Ainsley

I just saw Boop! The musical. Great show, phenomenal even. The cast, costumes, choreo, etc. was just downright incredible. The audience however, was one of the worst audience experiences I’ve ever had. Now, I don’t know if it was just the performance I saw or if it’s the audience for that show in general, but like never in my life.

I have sat in 32 different broadway theatres, sat through 43 separate broadway shows, and seen a Broadway show (including repeats) 63 times. I know a thing or two about Broadway audiences. What in someone’s right mind makes them think it’s okay to sing along even softly to a performance happening? Or to say the lines? Even if you’re saying/singing them just soft enough for people immediately in front, behind, and next to you. Those people did not pay up to HUNDREDS of dollars to hear someone in the audience perform. They spent that money to hear the Tony nominated cast perform. The people sitting behind you did not pay all that money to see you record the big number on your iPhone (that’s illegal btw). The people sitting next to, and in front of you, did not pay for you to take your shoes off and put your feet on the chair behind you, or take up two chairs laying down.

As someone who takes theater etiquette very seriously, it breaks my heart to see Broadway theatres being treated like a family living room on movie night. Live theater is a celebrated art and sport and the venue it’s performed in is a temple. It’s should be treated as such. I know theater etiquette as a whole has been getting worse, especially post covid, and it’s really disheartening to see. I wish the people (cast, crew, anyone involved) working on these incredible feats of art were given the proper respect and attention they deserve when putting on these works.

Also let me know if it was just the day I saw or if the audience for Boop! is just always like that. I genuinely loved the show but the audience’s theater etiquette just fell extremely short. I would love to see it again, maybe another night is just generally a better time to go besides a Saturday night?

Sincerely,