WhatsOnStage.com: Squirrel your salted peanuts away in your handbag. Put the lid on those over-priced pots of crisps. Ticketholders for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? have been asked in advance, in an email from the theatre, not to eat during performances. (Fear not: you're still allowed to take drinks in to this most booze-sodden of shows.)
Given the show stars Imelda Staunton, who last year spoke out against eating in theatres, the decision has been interpreted as either being at her behest, or at least out of respect for her feelings about mid-stalls munchers. And so this perennial debate once again causes a minor stink, like an egg sandwich snaffled as the curtain goes up.
6 comments:
While I can understand the authors point, I mostly disagree with the idea of having food in the theatre, not because it's the way things have always been, but because most food is distracting. The author makes some really good points about how their is a stigma against eating in the theatre, that many people believe its pure etiquette. I agree that this belief is detrimental to an environment that is already having trouble attracting new audiences because of the lack of knowledge in our theatre world rules. I certainly don't want to deny people the right to eat whenever they are hungry, but to me the cons out ways the pros of this argument. Overall, a production is hopefully no longer than 3 hours. That is not too significant a time to not be eating. Also, the food people do eat can be smelly and most of all noise. The will not only distract the actors, but also fellow audience members, all trying to fully invest in the world of the play but are being help back by the patron who decided not to wait that extra 30min to eat those lays chips.
I do not like the idea of eating food in theaters. I understand that some people think that theater is elitist because of its rules and etiquette, but I disagree. I think that's something that makes the experience. There are certain ways you act in certain spaces. Theaters, particularly bigger city theaters or Broadway theaters, tend to be fancier, with velvet curtains and seats, gilded detailing, chandeliers, and high ceilings. That isn't the kind of place where you eat potato chips or pop corn (or in the more extreme case an entire dinner) while you kick back. People go to shows knowing this. For so many it's a special occasion, a rare visit, something elevated by this fancier aura. I understand that it isn't fun to eat dinner very early, but as an avid theater goer it really isn't the worst thing, particularly since it's a rare enough occasion that you can plan ahead and make it all part of the experience. There's nothing wrong with not wanting food in a theater. I, for one, would rather not have gum on my seat or a mysterious sticky patch on the floor or hear the rustle of a chips bag that pulls me away from the wonderful story I came to see be unfolded before me.
Here is the thing in my opinion, if a theater is going to ban food in the house, then they shouldn’t sell food in the house. They also should not ban food but allow drinks into the house. It is just a double standard that won’t work. I also agree with the author that it is better for people to be comfortable in the theater — especially if they are new to it. That being said, it is really annoying to me for people to eat in the theater. If nothing else because I am usually the one who has to clean up, and the idea of putting food anywhere in a house which is meant to be a grand location with — at times — a palace like atmosphere, is just sad and counterintuitive. I understand the other side to this argument; however, I still side with not allowing food into theatrical houses.
I completely disagree with this author, As I think that eating during shows is very disrespectful to both the performers and the other audience members. Literally just yesterday when I saw Ragtime someone opened a bag of chips and started rustling them around during Coalhouse's Soliloquy. It immediately took me out of the show and it took me a little bit of time to get back into it, even though John was doing a phenomenal job onstage. I also have to disagree that shows are on at an "inconvenient time for our bellies". Most Broadway shows don't start until 8, and most people I know eat dinner way before that. I usually eat dinner as early as 5:30 if I have a rehearsal, and don't leave until 11 but I'm never hungry afterwards. Unless there is a medical reason that someone has to eat something during a 90 minute act I don't think that food should be allowed in theatres.
I understand the authors argument, but I do have to disagree. The sound of wrappers opening and soda cans popping can be very distracting while watching a production. I remember seeing Aladdin on broadway and couldn't help but feel like I was at the circus with the amount of people munching on popcorn and crinkling open candy wrappers. Now, in this case I wasn't seeing Aladdin for the most intense of theatrical experiences but it was still very distracting. With that said, people do have to eat and the argument the they can do it during intermission isn't that strong. Lines are long during intermission and 15 minutes isn't enough to go to the bathroom, grab s snack, and eat it before time's up. I have no problem with non-carbonated beverages because I think it would be cruel to not at least give your audience members some water. I think if theaters could sell snacks that weren't in loud wrappers I'd be perfectly fine, but realistically there probably won't be fresh baked cookies at ever concession stand.
I was not even aware that people perceived shows as being inconvenient in forcing you to stop eating for an hour and a half. I have personally never found myself overwhelmed with the need to sate my hunger while in the midst of indulging in the entertainment industry. Most shows occur at 8pm, which is well after the normal dinner time. Do people still need to eat after dinner? Is hunger something that most people can't just ignore and go on with their lives while it happens? Do you really need to do something about it now instead of in a few hours? It might just be me, but I really don't see any possible excuse for why you would have to eat in a theater. The wrappers make loud, disturbing-to-those-around-you sounds. It's sometimes messy and creates additional work for employees (someone spilled a coke in the house during the run of Ragtime). To top it all off, it's just disrespectful. Unless there is a legitimate medical reason for you to need to eat during a show, just don't. Learn some self control (mind over body), it will help you in the long run as well.
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