Bad Behaviour at a Show

not for much longer sadly Ill miss Churchill

Forgot to mention - borderline bad behaviour but probably falls into the "Look at us narcissists, don't you know who we are?" thread that is begging to be created...

At Chichester Festival 'Oliver!' there was a band playing in the field space behind the theatre - they weren't the problem, in fact they were quite good! Where the band had set up their stage, two people (one male/one female), both dressed in black with sunglasses, decided to plonk themselves right by the band. Not a problem, though the constant "too cool for this" vibe coming off them was irritating. The guy looked like a Sam Smith wannabe, and I particularly liked the way when it was time to go in, they got up and walked towards the door with the guy marching through leaving the lady to manage her own door. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned, but holding the door open for her might have been considered good manners.

The "look at us" behaviour continued in the theatre, by which time I was starting to feel a little obsessed. I had a deep curiosity as to where all the hair sweeping and nonchalent affected behaviour was going to go. Fortunately the show started and I completely forgot about them until the show ended and the cast were taking their first bows when these two people got up and walked out, sashaying along the front row towards the exit in a very "you're looking at us not them" way. Personally I thought it was the height of rudeness and takes a certain level of audacity and tenacity to steal the limelight from a cast taking its bows.

I may have misread the situation entirely - I have no idea who they were, so apologies to them if they were actually somebody REALLY important and felt that their status entitled them to behave the way they did. In reality they were possibly just niche influencers desperate for any kind of attention, even if it means throwing shade on a small band or a theatre cast.

I won't. Nasty fleapit.

Site up for sale including library. Future very uncertain. Has quite a variety of touring musicals, plays, opera, ballet,

Unfortunately like many theatres, prices are going up quite a lot. This is of course not the fault of the theatre but visiting companies are facing increasing costs.. The place really does need refurbishment.

And of course the same people were booing the ‘baddie’ at the end!

It's good manners to hold a door for anyone following closely behind you!

I have been snapped at several times for doing this and have been accused of being patronising. I have asked numerous females about this and many have agreed that they see it as condescension. I emphasise this is a view held by many who are not in the younger age range Can’t win but for me it is a reflex reaction to let a lady through first. I cant help being old fashioned; my excuse is my age!.

Then again there are grumbles about there are no gentlemen any more

I fully agree with you. Courtesy should be extended to all!

I made the point about ladies as no man has ever complained. I should have been clearer. Thanks for making your point 

Exactly.

There's holding a door open because you're polite versus making a big deal about 'look at me holding the door for poor helpless you'. A man once held a door open for me, saying "Here you go, little lady!" I know he was trying to be charming, but I was in college, he was middle-aged and it came off smarmy and condescending.

I was in front of a couple of men last night at Hello Dolly! who were clearly huge fans of the show and were very keen to make sure those of us around them knew it. Yes, I know you know every line in this thing by heart - you don't need to be saying every line under your breath along with the actors on stage, complete with every bit of cadence and rhythm. Fortunately it didn't seem to extend to singing along.

The people next to us at Mean Girls on Saturday turned up late, missing the first song, then it seems they threw up on their way out at the interval over the seats next to them. They didn't return for act 2.