Uncle Vernon Gets Stroppy.

"F**k Off!" Griffiths Tells Audience Member.
When an audience member's mobile phone went off for the third time in the matinee of Heroes at Wyndham's on Saturday (19th November), actor Richard Griffiths, in the middle of a long speech towards the end of the play, lost his temper and asked if it was going to ring again or if he could finish the play.

"ThereÂ’s 750 people sitting in here, and if I was them IÂ’d sue you for spoiling their afternoon," he said. "In fact, why donÂ’t you leave the theatre now? F*** off!"

Another mobile had rung twice in the previous night's performance, which led the play's producer David Pugh to tell SOLT's website, “We are fully supportive of Richard, and if anybody’s mobile phone rings we shall tell them to f*** off out of the theatre!”

The audience clearly supported him too: he received a standing ovation for his words."

The last show I saw about 6 people, in their early twenties, walked in about 5 minutes into the show. They then walked from the front row to the back - up the stairs at the side of the audience. They were then asked not to video the play due to copyright. The noise was unbeliveable. They explained, during the performance, they had come to see a friend in the show. They didn't return for the second act despite the play being very funny and well presented.

The previous play I saw a week ago, a similar aged group - same bunch? - came in and their phones rang. They texted messages. then they too didn't show up for the second act. they went to the pub across the road.

Do these people think they are doing their friends a favour?

Having had the experience only a week ago when in one scene with my leading lady an audience member's mobile phone started to go off, I felt the same way. These people do not understand how rude and inconsiderate this is, so verbal abuse and humiliation might be the only way - aside from frisking the bastards when then come in.

I blame the parents meself. In my day boys at twenty years old were whipped publicly for even looking like they were going to speak.

And we had real entertainment in those days, gas lamps, fog, and real weather. Not this namby pamby climate they force on us nowadays.

Good plays about Lords and Ladies an' their goins' on, and farces with underpants 'n' all. Ahh good times.

And dont forget most 20 year olds in my day were already fighting wars, yes, character building getting shot. Calms you down. A lot.

Fact is, having worked and performed with a whole bunch of twenty somethings this month they are BRILLIANT. I was the "grand old man" in their production, I live in awe of their talent, their flexibilty and ability to speak out. Of course a lot of what they said, and terminology, well, I didnt always agree LOL. But as people, mate, compared to my lot (agegroup). Awesome.

Yes there always some 16 - 30's that are inconsiderate pains in the fundament. But they are few, far fewer than the arrogant bastards in my current generation of boomers.

I played to audiences of students all 100% well behaved and enthusiastic. I would think you encountered people who had NEVER been exposed to formal theatre , and that truly is their parents fault.

Consideration is an art, that like maturity, is optional.

My take is that when something like that happens, I cast meself back to the heyday of the globe... I fi can rivet them with my performance then...all other considerations are worthless.

I have seen Craig wither people with few and polite words...and witnessed great performers bring shows to a halt to deliver stinging rebukes to offending audience members.

Its theatre. Thats all. Don't have a cow man.

Thou reeky plume-plucked flirt-gill!

The trouble is though the audience member who left the mobile phone on was probably some old fart, as that seems to be the type of clientele in this theatre. In fact I would think that some of the younger elements in the cast were the most distressed when up against mobile phones as they have the less experience in having to deal with it.


Thou spleeny toad-spotted bugbear!

I think I covered that...

>"Yes there always some 16 - 30's that are inconsiderate pains in the fundament. But they are few, far fewer than the arrogant bastards in my current generation of boomers."<

Having been in my time, heckled, dodged fruit, bottles and excrement (Yes my performance truly deserved it sometimes) Been threatened with a knife, death and several large US marines who took exception to my stage sexuality, oh and on one memorable (not) occasion a large, smelly and very sexually aware billy goat decided to join me on the outdoor stage. What cologne WAS I wearing? What was I thinking?

I do remember seeing reported(But not witnessing) in Drury lane in London a famous actor stop a play and exclaim to some second row patrons " no thats alright my dears, we will wait for you to be seated comfortably and finish your conversation before we continue with our story" And they did. The patrons leaving in high embarassment and to the appreciation of the crowd.

As you well know Joe, a thick skin is acquired over long practice, and shed by slow abrasion.

Youngsters will learn that it really is not a job for the faint hearted...


Thou beslubbering boil-brained maggot-pie!

"The trouble is though the audience member who left the mobile phone on was probably some old fart, as that seems to be the type of clientele in this theatre. In fact I would think that some of the younger elements in the cast were the most distressed when up against mobile phones as they have the less experience in having to deal with it."

Apparently he was old enough to know better. But obviously didn't. He whined later that he left his phone on because he was expecting an urgent call about a member of his family - which begs the question, if you're that bloody concerned, why aren't you at home, instead of out at the theatre?