I spent the majority of the PNW Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker shocked by the behavior around me. Constant whisper-talking, water bottles crinkling, children screaming. At one point, the woman in front of me OPENED HER PHONE, searched “Nutcracker Act 2,” and then scrolled along as the performance was happening right in front of her!
Hey, this is not your mom’s house! You don’t get to play Wordle while the Sugar Plum Fairy is doing her twirls! Maybe we don’t bring our 3-week-old baby to the theater! What if we all shut the fuck up for 2 hours and 3 minutes and appreciated the artistry we paid to see and hear?
I know COVID turned our brains into scrambled eggs. For years we absorbed entertainment at home, where we were free to stare at our phones and make as much noise as we wanted. But we’re back out there again, and I am BEGGING you to act like you are part of a society.
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Sorry, but citizens are required to stare gape-mouthed at their phones at all times, no exceptions. You may not like it, but it’s the law.
I feel your pain IA, I saw Cyndi lauper at the Key a few weeks ago and I admit it’s been quite some time since i’ve gone to a major venue for a big show, needless to say I was shocked at all the fucking phones, recording and taking pictures. I would prefer to not have a reminder of how dumb and self absorbed people are when I spend good money on concert tickets. 10/10 IA not notes, at the ballet no less! (clutches pearls)
Live performances deserve more respect from the audience – I support this IA rant (nicely done)
The Nutcracker is not the ballet.
@2 A concert is not quite the same. Everyone wants to take a few photos and / or video clips to remember the event by. Plus at one point Cyndi ASKED the audience to all take out their phones and turn on their flashlights.
This is why I no longer attend live performances: expensive, parking hassles, rude audience, mostly just crap performances (not nutcracker in this catagory).
I don’t understand why so many people insist on taking videos at shows when you can go home and literally find a video of the show on You Tube the next day that is high quality and way better than anything most of you standing in the middle or back of the room could take.