Spacey Gives Etiquette Tips at Old Vic???
Date: 22 September 2004
Kevin Spacey is assuming a rather hands-on approach to audience etiquette at the Old Vic, where his inaugural season as artistic director launches this month with his own production of
Cloaca. At previews of the new play, which started on 16 September 2004, Spacey has been going on stage beforehand to ask audiences not to use their mobile phones (reminding them also to be sure to check they’re turned off again after the interval) and not to unwrap sweet wrappers during the performance. The actor-cum-director told BBC Radio 4’s
Front Row that "if people don't know how to behave they shouldn't come" to the theatre. Most theatregoers appear to agree, judging the results of two Whatsonstage.com polls (See Big Debate,
Apr 2003 &
Jun 2001). A whopping 95% of voters said they’d like the UK follow the lead of New York City in legally banning mobile phones in theatres, 97% find mobile usage in theatres totally unacceptable and 67% think people whose phones ring during a performance should be thrown out. In addition, voters said their enjoyment of a performance was frequently disturbed by the rustling of sweet wrappers (87%) and talking and whispering (76%).
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