Candlelight Processional/Manners Please!

[debbie in Seattle]

Went to the Candlelight Processional last week to see Phil Donohue.
Got to tell you, the 4 women in front of us ruined the show, as much as we all tried to ignore their behavior. These were 4 middle aged women, one or more had a child singing in the choir and were excited, understandable.
We had a handicaped bench in front of us (me, my sis and this other husband and wife) and these 4 sat there instead of allowing those who needed this seating. They the proceeded to stand up, yes folks, stand up to take pictures, talked the entire time and pretty much acted like a bunch of kids. The woman sitting next to my sis actually let them have it and told them that no one could see the show due to their standing. They then started talking and I'm not talking about commments, long drawn out conversations, pointing, etc. I at that point asked two of them to please stop talking, that they were distracting all of us sitting behind them. One denied she ever said anything. I just smiled and said thank you. One of them had a digital movie camera and held her camera up high in the air (instead of standng I guess) and so we all got to watch what was on her lens instead of the show.
So folks, please, let's all use some common courtesy when at these shows.
And we complain about crying babies, I'd take the crying anyday over the rudeness and complete disregard to those trying to enjoy the show!!!!!

 

[dkrfla]

I had the same problem when I was there on the 30th. People just kept talking and talking while the narration was going on and all during the songs. It seems to me that if you cannot at least have some respect for the talented people performing then have some respect for those who want to hear the performance.

 

[JudithM]

I understand what you are saying. I wouldn't mind an occassional stand up to take a photo especially since they know some of the visiting choir. The young girl behind us in line was on her cel phone all the time we waited. As we walked to the theaterI told her it was rude to be constantly gabbing on her phone - that the rest of us were not interested in her conversation.

 

[GEM]

Wow. Actually, I'd say you were the one being rude. I mean, if she was talking on the phone during the show, I certainly would have understood. That is absolutely rude and I would definately say something about that! I don't see the problem with her talking on it while she waited in line, though. Were you talking with your friends? I bet she wasn't interested in hearing your conversation either. Why does it matter to you if she was talking to someone on the phone or to the person standing next to her?

As for rude behavior during the performance, it seems that a lot of people don't know the difference between what is proper behavior for a sporting event and what is proper behavior for a concert, play, lecture, etc. It really is upsetting to have a great performance ruined by people who talk, don't stay in their seats, etc.

 

[cjsmom5]

How did Phil Donohue do with the narration? He and his extended family were staying at the AKL while we were there. He was up in the concierge lounge frequently in the morning. We never did say anything to him. He pretty much kept to himself but was always very polite to the gals that were serving in the lounge. I commented to my DS that he looked so much older than I remembered him. My DS quietly reminded me that I was "older" too. We both just laughed.

I agree with you about the "rudeness" during performances. It seems like "manners" and "consideration for others" are unfortunately rare. We saw some of the most obnoxious behavior this past week in the concierge lounge. I'm not sure why but I continue to be surprised!

 

[Feralpeg]

I didn't see any rude behavior, but I was suprised. At one point while the choir is singing Silent Night, the conductor turns to the audiance and begins conducting. The audiance is supposed to sing along. Several people in our row, including DD and myself, began singing. People turned around in front of us and gave us dirty looks.

Then, many people did not stand at the beginning of the Halleluiah Chorus. Several of us did and then, eventually, others stood. I thought everyone knew to stand during the chorus.

 

[SamRoc]

I had a similar problem at the Beauty and the Beast show last month. A family of 3 came in the theater late and sat in front of us. The dad had a huge hat on and sat right in front of me, I asked him nicely to take it off so he did, but I could tell he wasn't happy about it. In general the dad wasn't happy to be at the Beauty and the Beast show in the first place, and he made everyone around him know that his wife dragged him there. Then the wife got PO'd that I said something to him and she put the hat on the little girls head and placed her right on the dads lap, now really blocking mine and my dd's view! The mom and dad talked loudly during the first part of the show, and we asked them about 4 times to please be quiet, my dd really wanted to hear Belle sing. We would have moved but the theater was packed. Then finally I got mad enough to tell them to take the hat off the kids head and stop talking, they were ruining the show for everyone around them! Everyone around us agreed loudly and the annoying family left. I felt bad for the little girl that her parents were being so selfish.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I thought the show was overrated. Phil read the same passage twice during our performance, and the stage manager had to come correct him during the following song. The choir members were having a hard time staying upright. We saw several hit the deck and need to be guided off stage. I was really turned off by the whole thing.

As for the comment about people being rude by not standing at the Hallelujah chorus, let me assure you that there is no such "requirement" --- especially for those who do not know a particular faith or denomination's traditions.

 

[Feralpeg]

As for the comment about people being rude by not standing at the Hallelujah chorus, let me assure you that there is no such "requirement" --- especially for those who do not know a particular faith or denomination's traditions.

I'm sorry if I offended you. It was not my intention. It is just that every performance I've ever been to, the audiance stood during the chorus. I thought it was something well known and usually done. Sorry!

 

[JPN4265]

Keep your blood pressure down, call for the usher's to handle the problem.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

There was one performance we went to a few years ago when one of the directors of the school choir was being disruptive. I would have thought that they would know how to behave.

 

[lynnmci]

I went to the processional last Sunday and I have to say that I did not know of any tradition which requires standing during the chorus. I am not from the US and it must be a tradition over there because its not over here.

Can I also say that even though I stood up I would dearly have loved to have been seated due to a wonderful slipped disc I had in my back. Please remember that although people look fit and well they may not be.

 

[JoEllen]

The tradition of standing supposedly began in London when King George II stood for the Hallelujah Chorus proclaiming it "too glorious for mortal man to sit thru". Since the King stood during the concert everyone else had to stand according to English custom. Thus a tradition was born.

The custom really has no religious connotation but is a custom practiced by most of the English speaking nations.

 

[soccerchick]

One of them had a digital movie camera and held her camera up high in the air (instead of standng I guess) and so we all got to watch what was on her lens instead of the show.
QUOTE]

I would have been sooo tempted to loudly offer some "narration" for their video that would have ticked them off

 

[debbie in Seattle]

I didn't know you were supposed to stand up during the Hallejauh either. Everyone else stood up, so did I!!!! My sis explained it to me.
I don't know if I enjoyed Phil (Donohue) or not, I was so distracted by those women in front of me, no matter how hard I tried not to be.
When the conductor turned around to have us sing, we all sang.
Perhaps we all had been in WDW too long and just followed along with the one in front of us.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

The tradition of standing supposedly began in London when King George II stood for the Hallelujah Chorus proclaiming it "too glorious for mortal man to sit thru". Since the King stood during the concert everyone else had to stand according to English custom. Thus a tradition was born.

http://www.festival-singers.org.nz/haleluia.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3441-2004Dec15.html
http://gfhandel.org/faqs.htm

I have gone to the Candlelight Processional for the past 11 years now, we have always stood during the Hallelujah Chorus and we have always sand Silent Night when the conductor turns around to conduct the audience.

 

[Robo]

The tradition of standing supposedly began in London when King George II stood for the Hallelujah Chorus proclaiming it "too glorious for mortal man to sit thru". Since the King stood during the concert everyone else had to stand according to English custom. Thus a tradition was born.

The custom really has no religious connotation but is a custom practiced by most of the English speaking nations.

DITTO to that.

 

[snels]

I did not know that standing during the Hallelujah Chorus was an English tradition. I have never heard of that before.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

To answer the previous poster's question about Phil Donohue, I thought he did well. He only briefly spoke off the cuff at the beginning, before the actual narration started. His reading was reverent and not over the top. I was impressed that he didn't really acknowledge himself, like some "famous" people do when they are guest narators, or whatever. He just started with a small thank you for coming and he acknowledged the talent. He had one small self-deprecating comment, and then it was on with the show.

As for the show, I thought it was WONDERFUL! I'm not a religious person, but I thoroughly enjoyed the show for the music. Those 6 fanfare trumpets were enough to make me WANT to stand during the Halleluah Chorus at the end. I highly recommend it if you love music Thankfully, all of the people seated near me were very respectful or I would have had to stomp someone aw:

 

[curiouser]

Just to weight in on the Hallelujah Chorus standing..

I had the opportunity in a choral group to perform Handel's Messiah at the US Naval Academy in front of many politicians and esteemed, decorated Naval personel.

None of them stood, to my recollecton.

Of course we were standing, but we were the choir.

So I don't think everyone is aware of that tradition.