just venting!
Thu, 19 Aug 2004, 11:03 amWalter Plinge7 posts in thread
just venting!
Thu, 19 Aug 2004, 11:03 ameven in days like these i would think that we would observe a few simple rules in the theatre society, now maybe i am being more than a little old fasioned but i think that it just comes down to etiquette and either people just arent informed or they choose to ignore completely some simple civilities... ie.
-no eating or drinkning in the theatre whilst the production is in progress
-no cameras, mobile phones (or any other technology that makes noises) turned on during the performance
-and how about refraining from talking during performance
now again i may be old fashioned (at the tender old age of 20) but i think that observing these few rules really does make the theatre a much more enjoyble experience.
i recently attended a performance where not only did audience members bring in food and drink (let alone to say that it was some unusually crunchy crisps and bottles of coke that were unceasingly opened and closed) but others used camera phones etc to take pictures and one member of the audience could be heard talking three rows in front! not only do these distract the other audience members who have paid to enjoy the night but also the performers, luckily they were of course proffesional enough to proceed undaunted but surely this cant be acceptable...
oh and by the way this was a performance of FAME the musical in londons west end...
-no eating or drinkning in the theatre whilst the production is in progress
-no cameras, mobile phones (or any other technology that makes noises) turned on during the performance
-and how about refraining from talking during performance
now again i may be old fashioned (at the tender old age of 20) but i think that observing these few rules really does make the theatre a much more enjoyble experience.
i recently attended a performance where not only did audience members bring in food and drink (let alone to say that it was some unusually crunchy crisps and bottles of coke that were unceasingly opened and closed) but others used camera phones etc to take pictures and one member of the audience could be heard talking three rows in front! not only do these distract the other audience members who have paid to enjoy the night but also the performers, luckily they were of course proffesional enough to proceed undaunted but surely this cant be acceptable...
oh and by the way this was a performance of FAME the musical in londons west end...
Re: just venting!
Sun, 22 Aug 2004, 06:39 pmWalter Plinge
I think you have all the right to expect more than the mentioned disrespect.
What would be the legalities of having a sign or an anouncement that if a pager (they are being replaced by mobiles and may eventually disappear) or mobile phone is heard to go off AND the owner answers it, it will be sought out and confiscated until after the performance? I have been to at least one theatre where an anouncement is made from the front of house prior to the lights dimming to please turn off these devices.
And if someone were to go armed with a small radio to listen to the footy, why in hell are they there in the first place - did they want to see and hear the performance or are they going just to appease their partner?
I do realise that even in venues where there are signs to request that these items be turned off some people do genuinely forget as opposed to those who think that it won't go off during the performance, or those who claim to be "on call" and must have it on - if that is so then they should be able to go to silent mode and just have it vibrate or illuminate.
As to the noisy eaters maybe they think they are in the pictures and the people on stage/screen can't/won't hear them (having difficulty separating the concepts of live versus non-live image). Maybe if you are not going to be totally put off by it you could perhaps stop your line and give the perpetrator a very icy stare in no uncertain way! I have heard of that being done by some of the more famous actors. The point was made with no doubt.
Other than that I guess you/we may just have to grin and bear it!
But then should we?
What would be the legalities of having a sign or an anouncement that if a pager (they are being replaced by mobiles and may eventually disappear) or mobile phone is heard to go off AND the owner answers it, it will be sought out and confiscated until after the performance? I have been to at least one theatre where an anouncement is made from the front of house prior to the lights dimming to please turn off these devices.
And if someone were to go armed with a small radio to listen to the footy, why in hell are they there in the first place - did they want to see and hear the performance or are they going just to appease their partner?
I do realise that even in venues where there are signs to request that these items be turned off some people do genuinely forget as opposed to those who think that it won't go off during the performance, or those who claim to be "on call" and must have it on - if that is so then they should be able to go to silent mode and just have it vibrate or illuminate.
As to the noisy eaters maybe they think they are in the pictures and the people on stage/screen can't/won't hear them (having difficulty separating the concepts of live versus non-live image). Maybe if you are not going to be totally put off by it you could perhaps stop your line and give the perpetrator a very icy stare in no uncertain way! I have heard of that being done by some of the more famous actors. The point was made with no doubt.
Other than that I guess you/we may just have to grin and bear it!
But then should we?
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