5,121 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 21, 2017 14:09:45 GMT
Did you never go to the famous Manor Operatic Society panto BurlyBeaR ? They played musical chairs, but with buckets. You had to find an unoccupied one, and sit on it (it may even have been in it, for comic effect).
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 21, 2017 17:53:13 GMT
I half expected to find my sound desk up on bricks for act 2! LOL! Did they leave a springy old mattress at the end of their row? Did you never go to the famous Manor Operatic Society panto BurlyBeaR ? They played musical chairs, but with buckets. You had to find an unoccupied one, and sit on it (it may even have been in it, for comic effect). I just can't take you seriously looking like a Maris Piper TallPaul ...I keep thinking of ketchup.🍠🍟
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 21, 2017 18:09:23 GMT
Did you never go to the famous Manor Operatic Society panto BurlyBeaR ? They played musical chairs, but with buckets. You had to find an unoccupied one, and sit on it (it may even have been in it, for comic effect). Nah. Never been interested in it. I remember they had a very popular Dame there for what seemed like decades.
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5,121 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 22, 2017 13:40:38 GMT
I remember they had a very popular Dame there for what seemed like decades. The late Brian Platts. Let's just say that offstage, he was not someone you disagreed with, ever. For a while, I worked with the chap who replaced him, Tim Major. I just can't take you seriously looking like a Maris Piper I didn't realise you took me seriously before!
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Post by Mr Snow on Dec 22, 2017 18:38:45 GMT
So as reported on another thread last night we were part of the evacuation of the ROH, IMMEDIATELY following the performance. We were in the upper slips so quite a way to come down. Following a man who keeps slowing down. He’s less than 70 and seems ok then I work out he’s trying to hide the fact he’s texting!! Down stairs he gets well behind! I ask him to stop as it’s unsafe and this of course leads to s broadside from his everlovin ...shrew. I ignore this but have a smug smile as she had tripped just before the first set of stairs. If she hadn’t been close to the man in front of her she could have been seriously hurt
Is it to late to ask admin for a new category to vote on?
F@@@@wits of the year.
Ding ding ding we have a pair of winners!
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 23, 2017 8:13:28 GMT
I didn't realise you took me seriously before! Course I did. I polish my ferrets and wear a red rose every time I reply to you.....
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5,121 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 23, 2017 12:17:34 GMT
That's it. We're thru! Even @ryan doesn't do that.
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 29, 2017 12:14:28 GMT
We were a little bit shocked by the behaviour of a female member of staff whilst leaving the theatre after Hamilton. As we got to the main doors an elderly lady was walking in. She seemed to us to have forgotten something - either needed the toilet or left her scarf or something. She was on a mission. The uniformed member of staff spoke sharply saying "No, you can't go in," and actually pushed her back. The woman looked a bit vacant - she was quite old - perhaps didn't understand English - I don't know, but after the usher pushed her she actually kept her hand on the woman's person until she turned round. We were absolutely stunned. Usually staff move in front to bar access. I honestly hope this was spotted by her superiors as it shouldn't be allowed to happen. We were right next to them, but being herded forward in the throng so didn't see where the old lady went in the end. I hope she was ok.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 31, 2017 18:34:03 GMT
Pinocchio last night - my jaw dropped at the interactions between parents and children:
1) for the people in front of me who spent far too long working out where their seats were - of course you should sit your three unruly boys away from your supervision, and give them wooden sticks to play with throughout the performance. And yes, climbing around on the seats is normal at all times.
2) To the parent leaving the auditorium with his 10ish year old daughter - yes, it is perfectly acceptable for her to shout at you like that, and demand what she wants in that tone, and you to agree with to all.
3) to the parents who let their children sprint around the crowded bar and wrestle on the floor during the interval whilst you enjoy your drinks - Why would you stop them doing that? After all, it’s their night out.
I have learned through observation that the way to deal wth this behaviour is to say their names very quietly and then ignore.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 1:15:22 GMT
I once nearly trod on a child who was sat on the floor of a Weatherspoons by the bar, up until then I had wondered why a friend called children treadables. I once read that a school party were told to sit on the floor in a theatre foyer by a teacher during a trip to B'ham Rep and a FOH Manager had to order the teacher to move the children.
I was once almost stopped by a male teacher from going into the gents at the interval of a show a group of his school were attending as some of the kids were having a pee. I just pushed past him.
To control unruly child - Matt Slack in B'ham panto has the best solution in the sing-along. See it and you'll be in stitches after the gasp.
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Post by ellie1981 on Jan 1, 2018 7:03:36 GMT
When I saw Aladdin last month, the interval queue for the ladies was not that long but took an ungodly amount of time to move forward. I know it’s a family show and kids are expected to be there, but I was not expecting the woman with a newborn to push past the queue to demand a cubicle for breastfeeding and occupy it for the entire time.
I just fail to see why anyone would take a newborn to an expensive theatre show in the first place. It would be disruptive for you and others. I have three heavily pregnant friends right now, one of whom I am taking to Hamilton in June. She will not be bringing her baby because she’s a practical person, and by then will deserve a night out by herself. Besides, she’s already bought a breast pump.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 10:06:42 GMT
Pro tip parents, if you think your teen is too young/not bright enough to follow Follies...maybe don't take them to see Follies? and spare me the narration of every goddamn scene 'explaining'it to your kid?
Other than that I must say I had a weekend of impeccably behaved audiences. Obviously everyone was still too stuffed with Turkey to misbehave!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 11:12:51 GMT
Pro tip parents, if you think your teen is too young/not bright enough to follow Follies...maybe don't take them to see Follies? and spare me the narration of every goddamn scene 'explaining'it to your kid? Other than that I must say I had a weekend of impeccably behaved audiences. Obviously everyone was still too stuffed with Turkey to misbehave! This exact scenario happened in Cardiff at Miss Saigon directly behind me too. After three attempts at shushing and one polite “excuse me...” which was ignored, I had to be more direct and give them a reminder to stop talking. They were as good as gold for the remainder of the first act, but then the daughter developed a new strain of cold which forbade her from blowing her nose. The result? Snorting the mucus back up every two minutes. She was about twelve. Parenting fails.
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Jan 1, 2018 11:19:46 GMT
Pinocchio last night - my jaw dropped at the interactions between parents and children: 1) for the people in front of me who spent far too long working out where their seats were - of course you should sit your three unruly boys away from your supervision, and give them wooden sticks to play with throughout the performance. And yes, climbing around on the seats is normal at all times. 2) To the parent leaving the auditorium with his 10ish year old daughter - yes, it is perfectly acceptable for her to shout at you like that, and demand what she wants in that tone, and you to agree with to all. 3) to the parents who let their children sprint around the crowded bar and wrestle on the floor during the interval whilst you enjoy your drinks - Why would you stop them doing that? After all, it’s their night out. I have learned through observation that the way to deal wth this behaviour is to say their names very quietly and then ignore. Could change Pinocchio for Christmas Day dinner with my niece and nephew for me
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 14:27:13 GMT
When I saw Aladdin last month, the interval queue for the ladies was not that long but took an ungodly amount of time to move forward. I know it’s a family show and kids are expected to be there, but I was not expecting the woman with a newborn to push past the queue to demand a cubicle for breastfeeding and occupy it for the entire time. I just fail to see why anyone would take a newborn to an expensive theatre show in the first place. It would be disruptive for you and others. I have three heavily pregnant friends right now, one of whom I am taking to Hamilton in June. She will not be bringing her baby because she’s a practical person, and by then will deserve a night out by herself. Besides, she’s already bought a breast pump. I don't see why anyone wanting to feed a baby should not wait their turn like someone wanting a pee or a dump. I could have imagined an older woman saying "wait your turn".
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 14:32:06 GMT
At B'ham panto last week had a child behind me who parent had put on booster seat, still child moaning he couldn't see. So parent moves child to another seat as the one in front and next to me was free. Great amusement when a man mountain about 6 ft 4 ins and 25 stone took up the seat. I'm over 6ft and about 17 stone so it was a tight squeeze, the big guy was a lovely chap who admitted it was a squeeze and told me to poke him if he took up too much room, not a peek from the child though.
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Post by firefingers on Jan 1, 2018 16:24:52 GMT
Had a new bit of bad behaviour during the panto I was on I don't think any one has ever experience on here before. Hopefully no one was there and thus figures out who I am but it is too remarkable a tale not to tell.
So as we started the overture something small hit the front cloth. Various crew saw the impact and the ripple it created on the cloth but didn't know what it was so carried on. Well by part way through Act 1, Scene 1 it became apart: A child had bought a nerf gun and was firing foam darts at the stage! The comic picked one up and said not to do it and carried on. A minute later another foam dart wizzed past the baddie's head. Show stop called, front cloth brought in, company manager brought on stage and announcing that until the little git handed his gun in the show would not be continuing. And the gall of the parents to let him do it?! Took ten minutes before the gun was given up and the show started back up. Fortunately the show featured a sequence where water pistols are used on the audience, there was only one main target that night...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 17:49:23 GMT
^ Why wasn’t the little git and his family thrown out of the theatre when it had become apparent who was causing the disturbance? I can’t believe they were allowed to stay in, even if they did become the targets of the water pistols...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2018 9:08:53 GMT
Only just posting this as have been away. Bananaman on the 23rd....
I don't know why but we just never considered that this show would attract a large audience of children. To be honest during the show they were pretty much well behaved....at the interval though that was a completely different matter!
Once a lot of people had gone to get drinks, about 5 children (from different parents) saw the stage as their playground!!!! It started off with 2 little darlings using the seats in the auditorium as hurdles. This progressed to cartwheels on the "stage", it was at this point they decided to have a look at what was backstage...as they disappeared you just saw the stage manager run after them and pretty much dragged them out and forced them back to their mum.
I thought "thank god that is over" but nope, another little dear decided to show off her pole dancing skills on one of the poles holding up the upper part of the set. Now, I am not just talking leaning back on it, I mean full on jumping up it, spinning down it. What made this even worse was one of the volunteer ushers was just stood arms folded ignoring her. At this point I rather loudly went "Is this SERIOUSLY happening, it is a bloody theatre not a playground" What I failed to realise though was her mother was sat in the seat directly behind me, so as soon as I finished speaking the room was filled with:
"TIFFANY! Get back here NOW!"
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Post by emsworthian on Jan 2, 2018 12:07:35 GMT
^ Why wasn’t the little git and his family thrown out of the theatre when it had become apparent who was causing the disturbance? I can’t believe they were allowed to stay in, even if they did become the targets of the water pistols... I am surprised the nerf gun wasn't spotted by security and confiscated before the family went in.
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Post by vdcni on Jan 2, 2018 12:23:41 GMT
Do all theatres check bags these days - it's very few of them still I thought.
I was at the fireworks in London for NYE and even there, despite all the attacks last year, the bag check was pretty perfunctory. They were also letting prams in despite the tickets saying they were prohibited.
Why people thought it was a good idea to bring infants in prams to a crowded area of London in the middle of the night for fireworks they could barely comprehend I don't know.
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Post by Jon on Jan 2, 2018 13:16:16 GMT
Some parents don’t seem to realise that having children means making adjustments to their lifestyle.
I do think some parents also need to discipline and control their kids. Letting kids run riots in busy public places or places like cinemas or theatres is just not on
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Post by ellie1981 on Jan 2, 2018 13:22:42 GMT
I do also believe it’s important to expose young children to the types of environment early, so they learn not to be bratty and impatient in later childhood years. My first non pantomime theatre experience was Starlight Express when I was 5 and according to my parents we did just fine. It’s definitely the responsibility of the parents to set some rules when they take their kids though. Just the threat of being made to leave if we ever played up was enough.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2018 13:26:30 GMT
Is it still illegal to taser children?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2018 14:41:44 GMT
Ryan would make a great "Childcatcher".
With bag checks I wonder if they do include children's bags and when school parties are in. The thought of a female teacher having her handbag searched in front of a class of year 8's amuses me. Though schools are probably told that bags will be searched, so children can always leave these on school bus etc.
What about relaxed performances when you could have attendees who want certain items with them are allowances made there.
Back to the foam dart issue - what if one had struck a performer in the eye. Remember the David Birrell prop gun issue, the poor guy was blinded in one eye so even a fairly harmless object if it hit someone right in the eye could cause issues especially if performer was wearing contacts etc.
As regards water pistols or supersoakers in a panto. about a decade back I went to one of Jonathan Wilkes' Stoke shows, possibly Eric Potts was in it too but they turned the supersoakers right on one of Jonathan's fans in the front row. A not unattractive girl (late teens/early 20's) in a white vest top, who had a water pistol to shoot back at them, she literally looked like she was in a wet t-shirt contest when they had finished as the Dame said. Obviously Jonathan knew the girl and she'd seen the show a number of times and she had been dared to bring water pistol or they had said they'd "get her" if she produced the pistol.
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