1857 replies to this topic

[The Suburbanite]

Jan Brock, on 27 September 2011 - 10:00 AM, said:

I have more often heard middle-aged men do this, often at NT, and often when one of Shakespeare's more lamentable fools has just said something incomprehensible.

This is slightly off the main topic but I once went to a talk given by Peter Hall at the NT, on ways of helping actors prepare for performing Shakespeare. Near me was an intolerable man of about 50 and his put-upon teenage daughter. As Hall recited a verse with rhythmic emphasis to explain pentameter, the man nodded his head in time to the beats, eyes closed and with a little smile, augmented by vigorous nods of affirmation (eyes still closed) as Hall gave his explanation. It might sound quite innocent but it was infuriating. I'm sure most here can picture it and shudder. Hall recited a verse and said it was the opeing lines of Merchant. The man nodded, leaned in to his poor daughter and loudly whispered "Yes, that is correct". Very helpful of him, perhaps he should've proclaimed it to Hall and thus assured him he had identified the quotation correctly.

This went on throughout the session but I'd tuned him out. It was bad enough at a platform, but has anyone encountered this kind of thing during an actual performance?

(PS - yay! Ton up on the bad behaviour thread).

[Tina]

Mark_E, on 27 September 2011 - 09:52 AM, said:

To be fair at ROA on saturday night pretty much the whole audience were singing along to some songs (more than words in particular I thought).

yes, there was a lot of singing at that performance, much more than I noticed the first time I saw it..... it was a great atmosphere.... lots of little ad-libbing snippets from the wonderful Mr Lipkin, I especially liked the bit where he zoned in on the latecomers who were sat next to me..... who..... brought sandwiches!!? why, just why!? at least I suppose they were cold, and they waited until the interval... but still, really?

[cat123]

Call me old fashioned, but we pay to hear the cast sing don't we?!

It was more the talking during the dialogue that infuriated me. Especially that close to the stage. It's disrespectful to the actors.

[Tina]

cat123, on 27 September 2011 - 11:15 AM, said:

Call me old fashioned, but we pay to hear the cast sing don't we?!

It was more the talking during the dialogue that infuriated me. Especially that close to the stage. It's disrespectful to the actors.

LOL you have a fair point Cat, but somehow, I feel ROA is different, it is a loud, quite audience involved performance.....
and yes, definately despise people talking through the dialogue, didnt have any of that near me thankfully, there have been times, at other shows, where I have been tempted to....... well, lets not go there

[cat123]

Joining in I have no problem with, as long as it's within reason. But... They really were horrid!

[theatrekat]

Not so much bad behaviour as off-putting behaviour, when the person next to you clearly isn't enjoying the show at all, and sits, totally stony faced, looking as miserable as can be, doesn't applaud at all throughout the show.  Even right at the end, when everyone else was clapping along and applauding as the company took their bows, this guy still remained total disinterested.

Also, in another show, as the company take their bows, then sing an encore, loads of people were running out to leave early, I guess because it ws so busy that they didn't want to wait ages to get out of the car park, but still, if those on stage could see this mass departure of people, they probably found it distracting.

[Duncan]

theatrekat, on 29 September 2011 - 09:14 AM, said:

Not so much bad behaviour as off-putting behaviour, when the person next to you clearly isn't enjoying the show at all, and sits, totally stony faced, looking as miserable as can be, doesn't applaud at all throughout the show.  Even right at the end, when everyone else was clapping along and applauding as the company took their bows, this guy still remained total disinterested.

Maybe he was the director? Or even the writer?

[musicalmadness]

Duncan, on 29 September 2011 - 10:53 AM, said:

Maybe he was the director? Or even the writer?

Or maybe he was reviewing Rock Of Ages!

(I haven't seen the show by the way, though I would very much like too. Just making a comment on what the reviews have been like, before I get attacked...)

[PaulT]

musicals fan, on 27 September 2011 - 06:39 AM, said:

It isn't only musicals where people think they have to stand.  I'm convinced that there is some kind of "crowd psychology" involved in this behaviour - remember the death of Diana?

Recently I saw Richard III at the Old Vic and found myself just about the only person NOT standing.  It seems to vary - South Pacific last week, superb show enjoyed by the elderly audience, good applause and NO standing!
Standing is still rare too, but creeping in,  at the Royal Opera House - most of those standing are in fact leaving to get home!

We were the only four people still sitting in the stalls after Richard III.  Yes, it was very good; but not worthy of a standing ovation.  I also didn't stand at Much Ado (although lots of Dr Who fans did.)  
I would have stood after South Pacific but no one else did, so I didn't!
It was wonderful when Sir Derek got a standing ovation at the Donmar. The performance was electric and the audience rose to their feet en-mass.  If you have to look round to see who else is standing then I am guessing that it's not truly worth a West End standing ovation.

[PaulT]

Montmartre, on 25 September 2011 - 10:02 PM, said:

Why do people think an Overture is a cue for nattering etc.? Grr. SHUT UP.

I did get a bit  cross at the start of South Pacific when the people both in front and behind me continued chatting loudly during the rather beautiful overture: I very nearly poked them and said 'Hello!  The show has started: time to STOP talking!'