Expectations cut boths ways. A little courtesy, please.
Buying a ticket to a theater, dance or music performance initiates something of a contract between audience and performer. We pay the money, often a stiff price, and get ourselves there, often in dreadful traffic. In return, we expect certain standards of professionalism to be in place.
First of all, we want our money’s and time’s worth in a good show, capably presented. We want to be treated with courtesy and efficiency by the house staff. And, if we’re lucky, we want nearby parking and not too long a line for the restrooms and refreshment stands at intermission.
The performers, too, have certain expectations of the audience. They want, at the very least, a fair chance to present their work. Under the usual terms of contractual law, that means the audience is obliged to perform with a modicum of professionalism, too.
Going to a performance is always a gamble. You never know if there’s going to be a tall person in front of you or a chattering customer next to you. You never know until you’re there if this is really as good as you had heard it was. And there are a hundred other distractions and annoyances that can spoil the experience.
Some of these the management tries to squelch with pre-curtain announcements: Tape recording and photography are strictly prohibited. Please turn off your cell phones and pagers. And (in a plea that never fails to get a titter) if you must eat sweets during the show, unwrap them now.
Still, the ways some audience members have devised of being crude and rude seem endless. Every regular theatergoer (including this one) at one time or another has scolded neighboring customers for talking loudly among themselves during a performance. To this, one can add the minor irritations of people who decide to read the program during the performance or, worse yet, to read it with the aid of a flashlight.
Some of this bad behavior is blamed, probably justly, on television, where the audience can eat, talk or whatever without disturbing anyone. Part of it lies in the carefree (to say the least) rules of engagement that prevail at rock and pop concerts. Certainly a bit of the problem lies in simple, uncaring rudeness, and a great deal of it may be traced to the theaters themselves — they are so eager to convince audiences that going to a play or concert is not stuffy that they have turned their auditoriums into casual show lounges.
Perhaps in an attempt to woo the much desired young audiences, who are accustomed to the casual dress and even more casual behavior of audiences in giant amphitheaters and outdoor venues, or perhaps to encourage older folks who are used to drinking and eating while watching TV, some managements have decided to allow drinks into their auditoriums.
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A bad move. What craving makes it necessary for a person to slug down bottled water or a can of soft drink in the midst of a performance? It’s inconsiderate of your neighbors in the audience, and, especially in smaller auditoriums, it’s maddening to performers who can easily spot the swilling action from the stage.
If bad manners in the theater has become a matter of ignorance, then it’s time for education — and consideration.
Over the years, audiences have been able to show in many ways their disapproval of what they see, from booing to rioting. But, given a performance in which the actors, dancers or musicians are delivering a respectable product, that performance and its performers deserve a little respect.
That means attentiveness (not to mention staying awake) and a reasonable amount of civility, during and after the performance.
Curtain calls, a time when performers and customers come together in celebration, are important parts of the theater experience, and, before heading for the parking lot or taxi stand, it’s fitting to give the players a hand.
In other words, if they treat you well, you should reciprocate. It’s simple courtesy, which makes all the difference.
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Next week: Audience interaction.