Is it acceptable to sing along at the theatre?

[RegIsDead]

Quick poll: as the title says.

Yes, no or it depends on the show.

I'm watching the Jersey Boys and the woman next to me is singing rather enthusiastically with every song.

I want her to shut up.

Back later. Second half starting

Only if it is singalong.

But when we (as children) went to see Joseph my dsis, who is totally tone deaf, sing along enthusiastically the whole way through. Looking back I'm totally that my parents (who were normally sticklers for manners in public) let her.
Then not very long ago she told me they'd gone to a professional performance of the same and her dc had sung along. She seemed to think it was delightful, I told her it wasn't, and she wasn't too impressed.

It's a bit like screaming in the Sistine Chapel if you ask me.

You can't call yourself an opera buff unless you boo loudly and shout 'he's behind you' when Scarpia turns up in Tosca.

I'm too afraid though...I'll never forget being tutted and glared at during the end of Kata Kabanova...she threw herself into the river and landed with such a bang that I couldn't help but laugh. I think I ruined the ambiance somewhat! I don't think there much that can't be improved with a bit of booing and bravaing.

No! Never acceptable....unless it’s the panto.

Laughing at DonQ - I went to see Don Giovanni a year or so ago and sat next to a very “Opera buffish” type who audibly declared “Oh my God - they’ve ruined it!” during the final climax. I think some humming along might have been preferable.....!

It's a bit like screaming in the Sistine Chapel if you ask me.

Haha, you remember that thread too, huh? It wasn't the same OP, was it?

No. Not acceptable - I didn't pay for a ticket to hear the audience sing, thanks.

Reminds me of the Lee Mack comment about Robbie Williams doing his smug face and holding the microphone out in the direction of the audience, about to stop singing himself.

"I think you all know this one!"

"Yeah, we do, Robbie. It was 80-quid to come here - any chance you could sing it?!"

I’m always telling arseholes to shut up at concerts.

I put on my teacher voice and deathstare and say ‘I’ve paid to listen to THEM - not YOU.’

Works a treat.

Went to see Kinky Boots the other week.
Man next seat but one sang through the slow songs.
During half time usher came and had a word with him, think other people complained

No no no no nope nope nooooooo. All of the noes. No singing. Unless at some kind of singalong performance. Or if you are DONQ & making opera interesting; her Audience Participation Plan is one I fully support...

NataliaOsipova
Just wondering from your name - do you get to see the RB [often]? And if so, have you encountered Shouty Bravo Man? He’s often in stalls circle & will shout BRAVO in a weirdly clipped way - the volume & cadence make me wonder if he has a cox box & has misunderstood how applause-as-encouragement is meant to work. He also says “bravo” at times when he should say “brava” & while I know lots of people do it he makes me particularly cross because he is so loud & he bellows it across the House at such regular intervals. ROH always attracts people who know better than the trans means involved in staging the productions, it’s fascinating to catch bits of conversation during intervals. Because my life is utterly farcical I occasionally find myself dragged into random people’s conversations if I’m not careful/am “left unattended”.

Absolutely not. I'm there to hear the cast sing, not some random woman on a night out.

No. I'm incredibly monotone. I do however shout out 'oh no she isn't' when (for example) the blokes are abducting his daughter but claiming it's the countess.
😂😂😂😂

I’m also in the absolutely fucking not camp. Rude behaviour by theatre audiences is my pet hate. Just sit still, shut up, and enjoy the show and stop rustling your sweetie wrappers during quiet bits

NO! Never! Went to Tina a while ago and they said at the start no singing, no dancing, wait until the end when you can join in to your hearts content. They had factored in the need to sing , and dance.

Which we did.luckily sitting on the aisle.......

The guy in front of us was doing a bit of seat jiving, but managed to contain himself.

I have been at classical concerts with people who think they are the conductor , but only with fingers, not a baton.

@ImperfectPirouette Yes - love the ballet (good guess from the name!). Usually sit in the amphitheatre though....but all life is there! There’s a very enthusiastic regular who shouts “bravo, brava, bravi” - all very correctly but very, very loudly. The worst are the somewhat Stalinist uber-regulars who leap on any minor transgression by a newcomer as though they’ve jumped on the stage and joined in. All very funny. Still love it, though.....!

No! Absolutely not, I think it's quite disrespectful to the cast who have put all the time and effort into sounding right to then be drowned out. As well as the poor people sitting next to you.

If you wanna singalong listen to it on Spotify in your car. Or go to a specific singalong show. Or watch a film (at home)

Gosh I went to bat out of hell and they had signs up and someone at the start had to tell the audience not to sing throughout. There was one at the end we could singalong to. It would have completely ruined it if people had sung along! I would have just listened to meatloaf if I'd wanted to sing.

If someone was quietly mouthing under their breath fair enough but no one should be able to hear it.

I have been at classical concerts with people who think they are the conductor , but only with fingers, not a baton.

My favourites are the ones who bring a copy of the score to read along and sigh and tut when they think they've been a bit too 'creative' with their interpretation! Usually the same people who will say what a pity it is that more people don't attend concerts yet react with horror when someone sits in 'their seat'!

gottalovesummer I don't expect people to sit "stiff as boards" but I've paid to hear the very talented cast, not Janice from Salford on a giggly night out with her bestie.

It's disrespectful to the cast and to other audience members.

Glad to see other people agree. The next one I'm seeing is American Idiot so fingers crossed for that one.

Rocky Horror - pretty much compulsory. Most popular musicals, likely.

You should hear my single-handed Flower Duet - livens Lakme up no end

He also says “bravo” at times when he should say “brava”

Kill him with fire.

No, no, no! You want to sing at the theatre, get bloody good and get a part on stage.

I have been at classical concerts with people who think they are the conductor , but only with fingers, not a baton.
If I saw anyone do that I would take their 'baton' and put it somewhere they would find it hard to retrieve for a while.

Unless you are invited to, a no-no.

The Dreamboats and Petticoats cast encouraged it

I've never encountered a theatre singer but I once took DS to see a performance by some incredible Japanese Taiko drummers and had the misfortune to sit next to a man in a greasy anorak who made what I can only describe as sex noises all evening. He was literally letting out horrible shuddering moans at every crescendo, and not quietly either. It did not add to the performance