Bad Manners in the Empire

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Despite waking up exhausted from the exertions of our trip to the South coast and back, it was business as normal today and time for some culture or at least a popular West End musical. Only on this occasion the venue was the Sunderland Empire and it was a matinee performance. The production was wonderful; the music; the colours; the scenery and special effects. Whoever came up with the ideas for all those animals? They were delightful.

I wish I could say the same for the audience. Young people and Southerners often get a bad press for rudeness but never in all my theatre visits have I been so appalled by the antics of what for the most part were people older than myself and, of course, all from the North. So many thought it acceptable to talk through the show, to push and shove their way to the seats, walking sticks brandished to good effect and elbows outstretched. Then, as the cast was taking its bow, it was like watching a tidal wave as people got up from their seats, squeezed across the rows, trampled on the feet of those watching the stage, turned their backs to the cast and hurled themselves towards the exits. The auditorium was still in darkness and they didn't care if they blocked the view of the stage for those giving applause for a great afternoon.

It will be a long time before I visit the theatre in the afternoon again if that is how fellow retirees and others with free time during the day think it is acceptable to behave! Neither age nor a surfeit of leisure time are an excuse for ill manners and lack of consideration for others.


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