broken or snapped. I was at the LSO’s free concert in Trafalgar Square last summer. First since covid and it was truly insane in places. One guy just stood up. Someone asked him to sit down, gesturing to the people behind him. He punched him and people there made the attendants go and make him sit. Also people beside me smoking away. I know we are outside but there are literally thousands of people here you don’t want to inhale your fumes. I am a.ways really early to these things so I was lined up at the railings really early. These two are new since covid. You just turned up before. Anyway the people in cha rage were so aggressive and ruse to people. It was so different than ones before Covid. Made me consider going again and it’s usually a lovely afternoon out.
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Post by Jon on Jan 16, 2024 22:13:13 GMT
While I think rude and entitled behaviour has increased, it's a bit naive to suggest that everyone in the past was lovely and kind because it's clearly not true.
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Post by sweets7 on Jan 16, 2024 22:26:55 GMT
Catastrophic events just speed up change. It is always coming anyway. I think in general within society there is increasing disrespect. This has been shimmering away for a good long time. It has been considered normal to verbally abuse sports stars from the stand for years. Theatre etc has always been seen as different. People were general more respectful. However, the way people are in schools, hospitals, police stations you do have to wonder if it just was a matter of time. I would never dream of behaving like that in public. I can get a bit salty when I don’t want to pay extra for my sky though.
However for a long time it was acceptable to heckle the stage etc but then theatre became a respectable career and past time and people behaved more gentile. It’s another thing if people get in on the act when you corpse on stage. It’s another to actually be abusive.
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Post by sph on Jan 16, 2024 23:56:52 GMT
I think that nowadays the public are just becoming harder for staff to handle because the staff have so little power. Is a customer behaving badly and do they deserve to be thrown out? Yes? Great, but nowadays that leads to a chain of email complaints, threats of legal action and all kinds of nonsense like the situation being filmed or malicious tweets about the company gaining traction online.
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Post by sweets7 on Jan 17, 2024 0:17:52 GMT
That’s everywhere. Everyone is afraid of being fined, sued, getting it wrong. Every I needs to be dotted and t crossed before you can act. Meanwhile all the front line staff and responders just quit because the abuse they take is horrendous and already stressed public services become worse. Granted theatre is largely private but what happens when they can’t even staff their theatres.
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Post by Sue on Jan 17, 2024 18:45:12 GMT
Does it constitute bad behaviour when two (not small) guys in the front row snag booster seats for themselves in front of a highish, but not that bad, stage? If I’m sitting behind them, then yes cos I’m a short arse and struggle at the best of times with people in front of me!
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Post by warmington on Jan 23, 2024 15:40:53 GMT
We were at Back to the Future last night when the safety curtain was brought down near the beginning of the first act. Clearly the table and chairs in the kitchen scene didn't arrive on stage and Biff had nothing to put his boxes on! After about 3 minutes members of the audience started whistling and slow clapping. Is it just me that thinks this was a bit excessive? Show was up and running a few minutes later!
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Post by cartoonman on Jan 25, 2024 10:49:26 GMT
I remember years ago asking my then girlfriend to come to Faust at the ENO. She said that she didn't like opera but her mother loved it. I was persuaded to take the mother. She made remarks such as "Who's that?", "what's he doing?" and I had to tell her nicely just to concentrate on the show. John Tomlinson was Mephistopheles and his performance was excellent .The ENO did a great show and I remember the music more fondly than the mother.
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Post by sophia on Jan 25, 2024 18:35:56 GMT
From today’s Popbitch email:
“Seems like those rowdy West End audiences we heard so much about last year aren't settling down. Rod Stewart was at the Kit Kat Club last Tuesday to see Cabaret and was evidently very taken with the show's immersive atmosphere.
Not only was Rod singing along with all the songs, he was shouting comments to the performers as they went on and off stage (including a hilariously hearty "There she is... Go on, girl!" at Fraulein Schneider ahead of her big number).
He got so stuck into the chorus of Tomorrow Belongs To Me that, during the interval entertainment, one of the ensemble sidled up to him to tell him to pipe down. But Rod didn't pipe down. And a few dozen refunds were issued to neighbouring punters as a result.”
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Post by sfsusan on Jan 25, 2024 19:15:21 GMT
... during the interval entertainment, one of the ensemble sidled up to him to tell him to pipe down. But Rod didn't pipe down. No doubt he answered them with "Don't you know who I am?"
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Post by A.Ham on Jan 26, 2024 8:59:49 GMT
Crikey… surely a case of someone who should absolutely know better!
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Post by richey on Jan 27, 2024 11:22:03 GMT
Alfie Boe has just been on BBC Breakfast and said it's ok to sing along at the theatre. Here we go again...
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Post by alece10 on Jan 27, 2024 11:35:29 GMT
Alfie Boe has just been on BBC Breakfast and said it's ok to sing along at the theatre. Here we go again... Luckily Jason Manford butted in and said that it wasn't ok.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2024 21:31:59 GMT
Alfie Boe has just been on BBC Breakfast and said it's ok to sing along at the theatre. Here we go again... The only time it should ever be allowed to sing along at theatre is at dedicated performances a la Six, Heathers, &Juliet or during the Megamixes like Grease, Cher Show, Priscilla. Anything else? Keep it to the shower or car. Last thing we need's those in the industry encouraging it.
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Post by sph on Jan 27, 2024 22:12:59 GMT
Alfie Boe has just been on BBC Breakfast and said it's ok to sing along at the theatre. Here we go again... That's a stupid thing for a performer to say! What made him say that? Did they ask him?
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Post by ceebee on Jan 28, 2024 21:57:42 GMT
Alfie Boe has just been on BBC Breakfast and said it's ok to sing along at the theatre. Here we go again... Hope he's looking forward to duetting with me in his next Les Mis stint.
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Post by max on Jan 28, 2024 23:24:08 GMT
If someone started hollering while Alfie Boe was singing in a musical I would have to take extreme action: "Excuse me! I, and the rest of this audience paid to hear professional singer/actors, not audience members singing along. However, on this occasion you may proceed, but only if you up the volume as I can still hear him. Ta".
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 29, 2024 13:54:11 GMT
Alfie Boe has just been on BBC Breakfast and said it's ok to sing along at the theatre. Here we go again... Well it's a distraction from his terrible acting
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Post by richey on Jan 30, 2024 9:05:46 GMT
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Post by capybara on Jan 30, 2024 11:34:35 GMT
Unfortunately this response is exactly why so many of us opt to not say anything to the slobs.
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Post by A.Ham on Jan 30, 2024 14:47:05 GMT
Unfortunately this response is exactly why so many of us opt to not say anything to the slobs. Sad but true.
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Post by fiyero on Jan 30, 2024 15:14:27 GMT
Unfortunately this response is exactly why so many of us opt to not say anything to the slobs. At a show recently the lady in front got her phone out to start texting as soon as it started. I waved over her screen to put it away. She did for a second, then just turned the brightness down a bit and carried on. I firmly told her to put it away. Her and her friend then had a go 'none of your business' etc... Made me on edge for the whole show! Lucky I wasn't punched by the sound of it (hopefully they aren't saving that for when I go to the ballet next week)
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 30, 2024 16:35:07 GMT
Saw The Color Purple musical film, local Odeon, last Friday, at what would have been only the second showing but still poorly attended. We were left block five rows from front, two women in the other block two rows forward. Nobody else nearby. One woman started filming the screen the moment the film began. After a few minutes it seemed likely she wasn't going to stop any time soon, it was distracting as well as illegal. I went over to her and said " Please stop filming, you know it's not allowed and if you carry on you're likely to be thrown out". She told me to F off but did stop.
Soon afterwards she left the auditorium for a couple of minutes, when she returned she glared at me, sat down, and for the rest of the film talked on and off to the other woman and looked regularly at her phone. At the end of the film she got up as the titles came up and came over to me unleashing a torrent of F and C words to tell me to mind my own business. She said she was only filming the opening titles for her daughter who has bad eyesight (!!) - I did not say a word in reply. The other woman who looked about the same age never spoke. I have no idea how she thought that justified filming, just a lie I suspect.
Anyway I decided to speak to the duty manager. She was so hostile it actually crossed my mind that there was some form of collusion. She said the woman had complained about me for threatening her for using her phone and that I should have reported it to a member of staff. When I pointed out that it was her filming the Film that had prompted my intervention she said they check screens every 20 minutes or so. I made the point that all it would take is half a dozen people filming as much as they can and a full pirate version of a new film could easily be assembled. No comment. I suspect the woman had conveniently forgotten to tell the cinema manager why I had approached her and made up the story about her companion at the end of the film to cover her back
I firmly believe the two women were there for the sole purpose of making a copy of as much of the film as possible. Perhaps I was wrong to speak to her but I wasn't rude or threatening and I acted on impulse. I doubt if the film production company or distributor would have taken such an unconcerned attitude to copyright theft as did that Odeon manager.
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Post by theatregoer22 on Jan 31, 2024 0:40:13 GMT
At The Hill of California yesterday several people arrived late, at least one of whom made the whole of the stalls aware that she was having trouble finding her seat and then very loudly apologised to someone/for something, at which point another audience member shushed her.
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Post by happysooz2 on Jan 31, 2024 11:18:32 GMT
At The Hill of California yesterday several people arrived late, at least one of whom made the whole of the stalls aware that she was having trouble finding her seat and then very loudly apologised to someone/for something, at which point another audience member shushed her. I suspect the 7pm start time will mean this happens a lot. I think they should not let late people come in until the interval, but I might just need more coffee. I was surprised how empty the theatre was until about five minutes before curtain.
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Post by Jon on Jan 31, 2024 11:27:45 GMT
It always amazes me people don't read the start time for shows but I'm the sort of person who double and triple checks everything.
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