Friday, July 27, 2007

The Audience

Our audiences at the Broadhurst have been incredibly wonderful.  We have gotten marvelous receptions and we up there on stage are revved up by their enthusiasm.

HOWEVER...

Two days ago, seated in the front row were a man and a woman.  And they gave us a show of their own.

I didn't see much of the action, but our boys sure did, and didn't hesitate to recount and demonstrate exactly what they saw.  There was a lot (as in A LOT) of lip-locking (which I actually did catch)... groping... touching... fondling.  Sure, we made fun of them, but in all seriousness, we all thought it was ridiculous and disrespectful.  Some thought they just didn't care, others theorized they had planned their display.

BUT COME ON!!!  Did they not think that others around them AND us on stage could see them?  HELLO!  They were in the friggin front row of a MUSICAL, not the back row of a movie theatre!!!

After my anger had subsided, it made me think just what would possess anyone to make such a display of themselves.  Were they just horny and couldn't wait to get back to their hotel?  Were they adventurers and wanted to intentionally show off just how horny they were?  Did they have no idea just how stupid they looked (not to mention, not particularly good looking)?

Who knows... perhaps some of you here have engaged in such shenanigans.  My advice: don't.  It angers the performers and audience members around you.  If you want to get into someone's pants, don't do it after spending $250 a pop on premium seats.  Getting a hotel room is far cheaper, and more appropriate.

Sheesh.

57 comments:

Marcus Smith said...

lol

stephanie lim said...

I hope it won't happen again. That's distracting to the performers as well as to the audience.

Marcus Smith said...

lol

advent philomels said...

I can't believe those horny couples do that inside a Musical Theater!!! Maybe, the music sounds orgasmic to them .. LOL... would have been nice if they get booted off the theater since they're distracting the performers and audience around them.

Jeffrey Imutan said...

don't mind them, those people just wanted some attention. you're the star of the show and not them. regards to your family. more power to you.
by the way, my wife ruby and daughter jaymee says hello.

Bobby G said...

Hay naku! That Chari talaga. Didn't we tell her not to do that in public? :-)

Alison Lec said...

This didn't happen to be on Wednesday night? I was stuck sitting next to two love birds who couldn't keep their hands off each other...third row. center. ew. It got even better when one of them started singing along with On My Own. If it was them, glad to know I wasn't the only one who noticed.

Val Daubert said...

That's really disturbing for everyone involve. I mean they have had to have known that everyone in the theatre saw them. Including you guys on the stage. I made a spectacle of myself in the theatre too but I did nothing like that. I was late for the show(darn traffic) and since the theatre is so dark and I'm kinda blind in the dark, I fell over 5 people trying to get to my seat. LOL. I was in the front row too but up in the mezzanine. When I go again on August 16th I will make sure I get to the theatre early :-).

garry ykalina said...

That was stupid of them. They should've been booted out. I can imagine the torment of those performing onstage to deeply concentrate while seeing such shenanigans. How can a good Fantine cry, hyperventilate, and hallucinate seeing young Cosette play when all she sees was lip-locking and fondling in front of her? But well, you managed to still, that's why you're one of a kind.

Sheesh really.

Soleil NYC said...

Dinner and drinks: $100
Premium seats at the theater: $500
Making it impossible for her to say no: Priceless.

The New York Date. She'll pretty much have to.

:D

Soleil NYC said...

When you gotta go, you gotta go!

arkitekfhc . said...

That's hilarious. There must have been a segment in Les Miz that got the couple frisky. Perhaps during "Lovely Ladies"? :)

Dex Osorio said...

"Some thought they just didn't care, others theorized they had planned their display."

I'm inclined to believe it's the latter. Are you sure Ashton Kutcher wasn't involved? =)

Chari Arespacochaga said...

oye!

Chari Arespacochaga said...

as you dont sng in the show: but the tigers come...OUUUUT TONIGHT!

Topper Fabregas said...

hindi man lang back row?! front na front.

archie madrid said...

hay sus! ang weirdo naman nila. If I was a performer that night, I would have hit them with a microphone!! O kaya I would've taken a picture of them and post that outside the theater bulletin board. (if there's any hehe)

Henyways, it just proves how professional you guys are by not minding their little orgiastic fiasco. Kudos.

Arlene Tumale said...

huh?
goodness gracious!

Lei Salazar said...

hmmm...what a way to steal the show!

Gerard Salonga said...

hahahahaha!

joy weimer said...

They had to have wanted the attention, why buy premium seat tickets to do just exactly what they did. They probably just wanted Lea to write about them. Were they young or middle age?
They could have done that in a movie theater but they chose Les Miz - definitely a motive going on. Tsk Tsk

joy weimer said...

They had to have wanted the attention, why buy premium seat tickets to do just exactly what they did. They probably just wanted Lea to write about them. Were they young or middle age?
They could have done that in a movie theater but they chose Les Miz - definitely a motive going on. Tsk Tsk

Chino Hernandez said...

What shocks me is that they did it in Les Mis, a show that does not give a reason to feel so horny to do such a thing. $250 to do that! There are other ways to spend that money that would give them the satisfaction that they want. Crazy people, how could they desecrate the theatre, where artists show their passion and give all their energy to entertain people.

aj quiambao said...

That's absurd ! Last night when we watched, the thing that gets our attention was the late-comers -- 2 of them went in ...probably 15-30 mins. after the show starts... so we have to stand up and give way.And also those people who took pictures inside (tho' the show hasn't started yet, still it gets the attention of the musicians). The ushers gave them a warning ---- still, they took pictures couple of times... nakakainis !

Rod Cahayag said...

That is crazy! Front row, people next to them and performers right in front of them. My theory is that they were probably haters of a performer(s), or just straight up really horny people. They could've been on some ecstasy. Regardless, that is rude.

Lea Salonga said...

Okay sana if it was Chari. Oye! The guy had no eyebrows!

arlin dizon said...

it was disrespectful indeed. hayyy.. how could some people do such a thing..

Nikki Grillos said...

Maybe they get turned on by spending lots of money on Broadway shows?

Nika Echevarria said...

LoL:))

Chinky Fuentes said...

they're sick! that's what they are. someone should have covered a smelly blanket on them.

Rose Dauz said...

i agree that it was rude and disrespectful. some people have no class.

Phillip Sayo said...

lol sana may les mis.. dito (manila)

Gerry Nepomuceno said...

Perhaps they spent all their money on premium seats so they could not afford a hotel room anymore. LOL. At any rate, I didn't know that cast members could *see* the audience that closely.

Lea Salonga said...

My eyesight stops after about 10 rows, so the front row is very, very visible to us onstage. So macking in the front row is just... very, very, uncomfortably visible. Yeesh.

Dennis Cheng said...

That is so disrespectful, you don't go to a live show to do stuff like that. They should've been removed. As far as class? Sure they're classy, just like *cough*Lindsey*cough*.

reginee tan said...

soo disrespectful

CJ Jimenez said...

Why weren't they kicked out of the theater or maybe an usher would come over and ask them to stop?

When my friend and I saw Spring Awakening, there was this couple and their noisy plastic bag. An usher immediately came up to them and asked them to stop making that annoying noise. What more having a couple making out in front row center?!

Dennis Cheng said...

Exactly, they should have been removed.
If the ushers didn't want to do it, get the house manager in there, that's their job.
*grumble*

Marcus Smith said...

That couple did pay the same price for the tickets as other people on the same section did, it's their own liabilities to have courtesy not to do anything inappropriate to distract the performers and even the audience around them. Maybe it's about time to change the protocols before the curtain up... "Please turn off your cell phones or put it on silent mode, no cameras, no lascivious acts, and try to avoid coughing, if you can..."

hapee uy said...

how inappropriate!

garry ykalina said...

i strongly agree to you....

mj tam said...

sorry....I promise that hubby and I won't ever do it again!

hehe kidding...that is too funny though

Steve Duling said...

I'm sorry for the trouble they cause you Lea. Some people just don't know how to act in public. My wife and I went to see you on July 12. We loved the show. We were the ones who met you back stage. I gave you 3 CD's of Eddie Miles and a 8 by 10 photo that he had autographed for you. "The Elvis guy" remember. Did you get a chance to listen to them. His web site is eddiemiles.com please take a look at it some time. It's pretty good.

You're the best Lea. We've been big fans since you made Capt. Barbell in 1986.

Steve & Monica Duling

Jo ♫ said...

Wow, how odd of them to get frisky in Les Miz. That's some serious kink right there! Hahaha. Had they been in Spring Awakening, I would've understood that, but Les Miz??? Damn weirdos!

Anyhow, I'll be watching you guys again - tomorrow night (or later actually). I'll be dragging a friend along, and I promise, we'll behave. ;)

Btw, have you seen this? Doogie Howser doing the Confrontation. Heh. Can you imagine them doing that soon after your character's death? :p

Click here and comment... What u like... said...

Unbelievably tacky...

orchid jolie said...

Some people really do go to extreme just to get attention. How sad...

If it is not Chari probably Greta?

*and I'm just kiddin... peace..ahihihi

Angela The Great said...

boy, that is so funny!!! :D im falling of my seat!! :D HAHAHAHA

Elle Caimol said...

Hi Ms. Salonga! It sure gave me such a bad feeling after reading your letter about these ridiculous and disrespectful audience you had then, that was foul. It must have been a pair of exhibitionist. If I were around, I would have called the security especially if they were disturbing.

Anyway, I am writing because we were just there at your show last week, July 31 at 7pm. What a shame we missed you leaving the backstage. My mother who was so excited to see you felt so bad, who by the way was the only reason why we were all there coz she wanted to see your show. Us kids came from all different parts of the U.S. & we specifically chose NY coz our Mom wanted to see your performance. Altho' she was the happiest & most proud of you. I think it took us time buying the souvenirs inside, too bad!

However, not to worry hopefully there will be another time. Yet I take of this chance, probably you can throw her any simple photo of yours with dedication addressed to her, if it isn't too much to ask. FYI, she was diagnosed last March only that her lung cancer recurred, so we are making the most with her.

If this is possible, please mail it to: Luming Caimol, 6952 Ellingham Circle, Alexandria, VA 22315; her birthday is on Sept. 4th, she's turning 79. I would really appreciate this Lea & thanking you so much coz I am very sure she'll be so delighted to receive your beautiful picture.

God bless & all the best to your show.

Ellen Caimol

DANA PENINOY said...

THAT'S JUST GROSS....... I MEAN JUST GET A ROOM IN A HOTEL OR SOMETHING.. NOT IN A THEATRE!

DANA PENINOY said...

THAT'S JUST GROSS....... I MEAN JUST GET A ROOM IN A HOTEL OR SOMETHING.. NOT IN A THEATRE!

Dennis Cheng said...

"Please turn off your cell phones or put it on silent mode, no cameras, no lascivious acts, and try to avoid coughing, if you can..."

Perhaps you are right, we do live in a society now where simple manners have long been forgotten. Just this last year, our city passed some new bylaws where certain actions when witness by a city official or police officer would saction heavy fines. Actions that used to be common sense... no spitting in public, no feet on public benches.. and my favorite.. no urinating in public ($300 fine). Gotta love the world we live in!

Fisherpau Online said...

oh gosh... i dislike those too... manners are not to be left at home noh... I swear :P

but yeah... people do surprise you in ways you can't sometimes comprehend :P

Ryan Ty said...

unfortunately, the new breed of broadway audiences do not have the same respect for the theatre. broadway used to be regal, sophisticated night in the town but in these days of commercial theatre i think the industry is losing its mystique. thank you to actors (like you), musicians and playwrights that continue to live their dreams and preserve the true essence of theatre. i saw one of our earlier performances in les mis years ago, i hope to catch you again soon. thank you. maybe we'll bump into on another at the meadow with our boys one of these days.

Dana Cosio-Mercado said...

It's time for an updated version of Sondheim's "Invocations & Instructions to the Audience"... "If we are crude, please, don't come unglued, please" was supposed to be sung by the actors, not the audience!

satomi w said...

hahaha halatang manang Lea talaga. Ang taray!! :)

La Elp said...

geee...she remembered that wee details:) lea is humorous even the topic was so complicated:)

Jessica Fong said...

Ew...