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😉 Greetings to my regular and new readers! Friends, let’s talk about etiquette in the theater. For many, this information will be useful.
I live in the city of Taganrog, where the famous writer Chekhov was born. The “pearl” of our city is the Drama Theater named after A.P. Chekhov. Anton Pavlovich himself visited the theater.
If you, dear reader, are in Taganrog, then by all means visit our theater. Get a pleasant and unforgettable experience! This theater is special! It must be seen from the inside! The building is a miniature copy of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. You will understand me when you enter the theater …
When I visit the theater, I always represent the audience of Chekhov’s times. Ladies in evening dresses, a light scent of good perfume, a fan, theatrical binoculars. The velvet, heavy curtain slowly opens. The lights go out in the hall, the audience freezes and the performance begins …
Theatrical etiquette
In the etiquette of visiting the theater, even in the Middle Ages, a special place was given to the choice of attire. Even today, the theater has retained its ceremonial traditions. Therefore, going to the theater is equated with going out and is a festive event. Respect the theater, friends, and practice theater etiquette.
How to get dressed?
It is not customary to come to the theater in sports style clothing (sneakers, sneakers, slippers, jeans, shorts). Nobody demands luxurious outfits, don’t wear a flashy outfit: your suit should be beautiful, but strict. Try to limit yourself to plain dresses. Will help out a stole made of light fabric.
Floral sundresses and bright crimson skirts will look silly at least. As for the hairstyle, you shouldn’t make high “towers” or braid bows, hats are also excluded. This will interfere with the audience sitting in the back from watching the process.
You should come to the theater 15-20 minutes before the start of the performance. If you are late, you should wait for the intermission to take your place without disturbing the audience during the performance.
If a man goes to the theater with a lady, then he should follow certain rules. First, the man is the first to enter the theater, presenting the tickets to the controller, which he must leave with him until the end of the performance.
His job is to help his lady undress. Having handed over the outerwear to the wardrobe, the man usually keeps the numbers. Women in the cold season can bring shoes with them, which can be changed in the toilet room.
Silence in the hall is the main requirement for the viewer!
Before entering the auditorium, you must turn off your mobile phones so as not to disturb the actors and spectators.
The man enters the auditorium first. However, along the row, the lady moves first to her seats, and the man follows her. You should go along the row, turning to face those sitting in this row.
Passing to your seats, you should definitely apologize to those sitting for the disturbance. And only then take your seat. As a rule, the man takes the place to the left of his companion.
It is extremely indecent to ask for binoculars or a program from a neighbor during a performance. This should not be done so as not to interfere with him and those sitting next to you to watch the performance. Incidentally, it is also indecent to look at the audience with binoculars.
Never talk to each other through the person sitting between you. It is also ugly to ask your neighbor to change places with him so that you can talk with a friend: you should take care of sitting next to you when buying a ticket.
During the performance, try not to share your impressions with your neighbor, so as not to disturb others and the actors. Even a whisper is inappropriate during the performance.
You should applaud:
- During the raising of the curtain at the beginning of the performance.
- At the end of each act.
- After the most successful moment in the production.
- At the moment the actors enter the stage after the performance.
You can not:
- greet acquaintances loudly, you can approach them during intermission;
- fit in a chair like a chaise lounge;
- occupy both armrests of the chair, since the neighbor also has the right to lean on his elbow;
- cross your legs, because you can accidentally hit your neighbor with your foot;
- rustle with pieces of paper during the performance, unwrapping sweets;
- use the program as a fan, no matter how hot it is in the auditorium;
- put handbags and binoculars on the balcony barrier. One careless movement – and all this can fall on the heads of the audience in the stalls;
- if the performance leaves you indifferent, a polite person will simply thank the artists for their work with applause;
- if you like the performance, it can be expressed with longer applause and shouts: “Bravo!”
- it is not customary to throw flowers on the stage.
A well-mannered person does not leave his place until the curtain closes. Only then calmly goes to the wardrobe. He will not hustle in line for clothes, but will linger in the foyer for a short while to discuss the production. After the performance, the man is obliged to accompany his lady home.
Seats for spectators
- Amphitheater – seats in the auditorium, located on rising ledges behind the parterre.
- Balcony – seats for the public, located in several rows in different tiers of the auditorium opposite the stage. In some theaters, balconies are also located on the sides of the hall.
- The mezzanine is a tier of theater boxes above the benoir and the amphitheater.
- Benoir is the lower tier of theater boxes. Located on both sides of the parterre at stage level or slightly below.
- The General Lodge is the mezzanine lodge, from which the best view of theatrical action opens up. A satin canopy is installed above the general box, which is stretched over a collapsible carved gilded frame.
- Gallery – (outdated) – the upper tier with the cheapest seats.
- A box is a group of places marked out by partitions or barriers in the form of small rooms.
- The parterre in the theater building is the plane of the floor of the auditorium with seats for spectators. For better visibility, the parquet floor is usually raised from the stage to the back rows.
- Tier – a balcony with seats for spectators located on it, running along the back and side walls of the auditorium.
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