Rude to take notes during performances? - 2007/11/04 23:20I'm in a theatre class, and we have to write long critiques (several pages) on the performances we go to see. I was wondering if it was rude to take a lot of notes during a performance, especially in a theater where the seating arrangement is such that the actors can easily see audience members.
For instance, I have to write a critique on a show I recently saw. I saw it twice - the first time, I hardly took any notes at all and focused on the performance, and the second time, I took many pages of notes and barely looked up (except when it was too dark to write).
I feel justified in doing this, but I don't want to appear like I don't care about what's going on on-stage.
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DuchessCherryFlower
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Re:Rude to take notes during performances? - 2007/11/05 13:52I personally don't see anything wrong with it, especially since you've seen the show before and payed attention. When people come to do judication for shows, they have to take an immense amount of notes in order to give a score for the show and its cast members. And in your case, this is for a class, therefor you want to be well prepared, take those notes girl!
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But I'm sure a lot of reviewers take notes while they're watching shows. It's the best way to remember details without making mistakes.Kathleen Sera Current Shows: Aloha Pinafore - Volga Upcoming Auditions: Crazy For You - Irene Roth
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Well, it wasn't critiquing, but analyzing the shows. Now, I could remember enough about the show to do the assignment right afterwards, but there's nothing wrong with taking notes. Just make sure you enjoy the performance as well.Maddy, aka minesayrejoice, GreenGirl, GavrocheGrrl, EriksWife (Erik'swife), and jewelkat.
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Starlet_Actress21
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Re:Rude to take notes during performances? - 2007/11/05 16:36Yeah, I don't see anything wrong with it. We have to do the same thing in my theatre classes. Even looking at it from an actor's perspective, I don't think I'd be offended if I saw something taking notes.Auditioning for: Brigadoon, theatre season, American Music Theatre, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, and AMDA.
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peaceplease
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Re:Rude to take notes during performances? - 2007/11/05 20:20i take notes during performances, but i try to do it as quietly as possible and i always look up at the performance while i am writing (my notebook can attest this...everything is written in every direction except right on the lines), i do this when i am writing reviews for my college's newspaper and for my theatre (and even dance) classes. no one has ever complained or asked me to stop and i find it effective in relaying the information later.Danielle
Upcoming Auditions: "Into the Woods" (Fall 2008); "Noises Off" (Fall 2008); "How I Learned to Drive" (Fall 2008)
Dream Roles: Eponine (Les Miserables), Baker's Wife (Into the Woods), Emma Goldman (Ragtime), and Marcy (I Love You Because)
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Shannon
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Re:Rude to take notes during performances? - 2007/11/06 11:54All right, I'm glad to know I wasn't being terribly rude to the actors. I tried to do it quietly, but I took so many notes (especially detailing the plot, since it was a condensed version of a Shakespeare play that had things switched around) that I occasionally had to turn a page, which did make a bit of noise. Hopefully not too much, though!
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I tried to do it quietly, but I took so many notes (especially detailing the plot, since it was a condensed version of a Shakespeare play that had things switched around) that I occasionally had to turn a page, which did make a bit of noise. Hopefully not too much, though!