I've attended many events at the BJCC over the years, but this experience was by far the most frustrating and disappointing -- and it had nothing to do with the performance itself.
We were seated in Portal 12 for the 7:30 showing of Wicked, excited for what should have been a magical night. The show began -- and that's when things went downhill fast.
An usher, whose only job should be to assist guests and ensure a smooth, respectful experience, began talking loudly to a coworker during the performance. Not a whisper. Not a quick comment. A full-blown conversation -- loud enough that people around us were turning their heads, visibly annoyed. One brave woman finally got up and confronted her, and we thought that would be the end of it.
IT WASN'T!
About 15 min later, the same usher pulled out her phone and started watching a video at full volume. Not only was it just a video, but a video of people cussing at each other. There were children hearing this. During a Broadway-caliber show. In a professional venue. I wish I were exaggerating. This level of unprofessionalism is absolutely unacceptable. It blows my mind that someone working in a theater environment -- whose job literally revolves around maintaining decorum -- could be so staggeringly inconsiderate. There's no way this woman didn't know she was disrupting the audience; she just didn't care.
The BJCC needs to take this seriously. Whether this staff member is completely untrained or just doesn't care, she should not be working in a venue where people are paying premium prices to enjoy world-class performances.
This was not a cheap night out. The show was fantastic -- what we could hear of it -- but the experience was badly tarnished. I hope this is a one-off, but it's enough to make me think twice about returning. read more