The Cultural Director (my husband) and I recently attended "Giant" with John Lithgow at the Music Box Theatre. The play dramatizes a controversial book review Roald Dahl wrote, deeming it antisemitic. He confronts moral and professional dilemmas as the play comes to ... WHAT IS THAT LOUD SOUND? Is it the CELL PHONE of the guy sitting next to me? (And, I'm not even mentioning that it was in John Lithgow's voice, which made me think that this horrendously mannered person was actually RECORDING the performance??)
The jolting sound went off at the pivotal moment Dahl is speaking on the phone, giving an interview, and the script is verbatim to his real conversation. Is this idiot next to me trying to ruin it for the entire row in his vicinity?
Well, he did.
When you are asked to shut off all electronic devices,
SHUT OFF YOUR PHONE!
Not just SILENCE it, but
SHUT IT OFF COMPLETELY.
A philharmonic bassoonist I know mentioned that at one concert, a colleague musician stopped cold in the middle of a composition when someone's cell phone started ringing.
As an audience, you are collectively sharing a magical moment that will be gone forever once the last note or word is played or spoken. This is the beauty of live performances. Don't wreck it for everyone with bad etiquette.
TURN OFF YOUR #$*@?!! PHONE.