AND AS FOR AUDIENCES...

I remember an occasion in 1981 when a stage manager couldn't get the opening night audience into the venue...his show report that night read "Show started late due to audiencial apathy."


Has anything changed since then? Yes, audience manners got worse. It seemingly have become the norm not to turn up when you have complimentary tickets, who cares, you didn't pay for the tickets. Well, the cast and crew who were expecting a full house cares when they realize that their audience didn't care enough to pitch. You may think that two less people won't make a difference, but in a 100 seater house if 20 of you think that way, everybody notices! If you were lucky enough to get complimentary tickets and at the last minute can't make it, phone the theatre and tell them, there may be people waiting for cancellations. This is called common courtesy and it is not common enough!


Then there is the habit of answering cell phones calls during the performance and walking out while taking the call and then demanding to be let back in. Talk about disrespect for cast, crew and fellow audience members!


Just a bit of advice to theatre newbies, the foyer staff did not make the rules, just like the police did not make the laws - they are merely enforcing them and there is no point at shouting them. You are in the wrong and no amount of bluster is going to change that fact.


A few theatre etiquette rules that may have been forgotten:

1. The time on your ticket is the time the show will start, it is not an indication of when you should leave home or order another drink. Be in your seat by then.
2. Unless it is a dinner theatre, you can usually not take any drinks into the auditorium. It is not the bar or foyer staff's fault that you ordered two drinks too many to get into yourself before the show starts. Hint: Most theatre's bar staff will happily keep your drink for you until interval, just ask nicely.
3. You may notice seat numbers on your tickets, that is where you are supposed to sit. No, you may not just pick any empty seat because it looks nicer. Some people actually book specific seats because they know the theatre and prefer to sit there. If you want those seats, book earlier.
4. When you get a drink from the bar, which is part of going to a show, get your drink, pay for it and move away. Do not stand and drink it there, there are other people who would also like something liquid.
5. If you really hate the show, by all means show your feelings by not clapping and leaving at interval. Do not get up  in the middle of the show and storm out muttering your feelings. This may come as a surprise, but tastes differ, the rest of the audience may actually like the show - Don't spoil it for them because you don't.

Good manners will get you far, even in a theatre!