Joe Mangel, who is in
the show before mine at the Leicester Square Theatre was over running tonight. He's meant to be finished at 8.50, but was still on stage after 9. You'd think you'd be able to discuss all the differences between men and men in 80 minutes, but Joe Mangel needed more than 90 tonight. Maybe he'd thought of a new difference. It's annoying when men leave the toilet seat up isn't it.
The staff were getting a bit fidgety and impatient out in the foyer, aware that they had to turn the theatre around in time for my show, get his crowd out, my crowd in, give them a chance to get settled and buy a drink.
When the show finally ended after five past nine, an Australian woman, who I am guessing was something to do with the show stormed out, furiously chastising the theatre manager because she had seen him (or possibly one of the crew) standing at the back, looking at his watch. "How dare you?" she hissed at the placid man who I have found to be nothing but the epitome of professionalism and politeness in all the time I have worked at this theatre and the Arts, "The show went up late. Don't you dare look at your watch like that!" It seemed like a minor crime to me, especially given that it was his job to ensure that everything got in and out on time and so would need to check his watch to see how things were running. And it wasn't like this was the first time the show had gone beyond its allotted time slot. Maybe a "Sorry we overran" would have been a more appropriate response, even if it wasn't entirely her or Joe Mangel's fault. It seems crazy to antagonise the staff at a theatre that you're working in, especially when they're doing an excellent job. It's a really great team at this theatre and I have to say that they have made me most welcome.
Plus I felt all superior because I'd just bought chocolates in for everyone to thank them for their efforts, so they all liked me!
The woman stormed grumpily up the stairs blaming anyone but herself for what had gone wrong. The greatest moments of theatre often happen on the stairs on the way out.
Then the staff were decent enough to apologise to me for my show going up 15 minutes late, even though I knew it was nothing to do with them. It didn't matter too much and I had fun blaming Joe Mangel for the delay. I have had such fun over the last ten days and it ended with another sell out, which has got the tour off to a tremendous start. By the end of April I might not feel quite so excited and enthusiastic, but only time will tell.
The only thing that has slightly concerned me about the London run (and this isn't really anything to do with the theatre as it happens everywhere) is the additional charges that are added on by the ticket agencies when people are buying tickets. When did it become acceptable for ticket buyers to be charged for the privilege of buying their tickets and how come we call just accepted this and didn't just tell the theatres and venues to fuck off. Buying my tickets through Ticketweb for example you were giving three options of how you would get your tickets - all of which cost you additional money.
These were
1) "ticketFast®: NOW (Recommended) (1.75)
The fastest delivery method available, your tickets delivered by email so that you can print them out yourself!"
Unsurprisingly the most expensive method is the one that Ticketweb recommends. But why does it cost £1.75 for this service. You are printing up your own tickets and thus saving the ticket agency paper and ink and time. Surely you should get money off for using this method. But a somewhat spurious £1.75 is needed, almost a tenth of the ticket price (unless you're seeing Joe Mangel whose tickets are two to three times more expensive than mine).
Method 2 - "UK Post (1.75)
Delivery within the UK and Northern Ireland only."
For the same money you can get your tickets printed up by them and posted to you. Last time I checked it cost 36p to send a 1st class letter, but I suppose envelopes don't come cheap.
Method 3 "Box Office Collection (1.00) To pick up this order the card holder must present the card used and provide a signature at the box office on event. Unless
otherwise stated."
It only costs a quid to just get the tickets when you arrive at the theatre - printed up by them. Overlooking the fact that you are paying a pound for absolutely nothing, why wouldn't anyone choose this option? Why pay 75p more and risk the tickets being lost in the post or losing them on the way to the theatre or leaving them at home once you've printed them up at your own expense.
Maybe I am old fashioned, or missing out on some massive administrative cost of all this, but I don't think people should have to pay extra money just to buy tickets and I can't believe we've all just gone along with this. I don't know if you still pay extra money if you just buy your tickets direct from the box office, but people buying in advance or helping to keep down queues by printing up their own tickets should be rewarded not punished it seems to me.
Maybe I should set up my own internet version of Watchdog - getting all upset about banks keeping our interest and ticket companies just stealing money from us for no reason. And standing up for theatre staff being berated by Joe Mangel's minions! I am a champion of the little people, travelling with them on night buses every now and again. Though obviously I am much better than them and don't want to spend any time with them. But as long as they think I'm on their side that's all that matters to me.
