Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte- Page 3
Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
#50Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 8:57am
I've gently confronted a couple of people using their cell phones, and the results have always been positive.
However, the people I really want to confront - and who have collectively been by far the most disruptive to my theater experiences - are latecomers. When one of them expects me to stand up while they block my view in the middle of a performance, I just want to glare at them and tell them to go back in the direction they came from. I know that would only extend the disruption, so I end up just glaring.
I know this has been a controversial topic here, with people listing all sorts of excuses for this kind of rudeness. But I've been on time for hundreds of performances, and never late once. I know it could well come to pass that I arrive late for a performance at some point, but I'm quite sure that if that happens, I would rather miss the show (or the first act) rather than be so rude as to interfere with the enjoyment of those who arrived on time.
ArtMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
#51Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:17am
What I have noticed lately is people's refusal to stand up and let me through, either before the performance or at intermission. With space between the seats already limited and my being 6'3 and muscular it is quite difficult at times to get by when the person just sits. It happens just as often with women or men, young or old, gay or straight. At a performance recently, at intermission, two guys just sat there and there was no space and I couldn't get past them. I finally stated "are you going to let me by?". They still just sat. So I stepped all over them with my size 13 feet. I did not care for a second if i harmed them in any way.
#52Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:20am
EllieRose2 said: "Can people in America really NOT go a few hours without food or water? Unless you have a medical condition, you can. I am actually telling you, the human body can handle it. Really and Truly."
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#53Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:26am
WhizzerMarvin said: "Her 25/30 age limit is stupid though; Yes, taking a 6 year old to Three Tall Women is probably a bad idea, and if the child were to be disruptive, I would feel bad telling the parents to shush him or her, but there’s no reason an 18 year old shouldn’t see show."
I took a 10 year old girl to the recent Broadway revival of The Crucible. I thought it an odd interest for someone her age, but she very much wanted to go with me and her parents gave their consent. We sat in the front center orchestra area and she was as quiet as a mouse throughout the entire show. In fact, the only time she even moved was when the live wolf/dog crossed the stage near the end of the first act (she clutched my arm). Afterwards, she proclaimed it the best play she'd ever seen (and she's seen quite a few).
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#54Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:33am
kdogg36 said: "I've been on time for hundreds of performances, and never late once. I know it could well come to pass that I arrive late for a performance at some point, but I'm quite sure that if that happens, I would rather miss the show (or the first act) rather than being so rude as to interfere with the enjoyment of those who arrived on time."
Same here. I know the unexpected can happen at any time (e.g., transportation delays, slow service at a pre-dinner meal, etc.), but I believe most tardiness occurs because a lot of people are simply inconsiderate of others and behave like the world revolves around them ( "It took me a while to get dressed, so they'll just have to hold the curtain for me!" ).
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#55Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:36amWow a lot of white privilege in this thread.
ArtMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
#56Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:42am
poisonivy2 said: "Wow a lot of white privilege in this thread."
Support your argument, because I don't see that.
#57Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:45am
Only white people can get away with physically assaulting others in a theatre and bragging about it on a message board and not getting arrested.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#58Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:52amWho is white?
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
ArtMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
#59Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:53am
I hope your comment was not directed towards me, because no physical assault took place. If a person chooses to be so inconsiderate and will not let a person pass, then they suffer the consequences of my butt or crotch in their face or my feet stepping on them. BTW, your "only white people" comment is just as eye rolling as "only white people are racist" comments that I have read on Broadwayworld for years.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#60Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:57am
ArtMan said: "I hope your comment was not directed towards me, because no physical assault took place. If a person chooses to be so inconsiderate and will not let a person pass, then they sufferthe consequences of my butt or crotch in their face or my feet stepping on them. BTW, your "only white people" comment is just as eye rolling as "only white people are racist" comments that I have read on Broadwayworld for years."
We are in total agreement.
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
#61Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:00ampoisonivy2, I smacked the shoulder of a man in front of me who was passing a noisy bag of bagel chips between himself and his mother during Les Miz. I'm not white (and I got away with it)! Thanks, Imperial, for your inattentive ushers!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#62Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:11am
I'm talking about Amanda Duarte.
#63Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:13amThanks for clarifying! Now...I'm not a fan of hyperbole either, but you know how to detect it in writing, right?
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#64Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:17am
LizzieCurry said: "Thanks for clarifying! Now...I'm not a fan of hyperbole either, but you know how to detect it in writing, right?"
Yes I do. I don't think Duarte was kidding though, and I don't think the people in this thread saying they'd rip the tongues out of someone chewing gum were kidding either. It's definitely a mindset in a subset of theater-goers that theater-goers should only be wealthy and white. Some of these "guidelines" are common sense but others are purely a white man's idea of etiquette. For instance, "no one under 25"?
LarryD2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
#65Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:22am
I'm a middle-aged, nonwhite gay man who's been going to the theater since I was a kid and working in theater (and related industries) for more than 25 years. Lately I've seen people argue that expecting any standard of behavior from people is exclusionary, classist, etc. It's crazy. There was a time in the not-so-recent past where people didn't have to be told not to take a phone call in their seat during the show, or loudly chow down on crisps, or put their damn feet on the stage. Nowadays, a Broadway audience resembles the wild west more often than not.
Theaters are complicit in promoting bad behavior. As recently as a decade ago, theaters wouldn't allow you to take nearly any drinks to your seat, much less food. Now you can practically get a pizza delivered to your seat, because concession mark-ups are fabulously high and theater owners/producers want that dough.
Obviously, Duarte's article contains a fair amount of hyperbole, but her overall point is clear and worth getting behind.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#66Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:24am
poisonivy2 said: "LizzieCurry said: "Thanks for clarifying! Now...I'm not a fan of hyperbole either, but you know how to detect it in writing, right?"
Yes I do. I don't think Duarte was kidding though, and I don't think the people in this thread saying they'd rip the tongues out of someone chewing gum were kidding either. It's definitely a mindset in a subset of theater-goers that theater-goers should only be wealthy and white. Some of these "guidelines" are common sense but others are purely a white man's idea of etiquette. For instance, "no one under 25"?"
Oh you are right. I am not kidding. I might think of a classier way to get you to stop smacking your gum or put your phone away. . But I won’t just st there and let you ruin the show for me. And I am not wealthy and white. You should just be polite and know how to behave in a theater. Because if not you never know when the stranger next to you will get all ghetto on you.
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
SmokeyLady
Broadway Star Joined: 10/29/14
#67Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:33am
poisonivy2 said: "Wow a lot of white privilege in this thread."
I find you to be racist and not very bright.
#68Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:39am
poisonivy2 said: "I don't think the people in this thread saying they'd rip the tongues out of someone chewing gum were kidding either."
Wow. So you can actually envision a Broadway theatre patron inserting their hand into another's mouth and detaching their tongue?
poisonivy2 said: "Some of these "guidelines" are common sense but others are purely a white man's idea of etiquette. For instance, "no one under 25"?"
What does being 25 years old (or younger) have to do with being white?
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#69Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:48am
#70Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:50am
Lot666 said:
poisonivy2 said: "Some of these "guidelines" are common sense but others are purely a white man's idea of etiquette. For instance, "no one under 25"?"
What does being 25 years old (or younger) have to do with being white?"
"My 13 year old has her au pair while me and my husband enjoy a night in the theater."
#71Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:50amHave you tried contacting Amanda Duarte or are you just hoping she sees this thread?
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#72Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:51am
poisonivy2 said: "LizzieCurry said: "Thanks for clarifying! Now...I'm not a fan of hyperbole either, but you know how to detect it in writing, right?"
Yes I do. I don't think Duarte was kidding though, and I don't think the people in this thread saying they'd rip the tongues out of someone chewing gum were kidding either. It's definitely a mindset in a subset of theater-goers that theater-goers should only be wealthy and white. Some of these "guidelines" are common sense but others are purely a white man's idea of etiquette. For instance, "no one under 25"?"
...she is absolutely kidding. This is a comedic rant piece.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#73Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:52am
Oh, this thread.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#74Sit down, shut up and clap: A guide to theater etiquette by Amanda Duarte
Posted: 6/29/18 at 10:58am
poisonivy2 said: "Lot666 said:
poisonivy2 said: "Some of these "guidelines" are common sense but others are purely a white man's idea of etiquette. For instance, "no one under 25"?"
What does being 25 years old (or younger) have to do with being white?"
"My 13 year old has her au pair while me and my husband enjoy a night in the theater.""
I don't see how the quoted scenario supports your claim. You seem to be implying that only white people could possibly afford to pay for childcare; that sounds awfully racist to me.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
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