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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2016 13:04:40 GMT
I once had the misfortune to be sat among a group of pensioners who went out of their way at the interval to complain to a teacher about their school group (who I hadn't even noticed being in the auditorium) and yet thought it was acceptable to chat along and call back to the performers. I'll always regret not speaking up, or at least telling the teacher that the school group was fine and the pensioners were wrong.  |
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Post by Sotongal on Apr 8, 2016 15:07:58 GMT
I'd like to know why people who have the middle seats in a row are always the last to arrive, causing much disruption to those who are already seated!
We were at the Richmond Theatre once and I noticed a couple standing at the back of the auditorium. When nearly everyone were seated they decided to move to their seats in the middle of a row.
As someone with a dodgey knee, it is, literally painful to keep getting up and down for people who dilly-dally until the last minute!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2016 15:36:26 GMT
I'd like to know why people who have the middle seats in a row are always the last to arrive, causing much disruption to those who are already seated!
We were at the Richmond Theatre once and I noticed a couple standing at the back of the auditorium. When nearly everyone were seated they decided to move to their seats in the middle of a row.
As someone with a dodgey knee, it is, literally painful to keep getting up and down for people who dilly-dally until the last minute!
Ha! That's me!  It's generally because my timekeeping is so dreadful that I don't get to the theatre until late and then I want to buy a programme and possibly a drink and maybe pop to the loo and possibly have a little flirt with a particularly attractive usher so by the time I get into the auditorium, there's not much time left and everyone else is usually sat down. Plus I rather like making people get up for me. Makes me feel a bit royal. |
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Post by 49thand8th on Apr 8, 2016 15:42:13 GMT
I'd like to know why people who have the middle seats in a row are always the last to arrive, causing much disruption to those who are already seated!
Probably because you notice. If someone is late on the aisle, it's much easier to ignore or just not see, since fewer people have to get up. Speaking of GOOD audience behavior, a friend was at Kinky Boots on Broadway when a few NYC public school groups came at a group rate (I think it was this performance), and she said they were some of the best audiences she'd ever seen. They were engaged, quiet when they had to be, but enthusiastic when they had to be, too. If only all the adults could do the same! |
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Post by theatremiss on Apr 8, 2016 15:48:19 GMT
I hate people who come in or are directed to their seats from the wrong side. So I book to be in the middle and someone at the opposite side of where they want to be tramples all over me and a number of people beside me. Why not just walk to the back and around?
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Post by showgirl on Apr 8, 2016 15:55:42 GMT
I try to book an aisle seat to avoid queueing for the loo at the interval and to dash for my train at the end, so I tend to leave it until the fairly late to sit down. However, I find that when people do nevertheless need to pass, e.g. if returning at the interval after me, they often lurk vaguely in the aisle as if I'm psychic - well, I can't recall the faces of everyone else who might or might not be in the same row! Also it would help if others would say "Excuse me" rather than shoving past silently or not waiting for me to move my bags when I've said I will. Last Saturday at Hampstead I had to get up no fewer than 3 times to allow groups of people out at the interval - why not decide, when the interval starts, whether or not you are getting up, and then do so promptly if you are going to?
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 9, 2016 16:26:16 GMT
At least this time I'm sitting front row so can't have any kids wriggling around in front of me. You'll just have the little bundles behind you, like I did then, Dawnster. Good luck with that LOL. Happy to report zero annoying small kids in my vicinity this afternoon. I did spot a number of under-12s in the theatre though. None of them were sitting near enough to me to see their reactions but I was interested to overhear afterwards one boy telling his family he hadn't liked the bangs or the ending. I don't blame him - I'm somewhat dubious about the ending myself. |
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Post by 49thand8th on Apr 9, 2016 19:25:42 GMT
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Post by galinda on Apr 10, 2016 14:04:23 GMT
Would you class leaning forward when sat at the front of the circle as bad behaviour? I was sat front of circle last night and could see perfectly well sat up straight normally but practically everyone else on the row were leaning/slouched on bar. I have memories of people doing this in front of me and obstructing my view so never do it.
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Post by lynette on Apr 10, 2016 14:15:55 GMT
49thand 8th just raised the game...eh?
Keep that camera handy.
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Post by Michael on Apr 10, 2016 14:20:42 GMT
Would you class leaning forward when sat at the front of the circle as bad behaviour? It is for me. I was sat front of circle last night and could see perfectly well sat up straight normally but practically everyone else on the row were leaning/slouched on bar. I have memories of people doing this in front of me and obstructing my view so never do it. There's a reason why these seats aren't full price, and why they are usually advertised as obstructed or partly view. I never lean forward when ending up in such a seat - and I, too, am annoyed when sitting behind such a person. |
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Post by 49thand8th on Apr 10, 2016 15:05:54 GMT
49thand 8th just raised the game...eh? Keep that camera handy. LOL. Wasn't my post, though! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2016 18:12:44 GMT
Would you class leaning forward when sat at the front of the circle as bad behaviour? I was sat front of circle last night and could see perfectly well sat up straight normally but practically everyone else on the row were leaning/slouched on bar. I have memories of people doing this in front of me and obstructing my view so never do it. Yes, it's TERRIBLE behaviour. If there's anyone behind you, you DON'T LEAN. If you can't see properly and that's a problem for you, then pay more next time and sit somewhere else where you're not going to ruin it for countless other people. |
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Post by galinda on Apr 10, 2016 18:42:38 GMT
Thought so! Glad I didn't lean then!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 7:36:31 GMT
Ladies behind me at Bug on Saturday...ongoing commentary through the whole show despite death stare from several of us around. Highlights included "Ooh she's very good isn't she" and "Ooh he's just the right height" (for what?!) and "I'm old enough to be his mother"
Yes and old enough to know better! Hilariously the woman doing the commentary had told off someone for taking a picture before it started, which funny enough was less distracting than a commentary across the whole show...
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Post by kathryn on Apr 16, 2016 19:47:49 GMT
Had to ask the chap sat 2 seats along from me not to take any more pictures during the show at the interval of Sunset this afternoon. He replied he'd only taken the one because he realised the second time he got his phone out that he wasn't meant to,
FFS. Where do these people live - under a rock?
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Post by richey on Apr 16, 2016 21:10:44 GMT
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Post by adrianics on Apr 16, 2016 21:48:30 GMT
It's gotten to the point where I can no longer tell where my sh*tty luck ends and the general decline of the standards humanity sets itself begins, I genuinely can't remember the last time I went to a show and wasn't sat within touching distance of a selfish arsehole talking to their companion or checking their phone.
I'm an engaged man and soon-to-be homeowner, and I just can't continue to justify the amount of money it costs us (tickets, food/drink and travel) to go and see a show in the West End when these people genuinely ruin the experience with their inconsideration. Honestly, I think I spend more energy dreading what negative audience experience a show will bring than I do looking forward to the show.
Last weekend I went to an excellent amateur production of Little Shop of Horrors in Ealing, and a man sat in front of me alternated between talking (not whispering!) to his partner, checking the football on his phone and *waving to cast members on stage*. Then afterwards he had the nerve to talk to the cast as if he'd been paying the slightest bit of attention! I kind of had to laugh at that point at the complete shamelessness of it all...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2016 5:29:26 GMT
FFS. Where do these people live - under a rock? That's what I don't understand about this. It's not as if it was a matter of unfamiliarity with some arbitrary code of conduct handed down over generations and unknown outside of its specialist domain. We're talking about a basic ability to comprehend the effect of your actions on others. If you can sit in an auditorium surrounded by other people and not understand that talking or tapping on your phone is going to disturb those around you and that disturbing those around you is a bad thing then there is something very, very wrong with you. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 17, 2016 7:41:53 GMT
Looks like Jason changed his mind about that. Content not available. |
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Post by richey on Apr 17, 2016 9:47:51 GMT
Looks like Jason changed his mind about that. Content not available. He was having a go at someone in the audience who had thrown mints on the stage and the cast had to move then. The post did contain some rather colourful language |
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 18, 2016 21:06:37 GMT
Quite minor compared to some, but had an elderly couple sat next to me on the front row at In The Heights yesterday evening.
Phone rang, took quite a few seconds for the woman to realise it was hers, then find her handbag, look at the phone, and turn it off. At which point, her husband turned to her and asked her who it was!
Unfortunately, messed up the US Navy line, which always get a good laugh.
They didn't seem to be enjoying the show much.
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Post by theatre-turtle on Apr 19, 2016 23:06:24 GMT
A classic, but tonight at Show Boat there was an elderly middle/upper middle class couple having quite a lot of wine and chattering throughout the first song of Act 2 and between basically every song.
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Post by mallardo on Apr 20, 2016 0:45:13 GMT
Sunset Boulevard, Saturday afternoon: There was some confusion over seating there at this. For you see, this boyfriend is... Unusually and exceedingly peculiar, And altogether quite impossible to describe... and she was... Blonde. I knew there would be trouble when they were last to their seats, pushing along the whole row when there is a perfectly good side door right by the seats. Carrying drinks, and a quick selfie or six before the show. Act 1, well, at least they were quiet, but he was happily stretching down often to get a drink or two from the glasses on the floor, and handing her some water. Not during the gaps – during the songs. Act 2, “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” and she actually PUTS HER WINE CUP ON THE FRONT OF THE STAGE. The edge bit by the side of the orchestra pit. Thank goodness she removed it in the end, because, no kidding, I was that close to removing it myself – and having it stowed somewhere the sunset may have shone out of....
Quoting Glinda now! You are full of surprises, TM.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2016 5:44:52 GMT
Sunset Boulevard, Saturday afternoon: There was some confusion over seating there at this. For you see, this boyfriend is... Unusually and exceedingly peculiar, And altogether quite impossible to describe... and she was... Blonde. I knew there would be trouble when they were last to their seats, pushing along the whole row when there is a perfectly good side door right by the seats. Carrying drinks, and a quick selfie or six before the show. Act 1, well, at least they were quiet, but he was happily stretching down often to get a drink or two from the glasses on the floor, and handing her some water. Not during the gaps – during the songs. Act 2, “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” and she actually PUTS HER WINE CUP ON THE FRONT OF THE STAGE. The edge bit by the side of the orchestra pit. Thank goodness she removed it in the end, because, no kidding, I was that close to removing it myself – and having it stowed somewhere the sunset may have shone out of.... OMG, TM! I think they might have been back last night and sitting next to me. Either that, or they were clones... |
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It's generally because my timekeeping is so dreadful that I don't get to the theatre until late and then I want to buy a programme and possibly a drink and maybe pop to the loo and possibly have a little flirt with a particularly attractive usher so by the time I get into the auditorium, there's not much time left and everyone else is usually sat down.
