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...
Walter PlingeThu, 19 Aug 2004, 11:03 am
even 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...
Walter PlingeFri, 20 Aug 2004, 11:07 pm
Re: just venting!
Oh god yes It's not just me then
it's starting to drive me mad... some people can't watch anything that moves without having to shove something in their mouths
plus other annoying selfish habits
Most recent ones
mobile phone that rang 3 times in Les Mis (same phone.. twice during empty chairs)
and someone listening to the football on his radio during Annie (at first I thought it was the radio mikes picking up a transmission)
but the eating, drinking, plastic bags, squashing coke cans... arrgh IT HAS TO STOP!
I'm a teacher and I used to think I'm just in Boring old F*** mode but some kids aren't expected by their parents to show any respect for the person on the stage at all so how will they ever know????
it's starting to drive me mad... some people can't watch anything that moves without having to shove something in their mouths
plus other annoying selfish habits
Most recent ones
mobile phone that rang 3 times in Les Mis (same phone.. twice during empty chairs)
and someone listening to the football on his radio during Annie (at first I thought it was the radio mikes picking up a transmission)
but the eating, drinking, plastic bags, squashing coke cans... arrgh IT HAS TO STOP!
I'm a teacher and I used to think I'm just in Boring old F*** mode but some kids aren't expected by their parents to show any respect for the person on the stage at all so how will they ever know????
Walter PlingeSun, 22 Aug 2004, 08:49 am
Re: just venting!
thankyou clint,
but how do we stop this??? im not sure in this day and age of "blame everybody but myself" we should be looking towards the parents but perhaps it IS the answer...
does anyone have any idea? obviously it depends on the situation whether it be indoor/outdoor, professional/amateur etc, but can we stop the decline in respect for the performer...?
darian
ps yes i do realise the fact that "in shakespeares time..." actors were thought even less of but all im asking for is a little civility and respect? or should i not complain about those who butter my bread???
but how do we stop this??? im not sure in this day and age of "blame everybody but myself" we should be looking towards the parents but perhaps it IS the answer...
does anyone have any idea? obviously it depends on the situation whether it be indoor/outdoor, professional/amateur etc, but can we stop the decline in respect for the performer...?
darian
ps yes i do realise the fact that "in shakespeares time..." actors were thought even less of but all im asking for is a little civility and respect? or should i not complain about those who butter my bread???
Walter PlingeSun, 22 Aug 2004, 06:39 pm
Re: just venting!
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?
Walter PlingeSun, 22 Aug 2004, 08:16 pm
Re: just venting!
I couldn't agree with you guys more! As a performer I am SO concious of it, I swear people must think i'm al little odd with the number of times I'll check that my phone is off whenever i'm at a performance!!
On the whole radio thing, I was incredibly embarrased one night after finishing a performance to come out to see my family who were in the audience and discovered that my brother had sat there during the whole show with his discman going the whole time! What's worse is that is was noted by production team members. Not a nice thing when you're working with a company for the first time. He clearly didn't want to be there so I've now taken to asking him to not bother coming.
Maybe that's it, we've kinda got a society that are scared to go out by themselves, people don't like going to movies or shows by themselves so instead we drag along people that have no desire to be there at all??
I have no idea what could be done about that though!! hehehe
:)
On the whole radio thing, I was incredibly embarrased one night after finishing a performance to come out to see my family who were in the audience and discovered that my brother had sat there during the whole show with his discman going the whole time! What's worse is that is was noted by production team members. Not a nice thing when you're working with a company for the first time. He clearly didn't want to be there so I've now taken to asking him to not bother coming.
Maybe that's it, we've kinda got a society that are scared to go out by themselves, people don't like going to movies or shows by themselves so instead we drag along people that have no desire to be there at all??
I have no idea what could be done about that though!! hehehe
:)
drueTue, 31 Aug 2004, 09:09 am
Re: just venting!
well, i have had a couple of thoughts about how to solve this problem...
basically they all begin with strapping down patrons into electrically charged chairs and giving stage managers remote controls...
guess its not really feasible... too expensive, but i can always dream!
no seriously maybe the best way is to introduce kids to theatre correctly, running theatre programs in schools is great, but how about getting the teachers etc to give theate etiquette lessons... maybe 15minutes or so before the start of the show they could just run through, you shouldnt do this and that, or whatever...
now my only personal problem with that idea is the risk of making theatre "boring" for the kids, just something with more rules etc, there's just such a fine balance between respecting the performers and being told to sit up straight and behave... ARGH! i dont think i've really helped but hey... just venting!
love and peace all!
andrew blake
Thou paunchy fly-bitten bladder!
[%sig%]
basically they all begin with strapping down patrons into electrically charged chairs and giving stage managers remote controls...
guess its not really feasible... too expensive, but i can always dream!
no seriously maybe the best way is to introduce kids to theatre correctly, running theatre programs in schools is great, but how about getting the teachers etc to give theate etiquette lessons... maybe 15minutes or so before the start of the show they could just run through, you shouldnt do this and that, or whatever...
now my only personal problem with that idea is the risk of making theatre "boring" for the kids, just something with more rules etc, there's just such a fine balance between respecting the performers and being told to sit up straight and behave... ARGH! i dont think i've really helped but hey... just venting!
love and peace all!
andrew blake
Thou paunchy fly-bitten bladder!
[%sig%]
jassepTue, 31 Aug 2004, 10:45 am
Re: just venting!
Hi all,
Maybe the 'solution' lies inside the problem... that is, embracing the challenge. For instance, why not just let people do what they do. And, as performers/directors, 'redesign' our modes of presentation to either *counter* or *incorporate* currently "unacceptable" modes of behaviour on the part of the audience? Heck, it worked for the Elizabethans...
Certainly, Andrew, I agree with your second point... imposing so many "rules and regulations" could just stagnate the whole experience of going to the theatre further.
I guess the answer lies in how you view the experience. If you're looking for a "transcendent" experience, then you want the theatre treated as a temple. If its' a commercial enterprise (like in Shakespeares day) then you ACCOMODATE the various attention spans of your patrons.
At the end of the day, I think much of this debate will will be relegated to "who's going to what"... after all a stage and a performer but no audience is NO theatre. Maybe the "future" lies in adapting a model not unlike Circ de Soleil's - spectacular and fluid, but with every moment filled with compelling imagery/ideas that makes an audience forget about talking or taking a mobile call, or whatever.
Thanks,
Jason
Maybe the 'solution' lies inside the problem... that is, embracing the challenge. For instance, why not just let people do what they do. And, as performers/directors, 'redesign' our modes of presentation to either *counter* or *incorporate* currently "unacceptable" modes of behaviour on the part of the audience? Heck, it worked for the Elizabethans...
Certainly, Andrew, I agree with your second point... imposing so many "rules and regulations" could just stagnate the whole experience of going to the theatre further.
I guess the answer lies in how you view the experience. If you're looking for a "transcendent" experience, then you want the theatre treated as a temple. If its' a commercial enterprise (like in Shakespeares day) then you ACCOMODATE the various attention spans of your patrons.
At the end of the day, I think much of this debate will will be relegated to "who's going to what"... after all a stage and a performer but no audience is NO theatre. Maybe the "future" lies in adapting a model not unlike Circ de Soleil's - spectacular and fluid, but with every moment filled with compelling imagery/ideas that makes an audience forget about talking or taking a mobile call, or whatever.
Thanks,
Jason