Monday, October 22, 2007
Msg to Rude Playgoers: Trn Tht Drnd Thng Off!
washingtonpost.com: "It's supposed to be completely dark in the auditorium, but instead all these little light shows are going on. FLICK! The face of the guy across the aisle is bathed in a blue electronic glow. FLICK! Another man two seats down regularly seems to blink on and off -- he's a neon sign in jeans and sports coat. FLICK! FLICK! Two girls sitting several rows away seem to be radiating a slightly purple haze."
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4 comments:
In high school we had an average of 2 issues per run with people doing this. Our theater spaces held 150 or less people, and it was a small school where everyone knew everyone, so the teachers in the booth could see it and give detentions or worse. People for some reason don't seem to realize that when the backlight comes on it lights you up in a dark audience.
I definitely agree with this article. I must admit that I will text during a movie, but never during a live show. It is rude enough to do it in the movie theater, but at least it does not offend the actors. I do recall frequently going to movies and having the group of people in the back whose cell phones ring and then they have the audacity to answer them. You don't have to say "I'm in a movie, I'll call you back." Your voice mail should get the point across that you are occupied. Now back to theatre. I don't shut my cell phone off, period. I want to see if I missed calls and that's ok. I do put it on vibrate regularly for movies, but for shows it goes on silent. If the show is so boring that I see it light up in my pocket then maybe I will step outside and see what's up but it's just plain rude to disturb the audience who paid top dollar to see the show. Nothing is that important that you can't wait 2 hours people.
When people are using electronics that cast light or make sound in the audience I find it very hard to maintain my willing suspension of disbelief on stage because it is hard to be captured by the action. Theater etiquette in general seems to be on a downfall lately, though -- it's just not as respected an art as it used to be. now theater is being treated like the movies, bring snacks, chat with your friends etc. The worst is the overload of perfume coming from the woman next to you. If nothing else, patrons should consider the fact that everyone around them has likely paid a substantial amount of money to see the piece, and whether or not you care about what's on stage, they might, so be respectful.
Movies are one thing- the actors cannot be influenced by our little lights going off- thank god for film. But texting in movie theaters presents the same problem the author of this article was talking about: distracting others from the show. He's right. If it can't possibly wait until intermission or after the show, then leave. Don't take care of your crap in my theatre space. It smells too much and I don't like to look at it.
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