I was clearing some flotsam from our writing desk today and found some old tickets to the production of Wicked!
We had seen the musical during our last holiday to San Francisco and whereas Chris hated it, I kind of got caught up with the silliness of it all, and enjoyed it immensely.
We have been to many,many theater productions in the US (mainly on Broadway) and I have never quite gotten used to just how rude American audiences can be (please no offence intended to American readers here)
On the whole UK theater audiences are quiet and rather subdued, but American audiences (even the one at the the New York Met's production of The Magic Flute have a tendency to chatter a lot, a fact that has nearly driven me to complete distraction on occasion!
Once when I was working in Pittsburgh I went to see the movie Serial Mom (why?) and couldn't hear any of the first half of the movie because a family of 10 behind me was chatting merrily with each other as they where eating a huge picnic lunch!!!
When I complained in my stuffy English accent... the mother of the group threw an empty KFC box of bones at me!!!!
When I complained in my stuffy English accent... the mother of the group threw an empty KFC box of bones at me!!!!
This is why I enjoy going to the movies in an afternoon.. no one is around not in Wales!
Talking of theater going.. Nia my old theater going pal from the 1980s turned up today to say hello..... this is no mean feat as she now lives just outside Sydney Australia...but catching up with her on her whistle stop UK "tour" today reminded me , just how easy it is to meet up with true old friends and to pick up where you left off.
 |
| Nia ( which means Princess in Welsh) and family |
I can barely stand to go to any theaters because of chatter..and now..cell phones!
ReplyDeleteJohn, we travel to Pittsburgh for big shopping trips. Great city, crazy people.
When we first arrived in Canada we went to see "The Crying Game". The Canadian audience laughed at bits , and we couldn't understand why? W cheered when the IRA gor bombed...we were stared at and tut tutted. When in Rome...
ReplyDeleteJane x
I think it's about time that cinemas started issuing earphones as well as the 3-D glasses. If it isn't people talking they're rustling sweet wrappers, slurping the dregs of their buckets of Coke through a straw or answering their mobile phones. And they don't wait for the National Anthem at the end!!
ReplyDeleteI took my granddaughter to see Wicked in NY for her 12th birthday last year. Even though the seats were not good (nose-bleed), we enjoyed it immensely. We had no problem with people talking, as a matter of fact, I can't remember ever having that issue in the many plays I have seen. With the price of tickets, you would think that the audience would be paying attention. I am sorry for the ignorent Americans that spoiled your experience. Most of us are not like that.
ReplyDeleteI notice that in Canberra Theatres - live and motion picture - if you are chattering or making any undue distraction the ushers/usherettes will give you a warning and if you persist there is no third warning - its OUT YOU GO! I was at a live production of the Melbourne band, Wagons, with their unique take on country music at the Transit Bar last Friday as part of their 'Rumble, Shake & Tumble tour'.
ReplyDeleteMatt Banham, a solo artist from Adelaide warmed up the crowd with a little folk, a little synth-pop and a lot of dancing. He began with his back to the audience, repeatedly singing his name before launching into a cover of the Icehouse classic, 'Electric Blue' - anyway, as the act progressed there was a couple in the audience having an audible discussion. He stopped, walked off the stage and down onto the floor with a microphone and stood near them and said "Here, use this! I think a few people up the back cannot hear you!" That was it - brought the house down and we had no problems after that!
I was only just recovering from Matt Monro.
ReplyDeleteThe only place you can now guarantee a reasonably quiet audience is at a Panto.
We went to see a movie while in New York, one of the Blade franchise but I can't remember which one.
ReplyDeleteThe audience was absolutely insane - cheering and clapping at every little action scene.
To be honest it enhanced the experience for us, but I'm not sure I could cope with it all the time.
How true...we Yanks can be rather rowdy in public venues. I remember attending a first rate production of 'La Boheme' in Boston one time and at the height of poor Mimi's dying scene (and with me shedding profuse tears) an outspoken gentleman leaned forward and suggested I "buck up" and loudly whispered "Hey! maybe she'll make it this time!" It was odd, but it did make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI think you've just reminded me why we stopped going to the cinema about 6 years ago, and we used to go very regularly.
ReplyDeleteBut Serial Mom... how could you slag that off, it's brilliant. Just the word "Pussy Willow" in deep tones makes me giggle like a school girl.
I haven't been keeping up with blogs lately, John, so I missed your sad news about Constance. I am sorry to be late with my sympathies, but I am very sorry. I know how animals take over our hearts and losing them is losing a dear member of the family.
ReplyDeleteI stopped going to movies over five years ago because I so despite the rudeness of other audience members. Cell phones were the last straw. Manners are dead!
ReplyDelete"despise" not "despite"!
ReplyDeleteYou should try going to any kind of event in Thailand...they seem to think it obligatory to 'participate' in same by talking, laughing, singing, taking phone calls, getting up and moving around, and look at you cross-eyed when you ask them (politely, of course) to shut up!
ReplyDeleteNice to 'catch up' with your old friend! Sure sign that you could just pick up where you left off!
ReplyDeleteMovie theatres can be a real pain....we don't go that often anymore......quieter if we rent them and view at home.
When young I lived for while near Epsom which boasted a group of five mental hospitals...whose clients used to like going to the cheap matinee performances at the cinema.
ReplyDeleteThey were neither noisy nor offensive...but their version of enjoying the cinema could be more interesting than the films...
Cleaning one's tennis shoes....
Heating soup from one of the then up to the minute army self heating soup containers....
Reading the newspaper....
Bringing a picnic and offering it round to those in nearby seats....
Pittsburgh... eat your heart out...
When I was a kid, going to the movies was a raucous, noise-making, candy-tossing, and CHEAP way to enjoy a breath of chilled air on a hot day. Now, we watch movies at home. Don't have to spend an arm and a leg to watch them, don't have to put up with the rudeness of others, the snacks are better, and the bathroom facilities are cleaner.
ReplyDeleteLove the comment about your friend, it's so true.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen "Wicked" but my daughter has, and she was captivated, she said that it was a real visual feast.
Enjoy your weekend .
Being hard of hearing means that that kind of chatter makes any theatre/film performance totally useless.
ReplyDeleteAlways nice to catch up with old friends.
The ladies that frequent the Lyceum can be annoying with the chit chat too! I once had to tell 2 women off behind me who had brought their kid to see Roald Dahl's BFG and thought that they could catch up on the gossip whilst the kids (who behaved very well) watched the play! I told them to go and sit in the bar! And don't get me started on the rattling sweet bags! xxxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for the "Defying Gravity" clip. That song is an inspiration. I don't love every last bit of the show, but overall I would say I do love it (especially this song and "Popular")! We've had similar experiences in American movie theaters on the East Coast. Californians tend to be much more respectful (they're always looking for their friends and themselves in the credits)!
ReplyDeleteLet my apologize for my fellow rude Americans.
ReplyDeleteI love to get lost in a film, uninterrupted.
diane
ReplyDeleteas i RECALL the staff in the lyceum were really hot shutting talkers and toffee eaters up!!!
Oh, please, please tell me that you threw that box of bones right back. I've been known to chase chatters right out of their seats and when that's not successful, to demand my money back. After all, I paid just as much as them to be there. Lane
ReplyDelete