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Post by n1david on Aug 8, 2017 16:21:57 GMT
A rather strange article in the Standard today saying that "West End stars and theatre-goers" were urging West End theatres to allow glasses into the auditorium rather than forcing everyone to drink from plastic cups. www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/west-end-stars-and-theatregoers-call-for-end-to-big-brotherstyle-plastic-cup-rule-a3606556.htmlIt's not entirely clear who this group are, apart from the people interviewed, and as the article makes clear, Westminster council does not demand that theatres use plastic (although if an establishment has problems they may be forced to use plastic, as happens in some rowdy pubs). The one theatre that I know did previously allow glass, Above the Stag, is now plastic-only due to the risk of breakages, and that they believe glasses make more noise (although that is a small auditorium) I was amused by Jodie Prenger's quote: "For some performances, the more you drink the better it gets." For some performances, being comatose through drink is definitely the best state to view the production... |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2017 17:24:14 GMT
I guess the main argument for switching to glass (which oddly isn't mentioned in the article!) is to reduce the environmental impact of the number of single-use plastic cups that are used.
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Post by d'James on Aug 8, 2017 17:31:39 GMT
I guess the main argument for switching to glass (which oddly isn't mentioned in the article!) is to reduce the environmental impact of the number of single-use plastic cups that are used. I find plastic cups with ice in them noisier than glass ones. A breakage would be annoying and dangerous though. I'd rather they just lowered the prices though, plastic doesn't bother me to drink from at all. |
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Post by crowblack on Aug 8, 2017 17:31:55 GMT
Maybe they should try camping-style enamel cups? I can't see how they'd make much difference to the taste of wine, if you're not bothered by drinking from plastic either.
Btw, they should make it obligatory to unwrap and decant sweets etc into a carton before you go in. Girl next to me on the front row of Hamlet unwrapped and ate a whole pack of paper-covered sweets. And it was front row, right by the actors because it was in the Almeida, so I couldn't turn and say shut up.
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Post by Mark on Aug 8, 2017 17:45:30 GMT
Never heard any complaints to be honest
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Post by alece10 on Aug 8, 2017 17:50:06 GMT
They allow glasses and bottles into Southwark Playhouse which has wooden floor and no carpeting. You can guarantee everytime that at least 6 people will kick over their glass or bottle during a quiet bit of the show. I quietly tutt under my breath.
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Post by stefy69 on Aug 8, 2017 18:21:55 GMT
No , No , No
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Post by profquatermass on Aug 8, 2017 18:48:46 GMT
I assume, possibly wrongly, that those thick plastic glasses are reusable
I was in a pub in Villiers Street the other day (can't remember the name, it's about half way down on the East side) and half way through the evening they switched to plastie glasses. There was a notice on the bar mentioning licensing regulations but the same restrictions don't apply to anywhere else round there (certainly not the All Bar One opposite)
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Post by Sue on Aug 8, 2017 18:53:49 GMT
I've got sore lips now thanks to the badly finished, rough rimmed plastic flute I was given at Birmingham on Saturday night. You don't get that with glass!
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Post by Kenneth_C on Aug 8, 2017 18:59:49 GMT
At the newly-opened Hudson Theatre in NYC for Sunday in the Park with George, March 2017:  |
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Post by ali973 on Aug 8, 2017 19:30:47 GMT
Or no food or beverages in the theatre, thank you. BTW- it's far more irritating in the US where these "showcups" are filled with ice and makes noise all throughout the show.
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Post by lynette on Aug 8, 2017 20:17:19 GMT
No, I'm sorry but glass can be dangerous. Not being soppy but glass shards are v difficult to spot when something breaks and glass is also unpredictable as to breakability. And what if in an emotional moment you squeeze the glass just too much...no, sorry, stick to plastic but make it better quality plastic.
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Post by Marwood on Aug 8, 2017 20:42:19 GMT
I quite liking having a drink while seeing a show but I'm not bothered whether it is in plastic or in glass, I have been to shows where they have allowed glass in and some eejit has either broken a glass or knocked over a wine bottle while the show is in flow and mayhem has ensued, so I'd say leave things as they are.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 8, 2017 20:53:26 GMT
If you start using glass I'll have to start thinking twice about taking my shoes and socks off!
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Post by d'James on Aug 8, 2017 20:56:49 GMT
If you start using glass I'll have to start thinking twice about taking my shoes and socks off! Now we're all convinced. |
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Post by crowblack on Aug 9, 2017 8:57:49 GMT
no food or beverages in the theatre Water for coughing, but I really hate sitting next to someone who is nursing a big glass of wine all through the show. |
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Post by Tibidabo on Aug 9, 2017 10:09:05 GMT
I just don't understand why people cannot sit for an hour and a half WITHOUT SHOVING STUFF INTO THEIR BODIES. It's annoying. Whatever the vessel is made out of. Just ban it all - they do at the ROH - last time we went the ushers ignored Mr T's stupid Apple wrist lighting up throughout the first act but came down on me like a ton of bricks when I got out a bottle of water IN THE INTERVAL! They made me step outside.
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Post by n1david on Aug 9, 2017 10:28:44 GMT
Just ban it all - they do at the ROH - last time we went the ushers ignored Mr T's stupid Apple wrist lighting up throughout the first act but came down on me like a ton of bricks when I got out a bottle of water IN THE INTERVAL! They made me step outside. Interestingly when the Pet Shop Boys played their “Inner Sanctum” shows at the ROH, drinks were permitted inside the auditorium. So either they charged the Pets for additional cleaning, or it’s an artistic policy decision for ROH shows to avoid people swigging during shows. |
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Post by Tibidabo on Aug 9, 2017 10:35:41 GMT
Wow, who won when you got there? Thank you TM. I needed that laugh on this soggy, grumpy Wednesday.  |
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 9, 2017 16:44:33 GMT
Just ban it all - they do at the ROH - last time we went the ushers ignored Mr T's stupid Apple wrist lighting up throughout the first act but came down on me like a ton of bricks when I got out a bottle of water IN THE INTERVAL! They made me step outside. Sounds like Act 1 of a 'contemporary' opera. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 17:59:05 GMT
From a gig point of view, i know music venues use plastic glasses as they pose no threat to the performers. Glass can be used as a weapon and thrown with intent to injure. I know theatre is a lot tamer and mature, but still. Glass is glass. All it takes is someone whose had a few too many, disengaged from the performance, in an environment they're not used to the etiquette of and you could have a problem on your hands.
Risk assessment wise, from a venues point of view too, plastic is a lot safer all round and generally human safety trumps environmental impact.
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Post by Tibidabo on Aug 9, 2017 18:01:53 GMT
Sounds like Act 1 of a 'contemporary' opera. Ha! There's more - I put it in the Bad Behaviour thread months ago. At the interval my 2 girls and I tried to relieve Mr T of his stupid light-up wrist thing (it was flashing up football scores, not paging him for brain surgery it should be noted.) He refused to turn it off saying no one noticed or cared (he obviously hasn't read this board!) A friend of my daughter's just happened to be ushering over the other side so she texted him to come and have 'a word!' Stupid light-up wrist thing now gets confiscated before we leave the house.  |
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Post by n1david on Aug 9, 2017 22:05:25 GMT
Stupid light-up wrist thing now gets confiscated before we leave the house. That's not necessary - assuming that it's an Apple Watch, and it's on the latest software, there's a "theatre mode" which means it won't light up when the user moves their wrist, and eon't light up or buzz for alerts. As usual, the technology isn't the problem, it's the user - they do have to turn it on. |
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Post by alece10 on Aug 10, 2017 6:02:18 GMT
At the Les Mis 25th anniversary concert at the O2 I bought a bottle of water and staff made me take the top off the bottle before I entered the arena. I pointend out that it could be dangerous if the bottle got knocked over and spilt water onto the concrete floor and someone could slip on the steep stairs. I was told it was people could use the bottles as missiles and throw them. They had obviously heard of the reputation us musical theatre audiences have for inciting violence in the theatre.
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Post by Kenneth_C on Aug 10, 2017 7:02:13 GMT
The Hudson Theatre (which is owned by ATG, btw) posted the Evening Standard article on Facebook yesterday with the following comment: "Doing our best to lead the way in #Broadway customer experience. Glassware for all!"So, they've been using glasses for months now and are very supportive of the policy. Guess they haven't had patrons smashing them underfoot, launching them at the cast or attacking the ushers with them. Who've thought? Maybe if you treat people like adults, they actually act like adults. |
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