Going to the theatre has often been viewed as a high-society aspect of the American culture, much like going to an opera or orchestra concert. As more and more young people have become involved in the industry and with the influx of new companies being formed across the nation, the notion that theatre is only for uppity folks has diminished.
Unfortunately, the upper-class values of attending a show have gone with it. While theatre now is flourishing with new works and greater diversity than it's ever had, theatre-goers are not so keen on what is and isn't appropriate when one is a member of an audience.
I ushered Towson University's productions of Arthur Miller's
The Crucible and August Wilson's
The Piano Lesson last fall, and part of the requirements of an usher are to help seat audience members and to sit in during the performance to make sure nothing in the audience will distract the actors.
What I saw was appalling.
Despite the announcements before the performance began urging everyone to please silence all cell phones and refrain from sending text messages during the show, I saw numerous faces lit up by tiny screens and had to repeatedly ask the perpetrators to put their phones away. By the end of the shows' runs (having seen each four or five times, and consequently witnessed much audience misbehavior) I was frustrated and insulted as someone who takes this art very seriously.
So, for anyone who doesn't often attend the theatre, here is a simple guide to theatre etiquette.
1.
Turn off your cell phone, and don't check it or text message during the show when the lights are off. Even though you may be covering the screen with your hand and you think no one can see it, the house (where the audience sits) is very dark during a performance and the actors are under bright lights, so they can see the light reflecting off your face. Texting also becomes loud when the theatre is silent. The actors rely on what other actors are saying during the performance, and the sound of the keys is very distracting and can cause them not to hear a line correctly.
2.
Do not bring an infant to the theatre. If you absolutely must bring your child, make sure you sit near the door. One night we had an incident where a woman's baby would not stop crying, and she didn't seem very concerned about the audience (or the actors) around her. Shows often run around two hours long, and that's quite a lot of time for a child to sit still. If you can't find a babysitter, sit near an exit so that if your child becomes fussy, you can leave quietly without distracting the actors or the audience, all of whom are trying to pay attention to the show.
3.
Do not consume alcoholic beverages or illegal substances before the show. In another instance, three guys walked past me as I tore their tickets and they absolutely REEKED of alcohol. The show will be over by 10, and that's definitely not too late to start having your fun. Show respect for everyone involved in the production by attending sober.
4.
Do not open candy with loud wrappers during the performance. This one speaks for itself.
5.
Be attentive. You may be at the show because your Acting 101 teacher required you to see it for your class and write a reaction paper. Hooray. Watching a boring play from the 1930s is the LAST thing you feel like doing tonight. Here's a hint: you can sacrifice two hours of your life to sit through a performance, and you owe it to the people on stage who do this as their job or simply for the love of the art.
I could go on and on about what NOT to do in the theatre, but please keep these in mind the next time you attend a show, whether it's at Towson or downtown or anywhere else.
A little theatre etiquette goes a long way.
--DQ
The second Mainstage show will be the Russian play Tanya, Tanya, translated by American translator John Freedman (seen on the left) and directed by Russian guest director Yury Urnov, both of whom have been actively involved in TU theatre for some time now. The show is still being adapted for performance, but the department is excited to debut this work on Towson's stage.
