We've got 2 parts to this section. If you can get through our few tips on how to be a courteous theatregoer without getting mad and clicking off, then you get to read our tips on when and when not to pay attention to critics reviews.
Be Courteous While Attending the Theatre
We'll try not to get too preachy or nasty with this one, but there are a few guidelines to remember while going to see any show that, if followed, will make your theatre experience, as well as the others sitting near you, more enjoyable.
1. GET A SITTER! In the reviews section, we make recommendations on what shows are OK or not OK for kids. However, there is a qualifier to this even when we think the show may be fine for the whole family. If the child is under 8, it is highly probably that 3 things will happen if you take him/her to a show. First, the attention span for a child that young is about 5 minutes, so they certainly won't sit still for 2 hours. Second, the child won't be able to see anyway, because not all theatres have booster seats. Finally, the child will talk nonstop and ask a question about what's happening every 2 minutes. To alleviate these problems (and keep audience members around you from strangling your child) get a sitter for your child.
2. DON'T BE LATE! This can be very distracting to those patrons who have taken the extra step to be seated on time. It is difficult to pay attention to the show when the row of people in front of yours has to stand up to let someone in. Besides, don't you want your money's worth?? Keep in mind just how much you pay for tickets (up to $80 a seat for Broadway shows now!). Sure, $80 is pocket change to some people, but many others don't get too many chances to treat themselves to a show. Have a heart and arrive at the theatre at least 15 minutes before showtime. And don't think the actors don't notice, either! It's just as distracting to them, and just to make you that much more noticeable, when you arrive late for "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum", Whoopi Goldberg WILL point you out and periodically make you wish you could hide under your seat.
3. DON'T TALK DURING THE SHOW. Please don't hold conversations while the show is in progress. It's rude; the audience members around you came to hear the show, not you; and the actors on stage will be distracted because they can hear you, too. Besides, you're missing the show!
4. DON'T EAT DURING THE SHOW. Lately, theatres have begun to mistake themselves for the movies. We've noticed that just about everyone has started selling candy in boxes, like M&Ms. What's next, popcorn??!! Of course they say you can't eat while watching the show, but noone pays attention to THAT sign! There's nothing more distracting than hearing the "shicka shicka shicka" of someone shaking a candy box or "crickle crackle" of a candy wrapper during the show. Don't come to the theatre hungry, go to a restaurant beforehand!
5. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE EARLY. Most of the comments made in "don't be late" apply here, plus a couple more. First, if you leave before the show even ends, you could make another audience member miss either the best scene in the show, or at least the one which wraps up and explains everything. Second, if you wait until it does end, but leave as applause is starting, you're being a little disrespectful of the wonderful actors who work so hard through rehearsals and 8 or more shows a week to give the audience a good time.
The majority of theatregoers go by all of these courteous guidelines instinctively. If anything listed here makes you mad or offends you, that probably means it's something you've been doing anyway, so QUIT IT! Please try to remember these 5 simple guidelines in the future and everyone will enjoy their time at the theatre because of it. Thanks!
Critic's Reviews and When To Pay Attention to Them
We'll bet you've been reading the newspaper or watching TV and the reviewer has scared you away from seeing quite a few musicals. Believe us, in most cases you just don't know what you've missed. Here are a couple of guidelines that usually work for us whenever we go to see a musical:
1. If the reviewer loved it, consider it an absolute must see.
2. If the reviewer gave it a lukewarm or stinky review, don't pay any attention to him/her (including the comments we make in the synopses section). Trust your own feelings instead. If it's something you think you want to see, take a chance! Many shows that my husband and I have seen and really enjoyed closed very quickly. Examples are: "State Fair", "Applause" (1996 revival w/ Stephanie Powers), "Hair"(1995 revival), and a number of others. Even the latest Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, "Whistle Down the Wind"! "Applause", "Whistle Down the Wind", and "Hair" were on pre-Broadway national tours, got lousy reviews, and therefore closed on the road, before they even got a chance at Broadway openings. We liked all of these shows, but they weren't well attended because many people take reviewers columns too seriously.
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