Superfans

In my experience, "real fans" and "superfans" create shudders amongst cast and crew. I've only ever heard "oh god, he's in again" and never, "oh how lovely, he's in again".

I have personal experience of this!

I remember when someone bought Kerry Ellis two tickets to see Barbara Streisand in concert. They won't have been cheap!

Although for someone in that position, wouldn't there always be the worry you would turn up and the superfans would be in the next seat and they'd be expecting you to make polite conversation with them for the next few hours.

I bet she flogged them on eBay or gave them to a friend. 

Absolutely astonishing. I call that super-duperfan. 

I wonder how the objects of the super-duper's affections would feel if the attention suddenly ceased though? So there's Kerry shouting back to Madame Morrible "just going to the stagedoor love, see what's turned up tonight! Bit of luck it's another crate of Moët eh? You get the nibbles hahaha" 

Then she gets there and the street is empty. 

*tumbleweed*

Oh.

Perhaps I should return the underpants I swiped from his dressing room then?

My bad.

I went past the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang stage door last night in Newcastle and there were about fifty or so teenage girls there from the Carrie Hope Fletcher fan club. All, that I could see, waiting their turn, being polite and respectful, with maybe a little squeel of delight with their friends after they had met her. It was all quite sweet!

I remember that part from a rather fun documentary Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy from the Potter movies) did:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05nxgls

Not sure if it can be seen right now, but it was a rather sweet positive documentary well worth seeing.

I don't really have a personal opinion. I sort of started out as a "superfan" in the late 80s since Starlight Express (in Bochum) was the only show around and I'd end up seeing it 3-4 times a year, then did a few trips to Cats (in Hamburg) where I'd stay for a weekend and see the show twice in a row.

I don't regret those years and I kinda understand what drives fans, but I'm glad that I've moved on, first to seeing far more different shows instead of the same things all over and over and finally branching out into plays, opera and ballet and doing more trips just for sightseeing and such without a show involved. Personally I feel I get more out of seeing different cities and countries and once in a while the stars align and I catch a show while travelling. While in Venice I spontaneously decided to see an opera at La Fenice for example and last month I saw two musicals in Moscow and although I didn't understand a word of Russian it was a great experience.

But... each to their own, I say and I'm still mad enough to travel to London three times a year for new musicals and plays

Mmmm, well I nearly forgot (they were actors...!) I found it quite an experience... "pleasurable" in a way I'd not experienced before. Ever! I suppose I'm not supposed to reveal what was said or done, so I won't, but they were both certainly experiences I won't forget! 

If I'd known about Mateo Oxley I would have been following Punchdrunk shamelessly too...

I am intrigued by these creepy fans hanging around shows with child actors. I am amazed any producer takes the risk.

This is lovely. Very different to the highly entertaining couple of hours spent with friends and alcohol overlooking the stage door between performances when Nick Jonas was in Les Mis..: very entertaining watching how the passive aggressiveness built up as time for him to come out got closer. Then of course he didn't come out at all!

When she doesn't stage door she gets lots of tweets how she has spoilt their day etc etc etc.

It's such a huge sense of entitlement. To be disappointed is one thing and understandable. To tweet performers and try and make them feel guilty is another.

Hey theatremonkey. Ive got you tickets for something, ill tell you what it is when we do coffee first LOL