Manners Matter: Audience Members Are Too Noisy

Dear Mary Pat,

You have probably addressed the issue of noisy audiences in previous columns, but I have to vent. We attended The Full Monty on Aug. 9 and left fuming over the continuous and loud talking from three nearby ladies. The play was absolutely outstanding but we missed much of the dialogue because of the inane comments from the three sitting in Row R seats 4-6. They apparently were inebriated and had no recognition that the stares from surrounding ticket purchasers were not approvals of their actions. It was so bad that we heard one of the three ask the two others what the performer said because she was talking so loudly.

I am not loath to shish, stare, or whisper to someone whose actions are annoying, but in this case the perpetrators were too many seats away for such measures to be effective. I would have had to climb over others to get close enough to make my displeasure clear to these bores. I could have waited for the end of the show to confront them but by then the damage was done so I got in my car and left fuming. Any suggestions on what I should have done considering that the house was full so it was not possible to move away from these three?

Sincerely,

Quiet Please!

Algoma, Wis.

Dear Quiet Please!

As I’ve said before, the biggest culprit in poor manners is being oblivious to how your behavior is affecting others. Nothing makes you more oblivious than having too many drinks. You can’t tell that your voice is too loud or that your laugh is more of a shriek. I’m sorry that the three women in Row R partook too much before the performance and ruined the experience for everyone around them.

Since they either didn’t notice or care when those sitting near them tried to shush them, the only other option would have been to get up and have one of the ushers escort them out. It wouldn’t have been extreme, but rather, the only appropriate solution. And I’m sure that they would have kicked up a fuss temporarily, but in the end, they would have been removed and everyone would have been able to hear what was being said on stage. I’m sure that this was a rare occurrence and I do hope you visit the Players again and have a wonderful time.

Good luck,

Mary Pat