Hamilton - Victoria Palace Theatre

I don't personally like Trump, or Pence. I wholly dislike what they stand for. But the place to challenge their political opinions is not in a theatre. It's in the political landscape - be that at a hustings, in the media, or wherever is appropriate.

Picking on a member of the audience, however famous they are and however much you disagree with their politics, is bullying. Drawing attention to a theatregoer whose viewpoint is vastly different to the majority in the room (that fact has already been made clear enough by the booing), and proceeding to challenge their political stance (however calmly), is bullying.

And yes, I agree, a lot of what Trump (and possibly Pence, I'm less aware of his exact statements but am aware of his general stance on things) has said about immigrants, women etc amounts to bullying. But they didn't, as far as I'm aware, do it in a theatre. If Pence had stood up at the end of Hamilton and given a speech about how 'the show was all fine and everything, but actually the truth about immigrants is X', then I'd be condemning him too.

People working in the arts in the UK continually grumble that politicians don't attend theatre, opera etc enough. If this is the sort of treatment they think will be dished out to them, they're hardly going to be encouraged to go, are they?

The question for me is very simple: do we educate people who disagree with us through letting the wonderful art form that is theatre weave its magic (ie: do we let Hamilton, and its message, and its diverse cast, stand on their own two feet)? Or do we in fact detract from the power of the show by pointedly beating the person that disagrees with us over the head, in front of a hostile audience, with our own opinion?

It would have been much more interesting if the show passed as normal, and next day a journalist had challenged Pence: 'why did you go to see this show? What did you think of it? Do you agree its message is one America needs to hear right now?' and put him on the spot that way, ie in an appropriate way.

It would have been much more interesting if the cast had simply written an open letter to Pence the next day, making those same, measured points of theirs via the media, ie in an appropriate way.

Instead, what they gave us was a nasty little point-scoring exercise in the theatre.

I hear reports that last night a Trump supporter disrupted the show by yelling insults and inappropriate language, and that some of the cast and audience were in tears at the end. Because they felt attacked? Because they felt it spoiled the show? Doesn't feel so good when you're on the other side of it, I guess?

OK, I'm being devil's advocate 'plus plus plus' there. I'm genuinely sorry if people's nights were ruined, and I'm sorry the cast were upset. But they (and the booing audience) chose to bring contemporary politics overtly into the theatre the night before. We can't go grumbling when the other side respond.

As far as I understood that article Hamilton Chicago cast was in tears at the end because of the moving message of the story. I'm always in tears listening to the final nimbets.
And the incident happened during Dear Theodosia, near the end of act 1. Guess they were not so shocked by soneone's bad behaviour to cry for an hour and a half

Didn't know there were two shows running concurrently, sorry. But the basic point stands: if you choose to make your show overtly political, there will be consequences. And I don't see such a huge difference - both forced their opinions on an audience who hadn't come to be lectured/converted.

Not sure I 100% understand your point about theatre not being church, sorry. And my point wasn't that they can get away with saying that stuff outside a theatre. My point was, they said it while campaigning. A theatre isn't a political campaign spot. Theatre isn't church?Sure. But I'd say it's not the senate or house of representatives, either.

Don't act like they heroically saved him. The booing only started again after they addressed the fact that he was there. If they hadn't said anything the audience probably wouldn't have started booing again.

Actually he was on his way out when they started talking to him an asked him to stay for the speech, which he did. 

Yes - perhaps the wording of the Broadway World article was misleading on that, forging a connection where none existed: www.broadwayworld.com/article/Trump-Supporter-Shouts-Profanities-And-Interrupts-HAMILTON-In-Chicago-20161120

Trump's point of contention seems to be where they did this, not what they did. And much as I hate to agree with the Orange One on anything, I'm afraid on this, I do see his point.

'If you choose to make your show overtly political'

This show is political. In its text alone, it is overtly political. It takes a pro-immigration stance, pro-women's rights stance, anti-slavery stance. It has opinions on war, how finance should be managed etc. Its diverse casting of white founding fathers is political. The show is named after a politician. Come on now.

I would say: if you choose be outwardly homophobic, racist and bigoted, then there will be consequences when you go to to the theatre and expect those people to perform for you. 

You don't see a huge difference between a show being interrupted and something being said at the end of a show after the bows? Well one is against the rules of the theatre and the other isn't for a start. And as I've pointed out numerous times now, no one was forced to stay and listen to the speech, not even Mike Pence himself.

My point about church (or other religious buildings) is that it is the only place that can be considered sacred. A theatre is not sacred and therefore you can't expect people to censor themselves within one, aside from following the rules of the show (ie. don't do it during the performance). The senate and the house of representatives are not the only places that Trump and Pence have aired their views. They don't only do it on the political campaign. And actually the Richard Rodgers theatre has been a political campaign spot...for Hillary Clinton. So perhaps Mike Pence should have thought about the fact that the theatre and cast had openly endorsed his opponent and considered that therefore they might have something to say if he decides to turn up (which he has every right to).

Yes. He walked out into the lobby and listened. But no one was stopping him from leaving altogether now were they?

Actually he was probably there for exactly the reason that you mentioned. To calm the fears of people who don't agree with him. It was most likely a very well politically thought out move, but let's be fair, that's the kind of stuff Hillary would do as well.

And yes, it was turned into another Trump move, but by whom? I didn't see or hear Pence make any statements at the theatre. If the cast hadn't directly adressed Pence, it wouldn't have been turned into a Trump move.

That's just ridiculous. anything/anyone that tries to please everyone is by definition going to be boring and bland

It terrifies me that soon we won't be able to go to the theatre without being dragged into a political mess. Would you like it if a Trump supporter had shared his views in front of you while you paid good money to see a show?