Why do These People go...

[Fareham_Bee]

....to the theatre?

Mrs Fareham Bee and our fifteen year old son are both members of local musical societies. Sean is in three, and consequently I go to loads of shows at the local theatre,

Thing is, at the last four or five I have had people behind me that have turned up and done nothing but chat, out loud. I find this not only rude to those around them but those on stage too as they sometimes hear them.

Last night, West Side Story had just started, First night not a full house so I was sat up the back out of the way to watch in peace, In comes Mrs and Mrs Lateandwanteveryonetoknowit with their daughter, They sat right behind me in the last row, Whilst finding their seats they made a God awful racket, he turned round, shoved his bum in the back of my head and pushed it forward whilst he sorted his seat. Then he ripped off more velcro than your average Chippendale costume has, "Can you see?" he asked everyone in the place "yes but we can't hear" answered a woman two rows in front of me.
He then moved along four seats and announced how cosy the place was before the other two joined him. Then they opened the biggest bag of sweets in the world after rummaging around his bag. Suddenly all the actors on stage sounded like him! I could see their mouths moving but his voice coming out.
I just turned and said that the rest of us had come to see the actors not him so would he shut up and moved.
I could hear them all the way through and I was some three rows and twenty odd seats away. People who'd stayed said they wish they'd have the bravery to say to people to shut up but didn't.

Why do these people bother? If you want to see a show, watch it. Maybe next time he should stick to Blockbusters.

PS Bet he hogs the middle lane

[batman]

My take on this sort of behaviour is that because they probably spend time as a family watching dvds at home, they transfer their domestic behaviour to the theatre/cinema, with absolutely no consideration re the change of environment or the people around them. It is simply ignorant behaviour. IMHO it's bad enough when these people ruin a film at the cinema, but at the theatre, where it can distract the performers, it is even worse.

Bats.

[boilerboy]

I did amature theatre for a while and sometimes it was darn right infuriating hearing people in the audience arguing over a packet of crisps or chatting away.

[Lord Brett]

Oh and don't get me started on people who won't stop bloody texting right the way through a film. I regularly pull people up on that one if they are near me.

It's not just younger people, either. When we went to see Master and Commander a few years ago, a bloke in his late middle-age felt the need to explain everything that was happening to his wife until a friend I was with told him to shut up.

I've ceased to be so bugged about rustling sweet packets - there are far more distracting things in cinemas, and it's the falt of the cinema for selling noisy, smelly food in the first place.

[Fareham_Bee]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett I've ceased to be so bugged about rustling sweet packets - there are far more distracting things in cinemas, and it's the falt of the cinema for selling noisy, smelly food in the first place.

That reminds me of when me and Mrs Fareham Bee were in Sainsburys in Southampton. Someone told a young chav to put out a cigarette as it was no smoking in the shop, he grunted and answered "You sell 'em so I should be able to use 'em in here" Mrs Fareham shot him a look and said, "They sell condoms too but we wouldn't like you using them in here either" Thoroughly defeated he stalked away. I know she stole the line from somewhere but it was beautifully executed LOL.

[Edward G]

Greetings "Middle lane",
I have to say that the only problem with your hilarious piece on these unfuriating people is that you manage to make them sound more entertaining than the than the legitimate actors on stage. Velcro man sounds like he has huge potential. Pity he didn't "let rip" to complete his performance!

Originally Posted by Fareham_Bee ....to the theatre? Mrs Fareham Bee and our fifteen year old son are both members of local musical societies. Sean is in three, and consequently I go to loads of shows at the local theatre, Thing is, at the last four or five I have had people behind me that have turned up and done nothing but chat, out loud. I find this not only rude to those around them but those on stage too as they sometimes hear them. Last night, West Side Story had just started, First night not a full house so I was sat up the back out of the way to watch in peace, In comes Mrs and Mrs Lateandwanteveryonetoknowit with their daughter, They sat right behind me in the last row, Whilst finding their seats they made a God awful racket, he turned round, shoved his bum in the back of my head and pushed it forward whilst he sorted his seat. Then he ripped off more velcro than your average Chippendale costume has, "Can you see?" he asked everyone in the place "yes but we can't hear" answered a woman two rows in front of me. He then moved along four seats and announced how cosy the place was before the other two joined him. Then they opened the biggest bag of sweets in the world after rummaging around his bag. Suddenly all the actors on stage sounded like him! I could see their mouths moving but his voice coming out. I just turned and said that the rest of us had come to see the actors not him so would he shut up and moved. I could hear them all the way through and I was some three rows and twenty odd seats away. People who'd stayed said they wish they'd have the bravery to say to people to shut up but didn't. Why do these people bother? If you want to see a show, watch it. Maybe next time he should stick to Blockbusters. PS Bet he hogs the middle lane

[smiffy]

Originally Posted by batman My take on this sort of behaviour is that because they probably spend time as a family watching dvds at home, they transfer their domestic behaviour to the theatre/cinema, with absolutely no consideration re the change of environment or the people around them. It is simply ignorant behaviour. IMHO it's bad enough when these people ruin a film at the cinema, but at the theatre, where it can distract the performers, it is even worse. Bats.

Am I right in thinking there is a condition called Attention deficit disorder ? If so I think it is more prevelant in places like the cinema and the theatre. It never ceases to amaze me that some people can pay good money to watch something, and then prattle on as though they are in a public bar,and then be offended that you politely point out that their conversation is spoiling your enjoyment I always remember watching films as a child and not quite understanding something, When I asked my dad he would say schhh wait a minute , and then explain at an opportune moment.I explained to my own children that when you are watching a film the importance of listening as well as watching.I think people should be screened for A d d ? and should not be allowed into a cinema or theatre If they have it ,or could it be that there are just so many ignorant people about that they just don't care ?

"Ignorance is bliss " " Blissfully unaware " " I'm allright jack " If any of these sayings apply to you ( any additions to the list welcome ) please restrict your viewings to your own private surroundings ,where your inane ramblings will not be out of place , Should be posted at the entrance of all cinemas and theatres,so that the real people can watch , Listen , and enjoy

[batman]

Originally Posted by smiffy Am I right in thinking there is a condition called Attention deficit disorder ?

There is a thing called ADD. My son suffers from the hyperactive (ADHD) version of it.

Kids asking questions about the film itself isn't a symptom of ADD, that's natural curiousity and impatience. The ADD child would lose interest and ask questions about peripheral things or start wanting more sweets etc. An adult ADD sufferer would behave in a similar way.

We haven't yet taken The Boy Wonder to the cinema because we know that his hyperactivity would cause the questions to come thick and fast, first about the film and then the ADD element would make him rapidly move on to something else. He would probably manage about 20 minutes max. At home we prepare everything as if it was a cinema (closed curtains, sweets etc) and turn it into an event for him. We can also 'train' him about how to behave in the cinema without disturbing anyone else. So far it's working ... he regularly watches kids films with us all the way through and even managed all of Cottage To Let. He's getting better but still chatters away. We are used to it and he's not bothering anyone else.

It's a cliche I know but it's the parents at fault in general for letting the kids get away with it, you can't blame the kids if the parents are just as noisy.

The phrases you use, Smiffy, are spot on about noisy adults in general. Most of them are totally ignorant of what they are doing and probably wouldn't care if they did know.

I do hope you were joking, however, when you mentioned screening people who suffer from ADD. If I took my son to the cinema and was told he couldn't go in because of a medical condition I would not be very impressed.

Bats.

[smiffy]

Sorry Bats ,It is more the adults who are ignorant that I was getting at ,I realise that youngsters are naturally inquisitive and there is nothing wrong with that.
I didn't mean to poke fun at somebody who can't help their actions .

[orpheum]

I was on a city coach tour of Vienna a couple of weeks ago.The guide was giving us her spiel when we suddenly heard another voice.If looks could kill.She told him to turn it off in no uncertain times which he did.

[batman]

Originally Posted by smiffy Sorry Bats ,It is more the adults who are ignorant that I was getting at ,I realise that youngsters are naturally inquisitive and there is nothing wrong with that. I didn't mean to poke fun at somebody who can't help their actions .

No offence taken Smiffy. I am in total agreement with you about noisy adults/kids in general. Ultimately it's up to the management of cinemas/theatres etc to deal with the problem, but it seems to me that as long as they get bums on seats they are happy.

Bats.

[boilerboy]

The days of the cinema being a special outing are gone. I used to go to the matinees on the weekend in the early 60's. Any playing up and the usher would come and have a word. The cinema WAS magic then., and so was the LoneRanger.
Hey oh Silver ...!

[christoph404]

In London's West End theatres noisey disruptive people are in danger of being thrown out! Considering the cost of a theatre ticket having your enjoyment spoiled by others is not tolerated and can usually be solved by complaining to theatre staff who will act. This is not so in the Cinema where the staff just disapear when the lights go down and noisey indiviuals carry on with their mobile phone conversations with impunity! I get the impression that multiplex cinemas rely heavily on selling overpriced drinks, pop corn and large bags of sweets for revenue and possibly even make more profit on that as opposed to what they make from selling tickets hence very irritating noisy rustling and slurping of straws! I really enjoy my occasional visits to the NFT on the South Bank because bringing any kind of food or drink into the auditorium is forbidden and if you chat on your mobile while the film is showing you will be chucked out! Its quite ammusing to see the looks of indignation and disbelief on the faces of some first time visitors to the NFT being told by staff that they are not allowed to consume the picnic they have brought with them indside the theatre.....

There is a story that has Al Pacino leaping of stage on Broadway and grabbing the ringing mobile phone of a woman in the front row and screaming down the line..."This is Al Pacino and Im trying to perform a f*****g play here now f*** off!" He then got on stage and proceeded from where he left off as if nothing had happened to a huge round of applause. I don't know if it is a true story but I do remember reading about the incident.