What Are Theatres Doing About It?
I sounded like a broken record recently, going on and on about how, at the Critics Circle, we were reviewing five shows a week in San Diego’s theatre. Now that we have a couple of weeks off and before the next round of plays comes, I wanted to write about something important.
As a theatre aficionado first and theatre critic second, I can share various experiences about fellow audience members. I often mention in my reviews how an interaction that had nothing to do with the show went south. In our short-lived podcast, my colleague David Coddon and I devotedly discussed the topic of Theatre Etiquette and, in turn, were criticized for it with examples such as “not seeing theatre as a democratic art form” or “seeing it from a place of privilege.” Well, to all of that, I say bah! Humbug! Because it all comes down to common sense and basic manners.
With the current state of the U.S., it is understandable that theatres need to address more pressing issues like funding and programming, given that most, if not all, are non-profit entities. Still, it needs to be tackled. The use of cell phones during a performance is the purpose of this piece today: a latent issue that is becoming more aggressive, and I do not see theatre companies doing much about it. And no, I am not talking about the fervent ring and/or alarm in the middle of the show, dismissing the pre-curtain warning moment when it is asked that the phones be silenced or turned off. No, that is just a given. I am talking about people full-on scrolling with their bright-ass screen in the dark theatre while actors and creatives are working. Some people assume what is happening on stage is not worth their time or attention, so they just start scrolling. With the screen fully lit. In the middle of the dark. Like they’re in their living room.
When this happens, I take different approaches: I tell the person, which usually and what feels like an alternate dimension/Twilight Zone, they get offended 99% of the time -the audacity- or I put the show program right next to their phone to block the light because aside from utterly bothersome, it hurts the eyes. We are not in a cave. We are in a theatre!. I have experienced people full-on typing on WhatsApp and even a man watching the NFL! (Yes, that was during a performance of Hand to God) The WhatsApp conversations happen practically every show at this point.
And I ask, WHY IS THIS BEING NORMALIZED?!
IT IS NOT ROMAL
IT IS RUDE
IT IS INCONSIDERATE OF EVERYBODY
Oh, this is not a generational issue, no, ma’am! From Boomers to Gen Z, now that is democratic!
I am seeing more and more in stand-up comedy shows and movie premieres how companies like Yondr are being rendered to enforce cell phone-free spaces. And I see it on both sides of the border. When I was invited to the Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice premiere in Tijuana, Yondr was there. Comedians do not want their material leaked or get canceled. The same goes for blockbuster movies. Of course, this would incur a budget and probably not a small one, so what is there to do? Continue to normalize it? The answer is no.
Awareness is the first step, and training is the other. This includes printed materials, emails, and training for ushers and house managers. The ushers are volunteers, and it might be a stretch to ask more of them, but things can change if the house managers enforce authority.
Live theatre as a mere form of entertainment is just the icing on the cake. There is so much more behind it. Employment, learning, history, protest, the list continues.
Shouldn’t this be enough to protect it?
