Comments on: SHHH-WE ARE WATCHING A SHOW http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/ DC's Liveliest Theatre Website Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:54:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: jayne http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-258 jayne Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:44:42 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-258 Thanks Joel, for a very funny article. Thanks Joel, for a very funny article.

]]> By: jayne http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-257 jayne Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:44:07 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-257 Very funny article and horribly, horribly true Very funny article and horribly, horribly true

]]> By: ronnie http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-256 ronnie Mon, 05 Jun 2006 21:16:28 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-256 <p>I guess everyone is different.  And theatres are different as well.  Warehouse encourages taking your vodka tonic in to see the show. Now maybe they have seen it and know you need to be "lickered up".</p> <p>I remember a few shows where I have had a cold and did not want to cough.  I would recomend altoids for that tickle, the box is pretty quiet and unlike Joel you will not have loose candy in your pocket   <img src="http://dctheatrereviews.com/review/wp-content/plugins/editormonkey/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-yell.gif" alt="Yell" title="Yell" width="18" height="18" /></p> I guess everyone is different.  And theatres are different as well.  Warehouse encourages taking your vodka tonic in to see the show. Now maybe they have seen it and know you need to be "lickered up".

I remember a few shows where I have had a cold and did not want to cough.  I would recomend altoids for that tickle, the box is pretty quiet and unlike Joel you will not have loose candy in your pocket   Yell

]]> By: Joel http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-255 Joel Mon, 05 Jun 2006 20:50:05 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-255 Here's a real nightmare story-Yesterday I was at Studio Theatre watching Caroline, or Change with The Ushers. To the right of me was a woman who was playing with her cell phone as the show began and then was text messaging her friend during the show. To the right of me was a man who was sleeping and snoring. Behind me was a man who had a one pound bag of M&Ms which he slowly unwrapped and crinkled loudly for over 20 minutes, I finally couldn't take it, and aked the candy man to stop. He wouldn't. So, I turned around again and said, "If you don't stop making that noise, I will have you removed from the theatre. Show some respect for the actors and everyone here around you." Finally, he stopped. So, was I supposed to sit there and take it? The theatre was sold out,, and there were no extra seats. We theatre goers have to stand up for our rights. If you need losenges, unwrap them before you get into the theatre. What's so hard about that? It's a no brainer. And it's plain courtesy. And I was told that a cell phone went off during "Lots Wife'" at the most emotional moment of the musical-on Saturday night, despite the ushers' gallant attempts at Studio asking people after the intermission, and before the second act began. to make sure they shut their phones off.  Sometimes, you just can't win. But you can still stand up for your rights.  Joel Here’s a real nightmare story-Yesterday I was at Studio Theatre watching Caroline, or Change with The Ushers. To the right of me was a woman who was playing with her cell phone as the show began and then was text messaging her friend during the show. To the right of me was a man who was sleeping and snoring. Behind me was a man who had a one pound bag of M&Ms which he slowly unwrapped and crinkled loudly for over 20 minutes, I finally couldn’t take it, and aked the candy man to stop. He wouldn’t. So, I turned around again and said, "If you don’t stop making that noise, I will have you removed from the theatre. Show some respect for the actors and everyone here around you." Finally, he stopped. So, was I supposed to sit there and take it? The theatre was sold out,, and there were no extra seats. We theatre goers have to stand up for our rights. If you need losenges, unwrap them before you get into the theatre. What’s so hard about that? It’s a no brainer. And it’s plain courtesy. And I was told that a cell phone went off during "Lots Wife’" at the most emotional moment of the musical-on Saturday night, despite the ushers’ gallant attempts at Studio asking people after the intermission, and before the second act began. to make sure they shut their phones off.  Sometimes, you just can’t win. But you can still stand up for your rights.  Joel

]]> By: Anon http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-254 Anon Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:51:20 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-254 "If the sound of a candy wrapper breaks your consentration you need to get into another line of work." But if I've paid for a ticket and the sound of a candy wrapper breaks my concentration on the show, I don't get to ask that they start the show over again, even if the actors didn't even hear the wrapper or care. It's first and formost about abuse of the rest of the audience.   Obviously there is a grey area. One piece of candy here or there isn't so bad, though why it can't be opened in the lobby during intermission is a mystery. (Or saved till later!) But that's not what we are talking about. 20 years ago people just didn't do things like this to the point that it got so noticable. Sure, granny needs a cough drop because unwrapping it is better than listening to her cough, nobody gets upset. But now, it's as if the invention of cell phones has created the general idea that all bets are off as far as being considerate in theatres. Everyone doesn't behave this way, but the small percentage who do are really changing the theatre-going experience for the rest of us. "If the sound of a candy wrapper breaks your consentration you need to get into another line of work." But if I’ve paid for a ticket and the sound of a candy wrapper breaks my concentration on the show, I don’t get to ask that they start the show over again, even if the actors didn’t even hear the wrapper or care. It’s first and formost about abuse of the rest of the audience.   Obviously there is a grey area. One piece of candy here or there isn’t so bad, though why it can’t be opened in the lobby during intermission is a mystery. (Or saved till later!) But that’s not what we are talking about. 20 years ago people just didn’t do things like this to the point that it got so noticable. Sure, granny needs a cough drop because unwrapping it is better than listening to her cough, nobody gets upset. But now, it’s as if the invention of cell phones has created the general idea that all bets are off as far as being considerate in theatres. Everyone doesn’t behave this way, but the small percentage who do are really changing the theatre-going experience for the rest of us.

]]> By: Bill http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-253 Bill Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:30:52 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-253 P.S As a one time three pack a day smoker and as a now 1/2 a pack a day smoker I can honestly say that most shows do not require smoking. Unless it is a plot point or mentioned in the script over and over again I don't think actors should smoke on stage. Its a cheap easy piece of business. But with that said no government should be allowed to ban it. Theater is a way to express ideas and thoughts and to limit it in anyway is limiting free speech. P.S As a one time three pack a day smoker and as a now 1/2 a pack a day smoker I can honestly say that most shows do not require smoking. Unless it is a plot point or mentioned in the script over and over again I don’t think actors should smoke on stage. Its a cheap easy piece of business. But with that said no government should be allowed to ban it. Theater is a way to express ideas and thoughts and to limit it in anyway is limiting free speech.

]]> By: Bill http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-252 Bill Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:25:02 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-252 While I agree that people should not pack a lunch or a dinner to eat in the theater, Nor should they make calls from their cell phones, if the theater sells candy in the lobby then you cannot expect people to open it in the theater. They shouldn't do it but its going to happen. I have always felt that the rules about noise were for the AUDIENCES benefit so they would not be distracted and annoyed. That it wasnt for the actors. If the sound of a candy wrapper breaks your concentration you need to get into an another line of work. I would love to see what modern actors and audiences would make of the groundlings. lol While I agree that people should not pack a lunch or a dinner to eat in the theater, Nor should they make calls from their cell phones, if the theater sells candy in the lobby then you cannot expect people to open it in the theater. They shouldn’t do it but its going to happen. I have always felt that the rules about noise were for the AUDIENCES benefit so they would not be distracted and annoyed. That it wasnt for the actors. If the sound of a candy wrapper breaks your concentration you need to get into an another line of work. I would love to see what modern actors and audiences would make of the groundlings. lol

]]> By: Anon http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-251 Anon Sat, 03 Jun 2006 02:35:54 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-251 Cell phones and other disruptive behavior in theatres.  The question that leaps to mind is why people who have spent money on tickets and gone to the effort to get themselves to the theatre in the first place even need to be told what is and isn't appropriate in that setting. Yes, mistakes happen - someone forgets about the phone. But when it rings, what is the logic behind ANSWERING the thing instead of turning it off immediately? In the case of talking, opening candy and other things...those aren't mistakes, those are conscious decisions. Not to be overly dramatic, but someone who does things like that is in a very real sense stealing from the rest of the audience - they paid for their tickets too, and the disrupters are not letting them get what they paid for. Actors seem to be learning a new skill: filtering out noise from the house, and what else can they do? But it's a shame, because ideally there is a give and take between the stage and the house that makes each performance unique. If actors have to put a filter between themselves and the audience just to get through the show, everyone involved has lost something. Smoking on stage...Sometimes it's called for and fake looks fake. A good actor can fake drunkeness, but no one is good enough to make you see smoke that isn't there. But yes, the audience should be warned beforehand, just like with strobe lights.  Cell phones and other disruptive behavior in theatres.  The question that leaps to mind is why people who have spent money on tickets and gone to the effort to get themselves to the theatre in the first place even need to be told what is and isn’t appropriate in that setting. Yes, mistakes happen - someone forgets about the phone. But when it rings, what is the logic behind ANSWERING the thing instead of turning it off immediately? In the case of talking, opening candy and other things…those aren’t mistakes, those are conscious decisions. Not to be overly dramatic, but someone who does things like that is in a very real sense stealing from the rest of the audience - they paid for their tickets too, and the disrupters are not letting them get what they paid for. Actors seem to be learning a new skill: filtering out noise from the house, and what else can they do? But it’s a shame, because ideally there is a give and take between the stage and the house that makes each performance unique. If actors have to put a filter between themselves and the audience just to get through the show, everyone involved has lost something. Smoking on stage…Sometimes it’s called for and fake looks fake. A good actor can fake drunkeness, but no one is good enough to make you see smoke that isn’t there. But yes, the audience should be warned beforehand, just like with strobe lights. 

]]> By: ronnie http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-250 ronnie Fri, 02 Jun 2006 22:27:28 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-250 <p>You can add as many as you want <img src="http://dctheatrereviews.com/review/wp-content/plugins/editormonkey/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cool.gif" alt="Cool" title="Cool" />  I just don't want it to get out of hand with the smokers and non smokers.  There is no smoking in theatres anyway, we are only discussing if their should be smoking on stage right everyone?</p> <p><br /> </p> You can add as many as you want Cool  I just don’t want it to get out of hand with the smokers and non smokers.  There is no smoking in theatres anyway, we are only discussing if their should be smoking on stage right everyone?

]]> By: Janet Y http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-249 Janet Y Fri, 02 Jun 2006 21:46:07 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/30/shhh-we-are-watching-a-show/#comment-249 Please please, can I add just one more comment?   A non-smoking section of a public place is like having a non-peeing section in a swimming pool. Please please, can I add just one more comment?   A non-smoking section of a public place is like having a non-peeing section in a swimming pool.

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