Dear Patti LuPone
Yesterday, wags including
those at The New York Times were all atwitter -- including on Twitter -- that
Patti LuPone stopped a show cold during her act at the
Orleans in Las Vegas.
Dave Itzkoff at
The New York Times Arts Blogs wrote, a bit snarkily:
Just when we were starting to remember Patti LuPone as a luminescent if detail-oriented theater star -- and not, say, the sort of person who brings an entire show to a halt when she catches an audience member snapping photographs of her -- she goes and does it again.
The Las Vegas Sun reports that Ms. LuPone, the two-time Tony Award winner, stopped in midperformance on Sunday night at the Orleans hotel when she saw an audience member using an electronic device.
“What were you doing?” Ms. LuPone asked the audience member, according to The Sun. “I promise not to be mad at you. Just tell me, what were you doing — videoing? Taking photos? Texting? I really want to know.” The fan, wisely, did not respond. Ms. LuPone then threatened to have the fan thrown out if it happened again, before she resumed singing “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.”
Ms. LuPone earned an unwanted recording credit earlier this year when audio of her berating an audience member who tried to take pictures of her at a January performance of “Gypsy” was posted on YouTube.
Today, Itzkoff posts
a letter from LuPone responding to his piece:
Dear Dave Itzkoff,
Your story about my stopping my concert in Las Vegas on the New York Times ArtsBeat blog was forwarded to me.
I found the tone of your report very snide and feel compelled to write you to ask -- what do expect me, or any performer for that matter, to do?
Do we allow our rights to be violated (photography, filming and audio taping of performances is illegal) or tolerate rudeness by members of the audience who feel they have the right to sit in a dark theater, texting or checking their e-mail while the light from their screens distract both performers and the audience alike? Or, should I stand up for my rights as a performer as well as the audiences I perform for?
And do you think I’m alone in this? Ask any performer on Broadway right now about their level of frustration with this issue. Ask the actor in Hair who recently grabbed a camera out of an audience member’s hand and threw it across the stage. Or ask the two Queens in “Mary Stuart” (Harriet Walter and Janet McTeer) how they react to it.
I find it telling that my story elicited 47 comments from your readers while a few other stories on the blog elicited a handful, with many getting 0 comments. It certainly touched a chord with people, almost all of whom sounded like audience members, who share in my frustration with what threatens to become standard behavior if no one speaks out and takes action against it.
This has been going on in my career for 30 years since I starred in Evita, and, you’re surprised I stop shows now?
Sincerely,
Patti LuPone
As
someone who was there for that now fabled penultimate performance of
Gypsy, I can tell you that I much prefer an actor who stands up for her rights as a performer and those of the audience by doing exactly what's she's doing.
Thank you, Patti! You and the
polite members of your audience deserve better.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Gypsy, Patti LuPone, The New York Times, Theatre Etiquette
"What Is With People Who Think They're In Their Own Living Rooms?"Welcome to those readers who are finding Steve On Broadway (SOB) for the very first time after reading this morning's
Wall Street Journal story on theatre etiquette (or the seeming complete lack thereof).
Over the last few years, I've written plenty on this trying topic, so here are the links to each of those pieces:
SOB's Theatre Etiquette Part OneSOB's Theatre Etiquette Part TwoSOB's Theatre Etiquette Part ThreeSOB's Theatre Etiquette Part FourIf you happen to recall the notorious incident that inflamed
Patti LuPone (and was mentioned in the same
Wall Street Journal story) earlier this year, well, I was there. Click
here for my very own first hand account.
Finally, if you're reading this, chances are you are not part of the problem when it comes to boorish behavior. So
thank you for showing courtesy to those around you and remembering that you're part of a larger communal experience. Enjoy the show!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Patti LuPone, The Wall Street Journal, Theatre Etiquette
LuPWNed!While
an inevitable audio recording (who do
they think they are??) of
Patti LuPone's now notorious penultimate performance of "Rose's Turn" has finally surfaced on YouTube -- making me really question
my short-term memory -- it's this
hilarious/frightening remix version that finally had me laughing.
Hat tip to
Theatre Aficionado At Large.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Cell Phone, Gypsy, Law, Patti LuPone, Photo, Stopping the Show, Theatre Etiquette
Patti's Turn: Lettin' LooseAs noted here yesterday,
Patti LuPone actually stopped
cold the second-to-last per-formance of
Gypsy after catching one boneheaded audience member taking photos
during "Rose's Turn" (as opposed to the one above that I took in a whirl of excitement upon her exit from the
St. James Theatre Saturday evening).
As promised yesterday, here's my full recollection of what transpired, along with a few thoughts in retrospect.
Just prior to the onset of "Rose's Turn," during that wonderful final dust-up dressing room scene between Rose and Gypsy (
Laura Benanti), a cell phone rang ...
loudly ... from somewhere in the audience. While there's
never a good time for a cell phone to ring, this was obviously a particularly inopportune moment as LuPone's Rose had just bitterly knocked most of the contents of Gypsy's dressing room table to the floor as required for the scene.
Then that phone went off. LuPone and Benanti froze until the offending phone stopped ringing. But it was evident that the two actresses were far from pleased. As the two actresses were picking up the pieces of their argument, literally and figuratively, a visibly annoyed Benanti threw the prop telephone receiver at the phone's base. Rather appropriate, given the offense. Sadly, the climactic scene had been severely compromised, if not ruined, thanks to some careless, inconsiderate putz who didn't bother to turn his/her phone off.
So with that necessary piece of background, LuPone was set to begin the showstopping "Rose's Turn" number just moments later for her penultimate time. If you're a theatre lover, you know that this is the tune that seals the deal and makes the show what it is. It requires the artist to summon every ounce of countless emotions that have been bubbling beneath the surface to the top. Rose needs to be absolutely fierce.
Right as LuPone was getting revved up, something snapped. Suddenly appearing knocked a little off-balance (perhaps from a flash, although I personally didn't see one), LuPone threw up her arms in seething rage and demanded the orchestra
and to some unknown person to "Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop taking pictures
right now!"
LuPone looked straight into the far reaches of the orchesta section and began jabbing her finger toward the offender shouting, "Who do you think you are? How
dare you! Who do you think you are?"
She continued to rebuke this person saying it was the
third time she had seen him/her take a photo and that she refused to go on with the show unless he/she was removed from the audience. "Get 'em out of here," she inveighed repeatedly. LuPone proceeded to stand off to the side of the stage until someone gave the "all clear" that the offender was removed.
LuPone came back center stage, still clearly disgusted, but offering that she simply could not understand why people attending theatre these days display such little respect and don't know how to be polite. Then, in transition, she charitably declared, "And all of you, every single one of you, except for that person, has respect, and I and the rest of this company appreciate it."
With that, LuPone took a few paces back, put on the smock she dons at the beginning of the scene, took one very deep breath to recompose herself and regain the moment -- with the audience on its feet, giving her a standing O -- and proceeded with "Rose's Turn" once more from the top. After she concluded "Rose's Turn," the crowd was back on its feet.
As regular readers know, I have grown so incredibly weary of audience members treating theatres as their own personal living rooms. The beauty of seeing live theatre is the communal experience of witnessing artists provide unique performances that can never be exactly the same from one night to the next. There is a trust we must have with each other to be respectful and well-mannered.
But there's also a trust and bond we have with the artists themselves -- who, by the way, can actually hear us and see us -- that becomes violated whenever we rustle through paper and plastic bags or talk above whispers or engage in any of the other nuisances that serve to undermine a performance. It also becomes a violation of
law when we decide we're above those laws by letting our cell phones chime or taking photos when it's actually an infringement of copyrights.
It's extraordinarily rare for performers to take the dramatic step of chastising an audience member the way Patti LuPone did. Personally, I had never seen it before, but I know of a few isolated incidents that have since become the stuff of legends. In this case, as I see it, the offender got his/her comeuppance as if it was on behalf of all the other self-absorbed, inconsiderate jerks I've ever seen devalue a performance because they thought they were above it all.
In retrospect, I don't blame Patti LuPone for finally being pushed to say "enough." She has been an outspoken champion for better theatre etiquette for a long time, although usually via off-stage interviews.
If anyone thinks she ruined Saturday night's performance, I submit to you that if theatre management had dealt with all the egregious infractions of their own stated rules more vigorously, individuals would not flaunt them with growing frequency. Those rules -- and the law -- must be enforced. But at the St. James, it was clear that the ushers were not properly empowered to do so. So Ms. LuPone, in order to salvage the performance
on behalf of the audience took the unusual step of taking matters into her own hands.
Yes, by stopping the show, LuPone really changed the atmosphere, but I would also argue that she really
charged the atmosphere as well, making this "Rose's Turn" all the more of a truly fierce
tour de force. If nothing else, Patti LuPone offered one performance that everyone in that particular audience will remember and talk about for the rest of their lives.
UPDATED (1.12.08, 7:15 p.m. EST): In a rather bizarre twist,
Broadway & Me tells us now that it was all a huge misunderstanding.
B&M notes:
Now I hear from an insider who was there that the whole incident was a simple misunderstanding. It seems that Patti had a photographer following her around backstage for several days doing a magazine article about her and the poor fella went around front to document some of her iconic moments in the show. And says my source, "That was the person she had thrown out! She forgot he was there!"
As Broadway & Me has so eloquently stated, "How can you not love Broadway?"
This story was updated on 1.23.08.This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Cell Phone, Gypsy, Law, Patti LuPone, Photo, Stopping the Show, Theatre Etiquette
Theatre Etiquette, Part Four (Or Drunken City)As regular readers know, I have a
real thing or
two (or
three, and sadly even
four) to say about the complete breakdown of our civilization, due to some self-absorbed individuals' utter lack of self-awareness or respect for others while attending theatrical performances.
Now, I realize that alcohol and its impact remains a pervasive theme emanating from the stage. This Broadway season alone, we've been treated to
one show after
another after
another after another after another where alcoholism is central to the story. And Off-Broadway, there's even a new Adam Bock play called
The Drunken City.
But imagine my surprise in attending a $54 preview of
Cry-Baby when the show was upstaged by the act
in the audience.
Immediately behind me, two fairly unassuming women who looked to be in their 40s took their seats. I first knew something was up by virtue of their obsequious fussiness in getting situated. However, a tune or two into the show, the two were borderline belligerent, alternately slurping out of their adult sippy cups to conversing with each other in slurred speech.
Not long after, the two passed out. I could tell because they were both snoring. Yes, I looked back at them and the "lady" on the aisle had her head bobbing to her left with her mouth wide open, while her cohort in crime had her head tilting onto her gal pal's shoulder.
Given my concern that either one of these wretched women would suddenly lurch forward spewing whatever
a la Linda Blair, I could not help but continually keep one eye on the stage and another on them. At intermission, I approached the manager of the theatre to let him know about the two women, but he was helping another man out -- turned out he also was seated next to a complete drunk who should have never been let in to begin with. Still, I thought once I explained the circumstances, he'd take care of it. Wrong.
Unfortunately, when I returned to my seat, the two women were still there, making complete
buttocks personifieds out of themselves.
Lest there be any question to anyone wanting to know if drinking is against the norms of theatre etiquette, let me say this: anything in moderation is fine. I often enjoy a glass of champagne or two before a performance begins or at intermission. But
drinking to excess not only impairs your ability to appreciate (or even grasp) a performance, it also can ruin others' enjoyment as well.And frankly, I'm still wondering why the
Marquis management didn't collect these broken women and remove them. The shame is spread all around.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Truly Ugly Betty Behavior (November 2, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part Three (Or The End Of Southern Gentility) (July 30, 2007)
Are You Cheering Yet? (July 27, 2007)
What Motivates You To See A Broadway Show? (July 5, 2007)
From Now On, I'll Just Sit On My Hands (July 1, 2007)
Talk To The Hand: Kevin Edition (June 20, 2007)
Spring Awakening Calling (June 18, 2007)
Rat Patrol: Coming To A Theatre Near You? (May 30, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part Two (May 1, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part One (November 30, 2007)
Labels: Alcoholism, Broadway, Cry-Baby, Special Messages, The Drunken City, Theatre Etiquette
Truly Ugly Betty BehaviorAs much as I enjoyed tuning in to last night's episode of
ABC's "
Ugly Betty" to catch a glimpse of the Los Angeles sitdown production of
Wicked, I was shocked by the patently offensive and ill-conceived plot device of having its lead character text messaging her paramour during the performance.
Regular readers will know how
much I absolutely abhor disgraceful,
shameful behavior on the part of theatre audience members. Nothing steams me quite like the disrespectful use of cell phones during a live performance, whether it's keeping them turned on during a show, receiving calls or even texting. It's just plain rude. While these self-absorbed idiots are looking at their little lit-up screens, it's distracting to the people around them who paid good money to enjoy the performance rather than the show in the audience.
I'm not a regular "Ugly Betty" viewer (I much prefer NBC's "
30 Rock," which offers the smartest half hour on prime time), but I believe if a show is going to showcase a real live theatrical production, the least it could do would be to set a solid example for its decidedly young audience and demonstrate appropriate theatre etiquette. Instead, it essentially said that anything goes in the audience.
Ugly? You bet!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:One Short Hour In The Emerald City (November 1, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part Three (Or The End Of Southern Gentility) (July 30, 2007)
Rat Patrol: Coming To A Theatre Near You? (May 30, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part Two (May 1, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part One (November 30, 2007)
Labels: 30 Rock, Broadway, Theatre Etiquette, Ugly Betty, Wicked
Theatre Etiquette, Part Three (Or The End Of Southern Gentility)As regular readers know, I have a
real thing or
two to say about the end of civilization as we know it as it pertains to theatre etiquette (
my current SOB Poll even asks an etiquette-related question).
This past weekend, I journeyed to Atlanta to take in what is anticipated to be the final performance by
Jennifer Holliday as Effie Melody White in
Dreamgirls. Not only was I thrilled to be seeing her, but I was excited to once again be setting foot into Atlanta's
Fabulous Fox Theatre, a sparkling venue brimming in rich theatrical history.
The Fox does an excellent job of providing a list of "Golden Rules" of engagement for the audience. After witnessing some abysmal behavior by a large cross-section of the 4,000+ audience members, it's clear why they have it printed in the program.
For starters, in clear violation of rule #7 ("THOU SHALT NOT TALK"), the couple seated directly behind me had a long,
long conversation right during the build-up to Holliday's signature song "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." Their conversation reached its absolutely appalling apex when they up and left. Not only did they disrupt the experience for everyone around them, but they missed one of the most incredible performances in recent theatre history.
Then there were the intermittent violators of rule #4 ("Make sure all cell phones, beepers and watch alarms are OFF"), who not only let their cell phones ring....some actually
answered the calls. A woman seated four seats down from me had the audacity to
talk on her cell phone shortly before Holliday's show-stopping tune was delivered. Unbelievably, I saw cell phone light emissions all over the place. What is it that compels anyone to put himself or herself above the rest of the audience other than obliviousness at best or sheer selfishness at worst?
Worst of all was the hooting and hollering by the audience during Jennifer Holliday's signature tune. You know what? I came to listen to Holliday. I did not come to hear her being drowned out by an overzealous audience. This was the one moment when it should have been rapt in silent adoration. Instead, they demonstrated egregious disrespect -- not only for fellow audience members, but especially for Jennifer Holliday herself.
Finally, in violation of rule #9 ("Yes, the parking lot gets busy and public transportation is tricky, but leaving while the show is in progress is discourteous"), this audience didn't seem to understand that a performance isn't over until after the final curtain call. Throngs of audience members began departing the theatre before the final strains of "Hard To Say Goodbye, My Love" had even been sung. By the time the curtain fell, my entire row was already gone (with the exception of my group of four) and most of the row directly in front of us was also out the door. Unbelievable that anyone would pay significant dollars to see a performance and then ditch it before it's over. Shameful.
When will people learn? Is it too late?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Are You Cheering Yet? (July 27, 2007)
What Motivates You To See A Broadway Show? (July 5, 2007)
From Now On, I'll Just Sit On My Hands (July 1, 2007)
Talk To The Hand: Kevin Edition (June 20, 2007)
Spring Awakening Calling (June 18, 2007)
Rat Patrol: Coming To A Theatre Near You? (May 30, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part Two (May 1, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part One (November 30, 2007)
Labels: Atlanta, Broadway, Dreamgirls, Musical, Revival, Special Messages, Theatre Etiquette
Are You Cheering Yet?Earlier this month,
one of my welcome guests challenged a comment
I made with respect to my posting on entrance applause. I said, "I would also venture that a large number of audience members have decided to visit Broadway because an actor or actress they've greatly admired is performing. For many, it may very well be their first foray into the theatre, and thus it does not surprise me that they would applaud the star of the show."
I took his comments to heart and posed the first of a two-part poll, asking you, my dear readers, to vote for what compels you to experience live theatre. The results are in, and as I suspected, the opportunity to see a favorite actor or actress ranked first with 78.6% of you.
That was followed by
plot (64.3%),
music and
buzz (tied at 57.1%),
reviews (48.4%) and
awards (39.3%).
While price and availability of tickets received some votes, they certainly weren't the major motivators.
So, now that we have established that cast members constitute the major reason why individuals -- at least for Steve On Broadway readers -- go see a particular show, it's time to move on. To part two.
Now, I invite you to vote in the second in my series of polls, this time asking you about entrance applause. Do you naturally applaud when your favorite actor takes to the stage or do you sit on your hands? Or does it all depend on the actor or whether the rest of the audience is erupting in spontaneous adulation?
After voting, please share your comments regarding your personal hands-clapping modus operandi.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:
What Motivates You To See A Broadway Show? (July 5, 2007)
From Now On, I'll Just Sit On My Hands (July 1, 2007)
Labels: Blogs, Entrance Applause, Jeffrey Cafaude, SOB Poll, Theatre Etiquette
What's That Saying About Imitation And Flattery?Yes, I'm almost certain that
Barbara Hoffman and her headline writers at the New York Post did
not see
my headline about
Grey Gardens closing yesterday. I'm just venturing a guess.
But to quote
Jeffrey Cufaude, who commented on my post regarding
entrance applause, "Could be but we don't really know that do we."
It's fun just to speculate that they may have.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Grey Gardens Fades To Black Later This Month (July 2, 2007)
From Now On, I'll Just Sit On My Hands (July 1, 2007)
Labels: Barbara Hoffman, Blogs, Broadway, Closing Notices, Entrance Applause, Grey Gardens, Jeffrey Cafaude, Musical, New York Post, Theatre Etiquette
From Now On, I'll Just Sit On My HandsVery illuminating story on what may be the ultimate in theatre etiquette in this morning's issue of
The New York Times by Zachary Pincus-Roth. I'm guilty as charged.
To all those performers whose entrances I've been thrilled to see to the point when I applauded you, I'm sorry. I'm very, very sorry.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Theatre, Theatre Discussions, Theatre Etiquette
Spring Awakening CallingI give up.
I've tried my best
here and
here to call attention to the lack of courtesy shown by certain audience members in observing appropriate theatre etiquette only to be outdone by
Spring Awakening's consumer marketing to its own audience members via cell phone text messaging.
Seems they have a contest that requires audience members to text message their vital information prior to the close of intermission with winners being notified immediately after the show. My guess is that many of those participating will fail to turn off their cell phones during the pivotal second act.
As evidenced by this morning's
Andrew Adam Newman story in The New York Times, producers appear to be throwing in the towel by encouraging use of text messaging for their own bottom line. Jujamcyn vice president Jordan Roth is quoted as saying, "Most producers now are really looking for new ways to communicate with our audience....[O]ur goal is to expand what we’re doing to many shows...Will it interfere with the show? Yeah, that is one of the things that is open for discussion."
OK, Mr. Roth. If you're open to discussion, please note I don't want to hear anyone's cell phone going off just so you can market to them, regardless of whether it's for your show or not. The only way I want a show to communicate with me
during a show is to let the performance speak for itself.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Rat Patrol: Coming To A Theatre Near You? (May 30, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part Two (May 1, 2007)
Theatre Etiquette, Part One (November 30, 2007)
Labels: Broadway, Jujamcyn, Marketing, Musical, Play, Spring Awakening, Text Messaging, Theatre Etiquette
Rat Patrol: Coming To A Theatre Near You?
As
you may recall, I've just about had it with rude behavior ruining my theatre experiences. And I know from your responses that I'm not alone.
While technology exists to block transmission of radio signals to cell phones, federal law currently prohibits the practice (Communications Act of 1934, section 333). But
according to a report by WCBS-TV (New York), technology now exists to enable audience members to effectively rat out offensive fellow patrons.
The
Regal Cinemas chain is rolling out its "Regal Guest Response System" in 114 movie theatres across America. The system is described as "a virtual remote control to mute that annoying patron who's ruining your silver screen sanity." According to the news report:
Theatre employees at Battery Park Stadium now handle that duty without patrons missing a second of film. A hand-held pager is given to a random member of the Regal Crown Club Loyalty Program who's attending each movie."If any situation does arise they can just press a button which goes directly to the pager which the manager will have and they'll signal it and they'll go right into the theater and handle the situation," theater manager Heather Dematteis said.
One would think that if the program works, it could very well mutate and spread to live theatrical venues as well faster than that uncontrollable TB strain. The best part is that "Regal Cinema says its never pinpoints the guest reporting the problems."
Is it overkill? Personally, I'm not opposed to the idea, and frankly, it's much easier for the theatre to deal with rude patrons than vigilant (or is that vigilante?) audience members. Sign me up for the device!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:
Labels: Broadway, Musical, Play, Regal Cinemas, Theatre Etiquette
Theatre Etiquette, Part Two
You see, right during the middle of the performance, something occurred that I've never before experienced in a theatre. It came from the audience. It blew me away.
As the two fine actors were attempting to soar to new heights on the stage, one audience member selfishly put himself way above everyone else in that theatre by keeping his cell phone turned on.
It wasn't just that the cell phone went off, mind you. The walkie talkie feature was active, allowing the self-absorbed "patron," along with everyone else including the actors, to hear his companion's conversation starter. This was absolutely unforgivable. The individual did eventually leave the confines of the theatre (so sorry if the show was interrupting your conversation!) -- I can only hope that the theatre forbid him entry back into the show.
Incredibly enough, there is a federal law that by extension forbids the blocking of cell phone signals. This arcane, antiquated law -- the Communications Act of 1934, section 333 -- makes it illegal to interfere with radio communications. But it was enacted long before anyone fathomed that virtually every individual could be a walking, talking radio transponder thanks to breakthroughs in communications technology. Until an exemption is granted by either the FCC or Congress, stage and movie theatres alike are barred from blocking cell phone signals.
Until then, what is it with
people anyway? As
I noted last November, I'm continually amazed at the number of people who forget that they're no longer in the comfort of their own living room when they go to see a live stage performance.
Cell phones go off, people have
conversations (at my recent visit to London's
Wicked, actual
spoken conversations were taking place all over!), they unwrap candies, some insist on text messaging or scrolling through their BlackBerrys, a couple take flash photos and a few even hum along to the musical score (I had to tell the lady sitting behind me at London's
Evita to please be quiet --
she was offended!).
As my SOB Poll from last November/December shows, I'm not alone in destesting appalling behavior.
It's bad enough for those of us sitting in the audience, but these jerks need to give some consideration to the actors. Lest the buffoons think that no one on stage can hear or see them, think again. Steppenwolf's excellent ensemble member
Tracy Letts lets 'er rip with a
well-founded denunciation of all dummies who take it upon themselves to single-handedly ruin the theatre experience for everyone else, including the actors.
If you're going to behave badly, stay home where you belong.
I'd love to hear about your personal experiences with lapses in good theatre etiquette.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Evita, K2, SOB Poll, Steppenwolf, Theatre Etiquette, Tracy Letts, Wicked
Theatre Etiquette, Part OneEarlier this week, fellow blogger
Stephen Mosher described a positively horrendous incident that marred a recent performance of
Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone At Les Mouches (at
Joe's Pub at
The Public Theater). Seems one of the audience members was beyond inebriated to the point where she made a complete spectacle of herself and severely detracted from Kritzer's act.
Oh, that it were just an isolated incident. Unfortunately, with increasing frequency, it does seem as though a diminishing number of theatregoers are mindful of their fellow patrons and instead act as though they're still in the comfort of their own living rooms. Ste, you've certainly touched a very raw nerve here!
In fact, the new Steve On Broadway (SOB) poll question to the right asks you to name the theatregoer behavior you find the most appalling. I invite you to vote and then provide your comments below.
Way too many individuals
still leave
their cell phones turned on. Do Broadway and Off-Broadway patrons even realize that New York City has a new law prohibiting that behavior? Even worse, some actually have the nerve to
talk on their mobiles or fiddle with their godforsaken
BlackBerrys during performances. This is beyond reproach. It's the height of rudeness. If I were a theatre owner, I'd make it impossible to get any cell phone reception in my theatre -- if they can do it in an elevator, why can't they do it in a theatre?
Others have the audacity to arrive to the theatre late. I have adored performers who have singled these folks out, including
Whoopi Goldberg and
Barry Humphries as
Dame Edna, who typically reminds these inconsiderates that if she can make it all the way from Down Under on time, they could certainly make it from halfway across town).
Still others insist upon talking above the din of the show. To infrequently whisper is one thing, but it's another to speak audibly so every one around you can hear your conversation. It's even worse if you happen to be prone to heckling or singing along with the performer. Quite frankly, I paid to see what's up
on the stage, not you! And if you're hard of hearing (as many in my family are), ask for a listening device rather than incessantly asking the person sitting next to you what the actors have just said.
Others -- despite the plea of most theatres to unwrap their hard candies before the performance -- stretch out their ritual of taking apart the cellophane because they somehow
misguidedly think that by doing it more
sloooooowly will lessen the noise (
WRONG!); and why do they always laugh when the announcer makes that plea in the first place? It's not meant to be a funny line.
Others go foraging through their bags
that make noise looking for things -- unless it's your glasses or listening device, you should be sitting back and enjoying the show.
Then there are those with the screaming kids. While I can understand any small child getting a bit fidgety during a performance, there's no excuse for parents who keep the screamers in their seats. Once they've made their voices heard, it's time for parents to head for the nearest exit door. I didn't pay $100 or more to have to listen to
that!
And don't let them kick the back of my seat, either!
And finally, speaking of theatre seats, I realize that many can seem downright constricting, but that is not an excuse for you to stretch your legs out into my similarly constrained space, nor is it an excuse for you to drape your coat over the back of your seat only for it to land squarely in my lap. Be considerate of those around you.
As I've shared with Ste, I honestly fear that the end of civilization is close at hand since fewer and fewer people understand that the first part of civilization is "civil," which according to
Webster means, "adequate in courtesy and politeness."
"Treat others the way you want to be treated" was the way I was brought up (and I come from a very meager middle-class background). Unfortunately, there appears to be a complete and utter lack of proper upbringing anymore
regardless of social stature. Instead self-absorption is (pardon me,
Bill Maher) today's
new rule.
Am I overreacting, or have I just touched the tip of the iceberg? You tell me!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Musical, Play, Theatre Etiquette
