Theatre: Etiquette

By Tara M. Hall. The stage has been calling my name for years. One of my earliest memories including a dramatic debut was an elementary school play in 1987. I was cast as an oil miner’s wife, complete with smeared rouge, taffeta dress, mink coat, and white hat, which graced my tiny head like a halo. It was the only time that playing dress up would be witnessed by hundreds, and that I could get away with wearing my mother’s pearls. My lines were minimal, yet I was beaming with pride. I was poised, ready, and glowing.

The lines were executed with pre-adolescent precision, and the curtains began to close like a punctuation point, signifying success. It was a glorious moment. That is until the curtains hit the brim of my hat, knocking it off of my sweet, innocent head. It fell in front of the curtains, which closed with a thunderous swoosh right before my 2nd grade eyes. I was horrified, frozen, and filled with tears which were begging to flood over my cherub like cheeks.

At that moment however, I heard the audience clapping, calling my name, beckoning me to come out from beyond the wall of red and take a bow. In seconds, my embarrassment was curtailed by the recollection of the flawless theatrical performance moments before. I inhaled and clasped my tiny dimpled hand around the red velvet material, pulled the curtain open and stepped outside into the light. I leaned forward, picked up my hat, beamed a big smile and curtsied, all in unison with the rhythmic applause, which served as my motivation. I owed my bravery to the audience that night.

Indeed, many do not realize the magnitude of being an audience member and the responsibility which comes along with the role. Theatre is indeed a spectator sport; and the audience is a crucial part of the experience for both the actors and the patron. Theatre “goer” etiquette is important, unique to each individual experience, yet there are some general rules to follow.

To begin, there is no need to remain silent, or calm. By all means, react to the experience holistically. Let your mind, eyes, body, and voice respond to the art that is taking shape in front of your very eyes. Let all of your senses take action. The actors and actresses rely on the audience to heighten their experience, and the relationship is highly reciprocal. A ‘good run’ can go from good to better when a laugh or laughs carry loud through the theatre, trickling past the stage into the ears of waiting cast members and crew pacing nervously in the wings.

Give in to the impulses that strike you. Laugh as loud as you want, let it turn into a chortle, a snort in fact (if of course, the comedic execution deserves it). Cry if it is sad, gasp if it is frightening, and applause at the end of each scene. A responsive audience is a perfect segway into intermission and will enthuse and motivate the cast and crew to wow you even more before the final curtain is called.

There are also some things to mention that may seem like common sense to many. Alas, this writer must confess that the masses are sometimes devoid of simple knowledge in the world of theatre enjoyment. As in any social setting, please turn off your cell phones, and your talking voices; each can be considered rude and may result in a lynching upon close of curtain.

Food and drink are welcome, if and only if they are purchased from the establishment. And please be courteous with your belongings and trash, as no one wants a theatre experience to feel like a venture to the dollar cinema.

As well, be considerate of you neighbor, and avoid blatant negativity. Please do not be overheard complaining or criticizing the performance. You never know who you may be sitting next to, i.e. the director, a visiting reviewer, or even more detrimental, the lead actor’s grandmother. Let every person come to their own conclusion and interpretation of the performance, as we are all unique in our likes and dislikes. In other words, please refer to playground ethics: if you cannot say anything nice, do not say it at all.

The theatre experience should be enjoyed by all no matter the venue or content, and a few simple steps can assure that this occurs. In essence, the concept of theatre etiquette is best understood if you act on the basic premise that you as an audience member have the ability to alter the event for not only yourself, but for those you have come to see. Most importantly, this phenomenon rings true no matter if it is a seasoned actor or actress on the stage, or merely a prepubescent, wide-eyed seven year-old, dressed as an oil miner’s wife.