And Please, Leave the Whistles and Cat Calls Home

Now that I’ve entered an age more comfortable with my curmudgeon ways, I find myself, whenever possible, unabashedly voicing my opinion regarding young louts in theaters who insist upon foisting a painful form of appreciation upon the remaining captive audience. The vast majority of the respectful audience members limits their expression of appreciation to the appropriate clapping. However, the repertoire of a select number of pre-thirty aged patrons who, I’ve noticed, invariably seat themselves in the last few rows of the theater, include painfully sharp and piercingly loud whistles and cat calls. I’m not sure what they think they are doing, but I suppose they feel that they are within their rights to express their enthusiasm in whatever manner they are entitled to. I truly believe if somehow, they were forced sit in front of themselves for a few shows, they would view their eruptions in a whole new light. Would that God could grant such fate upon them, for surely they would then leave the rest of us to enjoy a show in peace.

Last Friday we saw The Big Noise Theater’s production, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” winner of the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical. Other than last year’s Big Noise Theater’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, I don’t remember a more enjoyable experience.  Anyone looking for an affordable and thoroughly enchanting evening of pure entertainment would do well to attend one of the last performances this weekend. Directions and pricing can be found on the theater’s web site - http://www.winnetkatheatre.org/chaperone.html

I am only pointing out my experience with the Big Noise Theater audience because it happens to be the last show we’ve attended. The over-exuberant annoying practice is hardly limited to this one theater. However, the change needs to start somewhere. So, if you do attend this weekend, please ask the stage manager to announce that, along with turning cell phones and pagers off, to please spare the ears of the more sensitive audience members by refraining from whistles, cat calls, rebel yells and other forms of response more suited to the drag race, Metallica concert or last space shuttle blast off.