The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

The Show Must Go On — Or Should It?

16 Comments

July 16, 2009 by Kathy McManus

 Does a well-known actor have the right to stop a live performance and chastise an audience member?

Two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone halted her show in Las Vegas recently, waving her hands to silence the orchestra before “chewing out some doofus in the third row” who was using an unspecified electronic device.

“What were you doing?” demanded Ms. LuPone as the entire audience looked on. “I promise not to be mad at you. Just tell me. What were you doing--videoing? Taking photos? Texting? I really want to know.” The fan, who failed to answer, was threatened with exile by Ms. LuPone, who then resumed singing “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina.”

From Broadway to Burbank, actors are increasingly losing their patience with rude rogue audiences who click, flash, and chomp their way through shows, distracting performers and annoying everyone around them. The actor David Hyde Pierce recounts seeing a family passing a bucket of chicken down the front row.

In Ms. LuPone’s case, what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas. News reports focused on her show-stopping soliloquy and pointed out that it was a repeat performance of a similar episode in January, when she broke character in “Gypsy” and, according to The New York Times, began “berating an audience member who tried to take pictures of her.”

“What do you expect me, or any performer for that matter, to do?” Ms. LuPone shot back at The Times. “Do we allow our rights to be violated (photography, filming and audio taping of performances is illegal) or tolerate rudeness by members of the audience who feel they have the right to sit in a dark theater, texting or checking their email while the light from their screens distract both performers and the audience alike? Or should I stand up for my rights as a performer as well as the audiences I perform for?”

Tell us what you think: Have too many people checked their manners—instead of their cell phones--at the door? Should performers be responsible for policing unacceptable audience behavior? Did Patti LuPone do the right thing?

16 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• July 21, 2009 by John Clifton

  I think Ms. LuPon had every right to raise cane. A lot of the American public has no respect for their fellow man.

  Reply

• July 21, 2009 by Robert Hornyak

  I think a performer has every right to stop the show to chastise someone making a distraction, or filming without license to do so. Your cell phone should be set to vibrate. If you have an important call, go to the lobby and call them back, unless it's a dire emergency, (health problem of a family member). I have elderly parents with numerous health problems, and if I get a call, it's usually very important. In that case, answer the call discretely, and proceed to the lobby to finish. That would be the only exception to the rule I think. i am a private event performer, and I let people film me, as long as they're not in my way. Causing a distraction due to satisfy your own selfish needs is uncalled for.

  Reply

• July 21, 2009 by eRIC sTEVENS

  The employees are often the rudest. The management really should be policing, but they are afraid of losing business. Sometimes the wives of performers are the worst. A joke is the best way to quiet them, but sometimes the ones you aim at don't even hear you. This goes back to TV placing the world's biggest stars in our living rooms. We need more performers like Patti.

  Reply

• July 21, 2009 by Terry Mueller

  Bravo for Ms LuPon! The rudeness of others today is getting out of hand, thinking of only them. I agree that many employees do not do their jobs asking people to put their cameras and cell phones away. How many concerts that a person goes too and have to deal with people crawling and leaning over people to get a picture or talking on their cell phones during a performance. The answer is many! It is time for us to stand up and say "leave". More should do as Ms. LuPon!! Bravo!

  Reply

• July 22, 2009 by Sue Fleck

  I, myself am horrified at the behavior of some people. As a former drama teacher and as an ex-thespian, I think that it shows your lack of upbringing. When I go to a performance of any kind such as: ballet, opera, movie theatre , I have the respect for the performing artist by showing good manners. I don't want to miss a moment of the experience that I am witnessing and it irritates me to no end to have people talking or texting on their phones. It's distracting. I often wonder if some people are videoing the performance for sale. . I am glad that Ms LuPone stood up for those of us who don't have the guts to tell those people how inconsiderate they are. Real fans have respect for the artists who perform and would not dream of being so rude.

  Reply

• July 24, 2009 by Henning Ziegler

  LuPone was right. It is a matter of politeness and appreciation towards the performers work and effort not to distract them while sitting in the audience. If you get bored or dont like the act then leave.

  Reply

• July 24, 2009 by James K Lewis

  When a flash went off from in the audience, Hepburn broke character and demanded the ejection of the photographer. She and the audience waited for the ushers to escort the ne'er do well out. She then returned to character and resumed. I used to worry that my wife would bring our infant son to a performance, and he would make a fuss, disturbing the production. She would swear not to, and then have him there at the curtain. She was always ready with snacks, drink, fingers, and he never made a sound, but she was prepared. Kevin Spacey endured a phone ring, then a "hello?” before breaking character and demanding, "Tell him you're busy." Maybe phones need to be collected, doctors need to make arrangements to be contacted in an emergency by an usher, and check the check room at intermissions for phone activity. I remember a cricket that got into a small, gold-country theater, and we continued rather than cancel and refund everyone's money. It was irritating, but who could we complain to? Actor's have a right to work undisturbed, and to expect cooperation in that effort. Let's let them worry about beards coming off, guns not firing, doors not opening and forgetting lines. Lily Tomlin would stop her show, bring house lights up and have the late arrivals shown to their seats. That would become part of her show, but actors would hope the souls of the late-ones were stained to never be tardy again.

  Reply

• October 22, 2009 by Roy28

  So a timeboxed meeting will provide an hour to discuss a topic, the discussion is over hen the time runs out. ,

  Reply

• October 23, 2009 by Maxx68

  These people are dysfunctional savages. ,

  Reply

• December 4, 2009 by Ann Ludlow

  Actors should remember the heritage of their profession. The Elizabethan and Greek actors frequently performed to "noisy" audiences without having their profesional pride damaged. However, I think that today the theater managers should remember that they are also called upon to be high quality professionals. People of all ranks today are more concerned about how they are treated than about how professionally they are doing their job - no matter how ordinary or commonplace the job may be. Thank goodness the professional pilot had done his job faithfully over the years and increased his skill level above the minimum required. That positioned him to put his plane down in that New York rivier and save the lives of 155 passengers, rather than complain about the flock of birds. The actors are usually "more-than-over-compensated" for their performances. They should forgrt their delicate egos, recall their professionalism and continue thier performances for the good people who have paid more than "good money" to support them. And we should all expect the theater manager do his/her job with professionalism.

  Reply

• March 20, 2010 by kelbria turner

  i want to be a great singer! And the best.

  Reply

• April 10, 2010 by Lynda Hershey

  You bet she did! Perhaps that rude audience member and anyone else considering doing something similar will think twice before behaving so poorly!

  Reply

Tell us what you think.