Letter to the Editor
16-6-15
We were sent a Letter to the Editor over the weekend in regards to a performance of The Sound of Music on Saturday... We were asked to publish it by the author and open a forum on the topic of audience etiquette and age restrictions for tickets. We have published articles on this subject in the past and hope this will lead to meaningful discussion between the artist and the audience.
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Dear Editor,
I attended the Saturday matinee of Sound of Music based on your review. Although the show was very good and I cannot fault the actors for my bad experience, I feel I must write to you because frankly I was livid when I left. It seems that people do not know how to control themselves or their children in Hong Kong when going to the theatre!
I paid over 2,000HKD for my family and I to attend the show. I went in with very high expectations based on the price. We got dressed up and told our kids what to do and expect when seeing a live Broadway show.
1) Clap at the end.
2) Be quiet during the show.
3) Be respectful of the other people around you.
These seem like simple requests and the age restriction on Sound of Music was 4 and over. You would think people would refrain from bringing babies into a three hour show, but NO! We had toddlers everywhere and then OF COURSE the kids couldn't sit through it.
We had one child near us that was practically screaming at the end of act one and his parents did nothing. In fact, the father was worse, texting on his phone and making grunting noises. If your child is acting badly, you need to remove them from the space. Do not give your kid an IPAD to play games (with the volume on) during the show! (Something another parent did on Saturday afternoon.)
Parents need to pay attention to the age restrictions on a ticket and the ticketing agencies should adhere to it. Kids under 4 should not be permitted into a three hour musical. If not for the enjoyment of the child; for the enjoyment of others around them. We're paying 2,000HKD for a three hour experience where we were miserable most of the time and couldn't hear the actors because of the bad behavior in the audience.
Please publish my letter. People need to know this is not acceptable behavior.
-Michael Sanoop
*This letter was slightly edited for clarity*
Comments
Satoshi Kyo
Your concern is totally valid. People who purchase tickets should be careful and most aware of the age restriction. Also, it is the obligation of the theatre and presenters to ensure that these restrictions are observed. Last but not the least, theatre ushers should be strict in ensuring that people do not have their ipads or mobile phone on. If cinemas can do it, all the more theatres where ticket prices are high should be able to do it.
16 June 2015
Candice Moore
Dear Editor,
16 June 2015
I'm glad you printed this letter. Hear, hear!!
We saw the matinee performance of The Sound Ot Music on Sunday, May 24th. While we thoroughly enjoyed the show, the behaviour of the adults with young children sitting near us was outstandingly bad. It got so bad that several people told the offendors to either leave or at least take their children outside.
In the interval the venue staff also spoke to them. Their behaviour improved for Act Two.
But the level of arrogance, ignorance and rudeness displayed by the parents was astonishing.
Perhaps the venue need to make an extra 'house announcement' explaining correct etiquette for audience members.
How do you solve a problem like rude audiences members?
Send them away to climb every mountain in HK!!