Leighton Buzzard Today: "DRAMA moved from the stage to the stalls during a show at The Grove Theatre on Saturday night, when a brawl broke out in the audience.
Two men in the centre of the auditorium started the fight by throwing punches at each other just minutes into the second half of street dance and aerial skills production Cacophony, by The Generating Company."
11 comments:
I don't even know how to respond to this... First of all, I am very impressed that the cast/crew somehow noticed the fight. It is very easy to get caught up in your work and only notice the world onstage especially with all the fog that the pic indicates is in the production. The fight must have been getting extreme for the actions the crew took to have occured, but I am glad they handled it smoothly and seemingly well. I have never heard of an actor jumping off the stage like that, but if she felt a life was in danger, i'm glad she did. I wonder if the audience members just wanted to become a part of the show.... (i'm sure something serious really happened....)
Prime example of how aware actors on stage and the crew backstage are of what is going on in the house during a performance. I think most patrons assume that because lights aren't up on them, they can't been seen or heard, but this is far from the truth. Admittedly now knowing the size of the theatre, I'm also surprised that House Management didn't intercept the brawl before the actors were able to get off stage and into the audience. I can only imagine the look on the Stage Manager's face as he/she watched the actors jump off stage, but it sounds as if the audience responded well and didn't let it ruin their evening. It's also not bad press for the production either.
I really wish the article had covered what exactly started the fight in the audience. I've heard of fights at concerts, sports, political rallies, but never of them happening in a theater. It is really fortunate that no bystandars were hurt tand that the cast and crew responded so quickly, sicne I'm willing to bet that if there was security at the performance, they weren't prepared to handle something like a fight breaking out. I am a little surprised that house staff did not notice something going on, and that it was the people on stage who noticed the incident first.
I am appalled that someone would start a fight in the middle of a performance. Sometimes it seems that people have lost respect and manners and don't know the proper etiquette at theatres. Although this is an extreme example, I have often noticed people being very disrespectful during shows. For instance, when I saw Grapes of Wrath, a man sitting in front used the stage as a foot rest, blatantly inhibiting the actors' movement onstage. It's actions like this that make me feel people don't know how to behave in a theatrical setting.
The reasoning that someone would start a fight at all escapes me, let alone in the theater. In fact, it was just rude. These two people involved in the altercation decided that the personal differences between them were more important than the entertainment and performance of the other people at the performance that night. As previosly stated, I too think that the company and audience handled the incident correctly. As Megan stated previously, the Stage Manager must have been frantic at the sight of his actors jumping off stage, but he was able to compose him self soon there after and continue with the show. And the perfomance continued on, giving the rest of the audience the show they deserved. The fact that, despite this upset within the audience, the performers could continue wiht the show shows that teater is truly a prevailing art form. It continues despite hiccups and failures.
I find this a very good example of when to stop the show and good management. From the story, the Stage Manager must have seen what was going on and immediately ordered the action to halt and the house lights to come on. It sounds like the dancers leaping into the audience were quickly backed up by the backstage crew. Again, it is an instance where it would be appropriate to halt the show because people, particularly your audience, is in some kind of danger. The really curious thing for me from this story was, how did the elderly couple get spattered with chocolate?
I think the actors did a very good response to the fight. I'm very glad that despite the blatant disrespect shown towards the actors and the show itself, the performers were still able to perform the second half well enough for a standing ovation. It also irritates me how inconsiderate people can be at performances. If you don't know how to act respectful and use common sense, don't go.
While I'm appalled that someone would start a fight in the middle of a production, it's good to see the quick response by the stage manager, and the cast and crew to the conflict in the seats. The fact that they were able to notice and respond to it in such a prompt manner should be a model for how many theaters should respond to these kinds of incidents during productions
I agree with the others here that this story illuminates the fact that cast and crew must always be hyper aware of not only what is onstage but also in the audience. Like Brian, I am surprised that House Management was not the first to break up the brawl. I agree that it is better for the actors to acknowledge the brawl and incorporate it into the show rather than simply ignore it. I would love to have class here that dealt with what to do in these kinds of scenarios.
Sort of totally ridiculous. You often hear about brawls and fights at sporting events or other big gatherings, but not in a quiet, dark theater. I can sort of understand a drunken fight at a concert -- someone bumped someone the wrong way, but sitting in your theater seat? What could someone do to make some one else that incensed they would jump to blows? Leave your baggage at the door when you go to see theater -- your just ruining your own experience otherwise. I'm glad it got taken care of in a timely fashion, although I'm sort of concerned it was actors as the first responders, and not ushers or management.
This is completely absurd. Who in their right mind starts a fight at a public event. I am more astonished it happened at a theatrical performance. Most people who attend a theatrical performance, are calm and willing to attend performances in peace with the other audience members.
Kudos to the actors and the house staff for breaking up the fight before anyone was seriously injured.
I am glad the company decided to continue with the performance as if they had a fire alarm. The show must go on.
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