Bad Behaviour at a Show

Yep - especially as he was nowhere near drinking age! I wasn’t noting the exact quantities, but it was enough for a noticeable change in behaviour in Act Two…

I never understand people who discuss spoilers when at the show in question, is it some sort of signaling of how much more ‘knowledgeable’ they are? I hadn’t seen it before but did cotton onto what the conclusion of 2:22 was before the interval and I didn’t even discuss what was at that point just a theory incase it was correct.

I took my mum to Cursed Child earlier this year and granted it had been in the public domain for about 5 and a half years at this point but directly behind us someone who I think was a regular attendee was loudly discussing the reveal of the ‘big bad’ before it took place. Is there any need really?

Have you thought or perhaps covering your ears or moving away from them? I imagine they probably thought it was rude of a total stranger to tell them to stop talking during the interval. 

If it was during the show itself, I'd totally understand but during the interval it's no different to someone discussing a show or film they've just seen on the way home on the bus or the train, it's not great but demanding people stop talking about the show is a bit confrontational IMO. 

Oh I see, I misunderstood. I thought you meant approaching them at the interval to confront them about their behaviour during the show itself.

I guess you can't help what people discuss during an interval, although personally I'd be trying to avoid discussing things that would spoil it for those around me.

I was at Heathers over the weekend and what looked like a mother and daughter duo right from the moment they sat down where a constant issue. They treated the stage like a table despite being told several times by the ushers not to put their coats and drinks on the stage, they talked to each other the whole way through act one loud enough so it distracted the actors on stage, the daughter sang her way through the show which was incredibly distracting for anyone who had her in eyeline. But during the veronica fake suicide scene they were spoken to by the manager about their behaviour and they swiftly exited before the bows with faces like thunder.

I watched My Fair Lady at the Millennium Centre. Enjoyed the show, but could hear constant chatting in between songs and I couldn’t work out where it was coming from in my row, then I realised it was coming from the orchestra pit…It was very distracting. Also distracting was the orchestra member that alternated between scrolling on her phone and completing a word-search book. I guess they get bored after doing so many shows, and I don’t know if they realised how much we could see and hear them, but it was hard to concentrate on the show at times.

Sorry. Really long post. Went to a matinee at Hope Mill Theatre today. The seating plan made it look like I was off to one side but I found the seat was actually pretty central. Was a really nice surprise.

Less nice was when a load of Scouse women came in and, with a loud ‘oh, sh*t!’ from one of them, started piling into the row behind. One of them had one of those little wheeled suitcases, which the usher tried to get them to put behind the bar, to no avail. Really boisterous considering it was only early, I was surprised to hear they were only on lemonade.

The lights went down and of course they chatted amongst themselves during the little overture, which is always annoying, but I thought ‘they’ll shut up once the show starts properly.’ They didn’t. On and on they went, oblivious to the people on the front row turning and glaring at them and I noticed one of the cast giving them dirty looks too. Then one of them got up for the toilet, ignored the usher trying to take her out the back way, and went out along the little aisle in front of the stage.

I made a beeline for the loo myself the moment the interval started and returned to find that the usher had had a word while I was away. Apparently they had been asked to keep quiet as the noise they were making was upsetting the cast. Much chuntering and carping and swearing about how they’ve been treated… they’re only showing their appreciation… they didn’t know it’s not a pantomime… can’t believe they’ve been spoken to like a child… One of them made a dig about the usher, referred to as ‘the her/him with the glasses.’ Another was fuming and decided she wasn’t staying, though only made it as far as the bar apparently.

I was hoping they’d all follow her lead and do one, but no such luck. Then one of them started crying which attracted the attention of someone apparently on the management side. He tried to smooth it over, apologising to THEM, told them he’d get the usher reassigned to another area and was there anything he could do to get the one who’d thrown a strop to come back in.

I’ve read on here before about disruptive idiots being treated with kid gloves but that’s the first time I’ve seen it in person. I’m not a confrontational person but the more I think about it, the more I wish I’d said something. Can’t believe the usher would get in trouble for asking people to stop disrupting the performance.

As the second act got under way they were then moaning about how other people are aloud to laugh. As if laughing at a joke is comparable to talking all the way through the first act in a tiny venue where you’re only a few feet away from the actors. Astounding lack of self-awareness.

After that they did actually shut up for the most part for act two. Apart from them it was a good show. I’m glad I was able to see it as it looks to have sold out right after I got my ticket.

As a side note, the one that ran out to the toilet didn’t realise the loos are unisex and somehow missed the urinals on the wall so had the fright of her life when she came out of the cubicle to find a bunch of men peeing. 😂

I sympathise with the fact that you had to endure some really poor behaviour. It would have infuriated me.

But why mention that these women were Scouse? Why is this relevant? Without further explanation, it feels like you are trying to tap into anti-Liverpudlian prejudice. I spend a lot of time in Liverpool,and most people there are quite lovely and down to earth, just as elsewhere.

I get your point, and I don't really disagree. I'm in favour of laying out all the facts. But people would object if the detail in that post were "black" rather than "scouse". Is the idea that racism trumps xenophobia? We do seem to accept "women" being mentioned, presumably because no-one would extrapolate that this was stereotypical behaviour for half the population, although some misogynists might. The post did seem to conjure a lazy stereotype.

Same with me on Friday at Hex. Group of 4 who clearly should have gone to a bar or restaurant for a night out as they just wanted to have a good chat and catch up.
Luckily Hex was too much for them and they walked out after 20 minutes.