Bad Behaviour at a Show

Yes. Ban them. Eject then. Or invent/sell only rustle free bag. Come on. What age are we living in. Selfish people who give not a thought to others. How dare they inflict their noise onto 3 and 4 and rows around them. Can then really not get their fix for an hour either side of interval? And whilst on subject theatres should not allow anyone else wearing OTT wigs and people with big heads.. and young kids...literally 3 Yr old.. selfish people.

Leaning forward (especially when your view isn't hugely restricted) can be problematic. But I had a first the other day when someone next to me decided to lean forward AND sideways on a few occasions, head hovering above my knee and blocking off nearly half the stage.

Tall and/or naturally big hair = fine in my books, and you'd just have to chalk it up to luck if you're seated behind them. Piling your hair on top of your head in a top knot, high ponytail, etc. is a choice, however. Also, the number of times I've sat behind ladies with massive hair who spend >70% of the show scrunching their hair to give it more volume (as if this was lacking?), flipping it left and right, and randomly twisting it into a turd pile atop their heads (I don't know, because they decided mid show that their neck was in dire need of ventilation).

Years ago Chichester festival theatre used to sell pick and mix in little containers. Shame it never caught on 

I saw Snow White in Wimbledon too and the audience were terrible. I was more forgiving because it's panto, but it was a reminder of what the audiences are like.

Also, dozens of kids waving light-up wands and toys, latecomers every five minutes, and for some reason, quite a few newborn or very tiny babies! Not to mention the endless bored parents either scrolling through their phones because they were bored, or trying to film the show. The ushers were very good at stopping them - but they had their work cut out!

Argh finally did it - showed up at the theatre on the wrong date. /blush blush

Early, fortunately. By one day. So back tomorrow! I only live 20 minutes away so it's not a big deal, just embarrassing.

If it makes you feel any better I once showed up for an interview a day early. It's been 15 years and I still haven't recovered!

Sheffield interval. Show very good. Audience generally well behaved.

Older couple behind somewhere talking about the show loudly. Raving about how brilliant they think the show is. Don’t get to the theatre much. Then a “I like the coloured bloke, he’s really good”.

Just not something I’d expect to overhear, even in Sheffield.

There are a lot of sick people still going out and about to the theatre. Streetcar the other night, fella sits next to me. Spends the show constantly blowing his nose, dropping the tissues on the floor, during the second half I thought the people in front were about to turn around and blow their tops.

What makes it worse, at least I think it does, this wasn't a long booked ticket or anything. I had *returned* that seat about 30 minutes earlier as my partner is slightly under the weather and didn't think it fair to sit in a theatre for hours. So this guy, knowing he was ill, came and queued for a return or got a last minute one online.

People are the worst.

That was true even before the pandemic, if you're not 100%, don't go out!! 

Interesting little human drama at the Magic Flute ROH yesterday.

Two women sitting in front of me, Taciturn Friend and Chatty Friend. They’re on the end of a row with an empty seat next to them. Chatty Friend leans over to whisper to Taciturn Friend approximately every three minutes during the entire first half. Taciturn Friend reacts by nodding while I notice my foot is level with her head and resist the temptation to drop kick her over the balcony.

At the start of the interval, Taciturn Friend immediately runs out, Chatty Friend in hot but futile pursuit. Taciturn Friend returns alone halfway through the interval. Chatty Friend returns at the end of the interval with great cries of “where WERE you I’ve spent the entire interval looking for you I kept trying to phone you!!” Taciturn Friend’s response is her signature nod.

I now notice Taciturn Friend has used the interval to pile all their coats and bags onto Chatty Friend’s seat, thereby forcing Chatty Friend to move over into the previously empty seat, meaning they are now separated by Coat Mountain.

During the second half, Chatty Friend, deprived of access to whispering and clearly bored senseless, switches her phone on in order to have a good rifle through her bag and one point leaves the auditorium completely.

Taciturn Friend has won! Elated, until… she accidentally drops her wine glass with a massive crash and cringes so hard she shrivels up into a tiny ball.