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Post by floorshow on Jul 2, 2022 9:55:15 GMT
A seated rock show rather than theatre but I'm going to moan anyway.
Seated, front row and right in the centre - about 2 foot from the singer.
The girl on my right starts talking constantly to her partner about 5 songs in. By the second half she is face timing her friend and talking loud enough for the people on my left to be glaring at her. Once she hangs up on her friend, she then proceeds to tell boyfriend details of the conversation we've all been forced to listen to.
Lights come up at the end and she then starts to complain to people because they are standing around her (literally leaving) and when are the band coming back out for an encore?
Lockdown suited some people...
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 2, 2022 16:49:02 GMT
Opera directors are far more likely to get booed for their ghastly productions! Is that a thing? Can we make it a thing, and for more than just opera? (I'm thinking of Benedict Cumberbatch in Lyndsey Turner's 2015 Hamlet. He was great.. the production was a hot mess.) It only really works for the first night of a new production when the director takes a curtain call so can be booed. Otherwise it would be difficult for audiences to show they were booing the production & not the cast. |
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Post by sfsusan on Jul 2, 2022 19:09:40 GMT
It only really works for the first night of a new production when the director takes a curtain call so can be booed. Otherwise it would be difficult for audiences to show they were booing the production & not the cast. That's what I was wondering. 'Opening night' explains why I've never seen a director take a curtain call. |
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Post by sph on Jul 2, 2022 21:51:46 GMT
I believe back in the day (it never happens now) audiences would shout "author!" on an opening night encouraging the playwright to take a bow. Some writers were known for starting the shouting themselves from the back of the auditorium so they could run down the aisle for their own curtain call!
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Post by marob on Jul 3, 2022 7:14:17 GMT
Sister Act yesterday in Manchester. The huns were out in force, armed to the teeth with prosecco. So then about forty minutes in they all start dashing out to the loos. It was like some sort of toilet-based relay, as soon as one came back, someone else would get up and go. Never seen anything quite like it. Must have happened at least twenty times, which is quite remarkable as I was only in the fourth row of the stalls so it’s not like there were that many people in my view to start with.
Curiously there were also two women who left about an hour. Nothing unusual about that as such, except both had nun outfits on.
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Post by thesoberpanda on Jul 3, 2022 8:06:12 GMT
Slightly concerning behaviour at yesterday's Lion King ...
Having bought lottery tickets on Monday we found ourselves on opposite sides of the theatre. At the end I went to wait in the bar area for MrsSP to arrive. When she did she had the most curious look on her face. So in the crowd she felt someone stroking her backside. She turned around about to react thinking that it was me (and that maybe I'd been able to sneak around ... Probably something I would do as a joke but not at LK) anyway she couldn't see me so carried on and it happened again literally as she saw my face at the bar.
She thinks it was a guy who was with his wife and I asked her how she wanted to deal with the situation ie. Confront them or speak to security but it happened so fast that they were already gone. My wife is ok and managed to laugh it off (because of all the places to go you don't expect a seedy little man to be behaving like that at Disney right ??) But I'd imagine that there's plenty of people who wouldn't be able to process this in that way and neither should they have to!
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Post by A.Ham on Jul 4, 2022 10:17:12 GMT
Curiously there were also two women who left about an hour. Nothing unusual about that as such, except both had nun outfits on. Could they have been Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane?! 😂 |
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Post by ceebee on Jul 5, 2022 20:29:08 GMT
Slightly concerning behaviour at yesterday's Lion King ... Having bought lottery tickets on Monday we found ourselves on opposite sides of the theatre. At the end I went to wait in the bar area for MrsSP to arrive. When she did she had the most curious look on her face. So in the crowd she felt someone stroking her backside. She turned around about to react thinking that it was me (and that maybe I'd been able to sneak around ... Probably something I would do as a joke but not at LK) anyway she couldn't see me so carried on and it happened again literally as she saw my face at the bar. She thinks it was a guy who was with his wife and I asked her how she wanted to deal with the situation ie. Confront them or speak to security but it happened so fast that they were already gone. My wife is ok and managed to laugh it off (because of all the places to go you don't expect a seedy little man to be behaving like that at Disney right ??) But I'd imagine that there's plenty of people who wouldn't be able to process this in that way and neither should they have to! Somebody walking behind my daughter who is 13 said "I can't help but look at women's arses". I swear, the day somebody does that in my presence is the day I end up with an assault charge or worse. Reminder to immature men/boys: this behaviour is now illegal in the UK. |
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Post by PhantomNcl on Jul 6, 2022 8:42:21 GMT
Les Mis at the Sondheim last Wednesday evening - had a very noisy school party (14/15 year olds) behind us. Pre-show the two girls sat behind us shouted to their teacher "Miss, we can't see over the two people in front!!" She said "Don't worry, I'll have a chat with someone and get them moved"
She must have seen the look on my face (eyes rolling so far back in my head they could be used as rear-view mirrors) and said "Oh, just move your head to the left or right, they've paid for their seats".
Two of the students fell asleep in act 1 (one snoring, the other slid out of her seat) so in the interval I suggested they swap places with the two behind us as they didn't need a clear view...
Act 2 was full of chatting, rustling crisp packets, crinkling of drinks bottles, more snoring, and a very loud "God, how much longer is this going on?" during Javert's final scene.
Added to this... 3 kids sat next to me, probably about 8 or 9 years old, their family further along the row happily drinking and ignoring the kids. The kids were actually pretty well behaved, to my surprise (with the exception of one squeezing a Coke can in time to the music during Bring Him Home), but just as the show started the one next to me took off his trainers to make himself comfortable on his booster cushion. 2 minutes later the stench of the sweatiest feet ever rose up, and every time he moved there was a new waft came over. Fortunately he put the shoes on during the interval to go to the loo and didn't take them off again!
My friend was on a first-time visit to the show and said "Oh, I thought that was a smell they pumped into the theatre to make it smell like the slums of Paris!!"
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Post by A.Ham on Jul 6, 2022 11:11:39 GMT
Bloody hell. That lot would’ve pissed me right off and ruined it for me.
My ‘best’ (worst) Les Mis experience was during the staged concert run last summer when I was in the front row. A slightly drunk older couple next me, Fantine dies - he turns to his wife during the silence as the audience accept her demise, and loudly asks her ‘Is she dead then?’ much to my horror.
He also spent most of the show manspreading so I had the pleasure of his leg constantly touching mine during the show. Yes I could’ve moved mine but why should I be all cramped up just because he can’t remain within his own space?!
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Post by hannechalk on Jul 6, 2022 14:13:20 GMT
Well, this is a ride and a half.
Rob Houchen spotted a poster in which he and other musical theatre-performers were announced to perform at an event at the Phoenix Club in September. First of all he had no knowledge of this, second they spelled his name wrong.
Turns out none of the performers on the poster had this engagement in their diaries.
The Phoenix Club did take a booking for that night, under the impression it was a standard birthday party.
The organiser appears to be a somewhat deluded lady who thought that sending tweets like 'Please come perform at my birthday party' was adequate enough to make posters announcing they would be there, because none of them had said no.
She's denying it's a scam, but numerous people have pointed out it's misleading advertising if none of the performers are actually going to be there.
The Phoenix Club have cancelled the reservation.
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Post by inthenose on Jul 6, 2022 14:32:44 GMT
Well, this is a ride and a half. Rob Houchen spotted a poster in which he and other musical theatre-performers were announced to perform at an event at the Phoenix Club in September. First of all he had no knowledge of this, second they spelled his name wrong. Turns out none of the performers on the poster had this engagement in their diaries. The Phoenix Club did take a booking for that night, under the impression it was a standard birthday party. The organiser appears to be a somewhat deluded lady who thought that sending tweets like 'Please come perform at my birthday party' was adequate enough to make posters announcing they would be there, because none of them had said no. She's denying it's a scam, but numerous people have pointed out it's misleading advertising if none of the performers are actually going to be there. The Phoenix Club have cancelled the reservation. This is comedy gold. I recommend people read the Twitter thread for the absolute insanity of it all. |
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Post by hannechalk on Jul 6, 2022 14:51:39 GMT
[/quote]
This is comedy gold. I recommend people read the Twitter thread for the absolute insanity of it all.[/quote]
Apparently she is quite well-known amongst West End-performers, and has been told she makes them feel uncomfortable.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 6, 2022 14:54:19 GMT
The Phoenix Club have cancelled the reservation. I feel rather sorry for her. Putting on an entertainment event is a lot of work, licences, insurance, health and safety provision, rehearsals, accompanying band etc. We can all make a list. She clearly has no idea and thinks if you book a room and some musicians, you have a concert. Probably her dream concert, but she doesn't seem to have considered such little things as where the performers will change (well, she may expect them to sit in the audience with her) or that they might like to be paid. The event obviously can't go ahead, but I hope people can let her down gently. |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Jul 6, 2022 15:05:43 GMT
Charging £40 to attend your birthday party is pretty cheeky even without the other stuff.
This all reminds me of the time an obsessed Ben Cumberbatch fan tried to throw an “official” Frankenstein last night party by reserving a space at the NT then hanging around outside trying to thrust self-printed invites into the cast and crew’s hands, and promoting it on Tumblr (or may even have been LiveJournal) as “the official NT party.” Iirc the cast and crew wound up partying at the BFI bar in full view of the “NT party.”
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Post by hannechalk on Jul 6, 2022 15:32:04 GMT
Charging £40 to attend your birthday party is pretty cheeky even without the other stuff. This all reminds me of the time an obsessed Ben Cumberbatch fan tried to throw an “official” Frankenstein last night party by reserving a space at the NT then hanging around outside trying to thrust self-printed invites into the cast and crew’s hands, and promoting it on Tumblr (or may even have been LiveJournal) as “the official NT party.” Iirc the cast and crew wound up partying at the BFI bar in full view of the “NT party.” There was once a Linzi Hateley-fan who during Linzi's tenure at Blood Brothers booked to see the show, and dropped off donuts for the cast at stagedoor. She was then convinced that the cast put numerous references to donuts into the show especially for her, to say thanks, because donuts are not usually mentioned in the show. She was shown screenshots of the script mentioning donuts, but no, she was convinced it was a one-off, just for her. Apparently donuts didn't exist 'back then', so they can't be in the script. |
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Post by frappuccino on Jul 6, 2022 15:39:33 GMT
Well, this is a ride and a half. Rob Houchen spotted a poster in which he and other musical theatre-performers were announced to perform at an event at the Phoenix Club in September. First of all he had no knowledge of this, second they spelled his name wrong. Turns out none of the performers on the poster had this engagement in their diaries. The Phoenix Club did take a booking for that night, under the impression it was a standard birthday party. The organiser appears to be a somewhat deluded lady who thought that sending tweets like 'Please come perform at my birthday party' was adequate enough to make posters announcing they would be there, because none of them had said no. She's denying it's a scam, but numerous people have pointed out it's misleading advertising if none of the performers are actually going to be there. The Phoenix Club have cancelled the reservation. Reply Lesley Armstrong @lesleyarmstron4 Replying to @robhouchen It is not a scam Rob, it is going ahead. I have tried to contact you, no reply. Please don’t call it a scam! You just haven’t got back to me on yes/no Jesus people are so quick to judge. It’s fine if you you don’t wish to perform but please don’t refer this as a scam. Thank you katie @katiemcb0yle Hi Lesley!! Just a polite note to say you should quickly check over advertising regulations or you may be reported to trading standards - pushing sales by suggesting a performer will be present when they have not confirmed their attendance is classed as misleading/deceptive 😂 |
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Post by alece10 on Jul 6, 2022 16:16:24 GMT
The following Twitter post appeared this morning.
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Post by alex90 on Jul 13, 2022 10:43:34 GMT
First time seeing the new production of Les Mis last night and while it was nice to see the house packed, what wasn't so great was the constant photography including flash from around the upper circle, 3 people recording One Day More in its entirety and many more on their phones and smartwatches with full brightness throughout. I did find it mildly amusing to see someone loudly shush a couple near them so they could get a better recording. The only moment where the whole theatre truly seemed to be engaged in the show and was quiet with phones away was for Bring Him Home (which was beautifully performed by one of the understudies though I didn't note down their name). Prior to the lockdowns I hadn't ever spotted somebody trying to record during a show before but in every performance both here and in New York this year it seems to be a guarantee.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jul 13, 2022 10:44:21 GMT
(which was beautifully performed by one of the understudies though I didn't note down their name) Luke McCall the alternate JVJ was on yesterday  |
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Post by richey on Jul 20, 2022 22:36:24 GMT
Well it finally had to happen to me, having seen enough shows this year I was surrounded by irritating audience members at South Pacific tonight.
Family in front behaved like they were in front of the tv, passing crisps back and forth and chatting.
Woman next seat but one from me decided to film one song with the flash on full on her phone. Given we were in second row of stalls, it shone right on stage.
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Post by theatrelover82 on Jul 21, 2022 11:31:17 GMT
Well it finally had to happen to me, having seen enough shows this year I was surrounded by irritating audience members at South Pacific tonight. Family in front behaved like they were in front of the tv, passing crisps back and forth and chatting. Woman next seat but one from me decided to film one song with the flash on full on her phone. Given we were in second row of stalls, it shone right on stage. So disappointed to hear this! Don’t the ushers try to curb this type of behavior? Or are they afraid to get involved for fear of escalating the situation? |
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Post by richey on Jul 21, 2022 11:54:59 GMT
Well it finally had to happen to me, having seen enough shows this year I was surrounded by irritating audience members at South Pacific tonight. Family in front behaved like they were in front of the tv, passing crisps back and forth and chatting. Woman next seat but one from me decided to film one song with the flash on full on her phone. Given we were in second row of stalls, it shone right on stage. So disappointed to hear this! Don’t the ushers try to curb this type of behavior? Or are they afraid to get involved for fear of escalating the situation? to their credit they were on the ball with the filming, she came straight over and stopped it. |
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Post by og on Jul 21, 2022 12:47:38 GMT
The Phoenix Club have cancelled the reservation. I feel rather sorry for her. Putting on an entertainment event is a lot of work, licences, insurance, health and safety provision, rehearsals, accompanying band etc. We can all make a list. She clearly has no idea and thinks if you book a room and some musicians, you have a concert. Probably her dream concert, but she doesn't seem to have considered such little things as where the performers will change (well, she may expect them to sit in the audience with her) or that they might like to be paid. The event obviously can't go ahead, but I hope people can let her down gently. She seems to have taken it really well.... |
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Post by lynette on Jul 23, 2022 22:13:29 GMT
I’m breathless with anticipation. Is this event happening? Where and when?
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