Ok, I didn’t actually see this shirt, but you get the point.
I arrived at the theatre around 7, and got my free ticket. I immediately recognized some former cast members from All in the Timing. Thankfully I had invited my friend who recently graduated and majored in some sort of technical theatre (I can never remember…), so I could shy away from that group and we could sit by ourselves and judge and it didn’t look completely obvious that I didn’t want to sit with them…. :/ Ok, but since I knew quite a few people there, and they all knew each other, the lobby was very loud and disorderly. All I could do was think of Broadway shows I have seen and try to think how audiences act there.
…Ok… never mind, the audiences are about the same level of crazy…
Somehow we ended up right in front of the theatre doors, so when the house was opened we were among the first few in, so we got to choose our seats. The atmosphere seemed almost impatient since seating was first come, first serve. Not quite the running of the bulls, but not as calm as it could have been. My friend and I sat in the risers in front of the stage in the second row, house right. Everyone filed in till there were only a few single seats on the outskirts remaining. It seemed even noisier in the theatre than the lobby. My friend and I talked about the cast, I pointed out who was who in Timing and we talked about the other Shakespeare shows we’d seen (or her apart of). And didn’t really talk to or notice anyone else.
Before the show all the lights seemed to be up. So when the lights over the audience dimmed it took people longer than it should have to quiet down. Pay attention people!!! Since there was no change in front of them they continued to chatter on. I think the Prince was actually walking out to deliver the opening and people were still hurriedly whispering. Bugs, the crap out of me….
During the actual show the audience is still pretty visible and they distracted me a few times. There was a girl in the front row of the house left set of risers that had her shoes off and legs all tucked up in the chair. I’m glad she was comfortable, but it bothered me for some reason. Oh I don’t like people, that’s it, I forgot. :) Later on after the 1st intermission, that girl and what appeared to be her boyfriend were enjoying some delicious chips from a bag during the show. Ok so I couldn’t actually hear the bag or anything and they weren’t bothering anybody (except me) but it just drove me crazy. Since when do you eat in a theatre? Next time I’ll go ahead and crack open a beer! Ksssshhh!!!
The majority of the audience was very responsive. They laughed at the nurse and friar, (who were by far the absolute best in the show and Romeo). Actually my favorite scene was between the two of them and Romeo when in the Friar’s cell, the nurse comes to find Romeo after he is banished. All three of them did a fantastic job!! They were powerful and seemed to know their characters well enough that the language did not seem so foreign and was believable when they spoke.
Back to the audience… Another scene that stands out for a reaction was when Juliet visits Friar Lawrence and threatens to kill herself instead of marrying Paris. The Friar made the smallest ‘why me’ look and I laughed and immediately felt terrible for it since I appeared to be the only one. Then I realized my friend did as well so I knew she understood why I did, but other people I’m sure thought I was just laughing at Juliet about to stab herself. Really it was the Friar who made me laugh, it was so small and I’m sure others saw it too; he just did it so well. I felt sorry for the him, all these kids keep running in to his chamber threatening to kill themselves and expect him to fix everything and his expression just said “You too, really!?!” :) I loved it.
Now of course later a cell phone went off. I’m not completely sure but I think it was the guy in the couple I have already mentioned. Ok third strike, they were the worst theatre goers I’ve seen in a long time. Luckily it wasn’t at a vital part in the show so it didn’t disrupt too much, unlike during the Sunday matinee, I heard that a phone went off right after Juliet said her last line and killed herself. RING!!! That’s a show stopper right there… idiots…
All in all, I loved the ¾ thrust stage and the action happening literally feet in front of you. In a weird way it made it seem more real, maybe just because how clearly you could see the actors, see how real they were, so the show had to be real too. Something like that. It definitely worked in a small intimate theatre, and it would be hard for me to imagine it as a large stage production…
When the show ended there was thunderous applause and more applause and more applause. Some people rushed out to wait for the cast and others seemed to hang back, talking about the show they had just seen. Everyone was smiling and I hung around a bit in the hallway to say good show to those I knew and it was chaos, but a good chaos. Hugging, congratulations, and laughter filled the area. You gotta love opening night… So much electricity in the air. It really makes me wonder why I am not pursuing theatre since I love it, I absolutely love it, every bit… Sigh...
