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Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ

Posted by: seeseveryshow 11:51 pm EDT 05/08/15

Perhaps the rudest audience ever. There was some sort of gala celebration in connection with tonight's performance, and a lot of dressed up folks showed up after the 8pm scheduled start time, drinks in hand. The lights dimmed at 8:15pm and show ended about 9:45pm.

After about 5 songs in, small groups of these fancy patrons seated in the premium seats started to get up and leave. And none of them returned! By the time we got to the encore, it looked as if half the seats in the twelve front center orchestra rows had emptied.

Beyond that, Ms. McDonald gently told the folks seated up front that she could she their faces light up in the reflection of their I-phones, and to please let her get through her final number without that distraction.

All of that notwithstanding, her concert exceeded my expectations. Her patter, particular as she connects her involvement with Covenant House and her concern about civil rights and family to her songs, is well-written and touching. Not overdone.

She did not sing "Rainbow High," but encored with "Over A Rainbow," It was like hearing it for the first time...


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re: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ

Posted by: drummergirl 06:38 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ - seeseveryshow 11:51 pm EDT 05/08/15

This is just horrendous. I was about to say, what did they think it was, dinner theatre? but it would be equally unacceptable in that environment.

Awful, awful.


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re: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ

Posted by: Delvino 01:43 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ - seeseveryshow 11:51 pm EDT 05/08/15

Despicable behavior, even by the eroding standards of the day. I despair. At a movie recently, a mother thought her bored child should be allowed to play a loud video game during the film, and became incensed when I demanded she turn it off. Forget decorum and etiquette, simply boundaries are not honored. I'm no longer startled by posts like this one, as much as it deeply saddens me.


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re: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ

Posted by: jerseymerle 09:42 am EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ - seeseveryshow 11:51 pm EDT 05/08/15

I was there, too, and I was amazed that Audra gave one of the best performances I've ever heard from her despite the distractions. The woman sitting next to me last night not only kept turning on her phone after I asked her not to, but she also put a drink down on the floor, then, predictably, kicked it over during the show. Plus it turns out they were in the wrong seats.

However, the gracious welcoming speech from event organizer Kelli Rabke, as beautiful as when she was in "Children of Eden," reminded us that the money raised goes for essential arts programming for area children, so we just regarded the audience shenanigans as part of the entertainment.


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re: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ

Posted by: Thom915 (Thom915@aol.com) 01:00 am EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ - seeseveryshow 11:51 pm EDT 05/08/15

Wow! Their loss! I do not understand how one can be rude to Audra McDonald. I agree with you from what I saw and heard at the Carnegie hall concert that her patter is not overdone, seeming friendly and genuine. It is such a pity that pockets of the audience refused themselves the opportunity to connect with it.


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re: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ

Posted by: tandelor 08:02 am EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: re: Audra McDonald tonight at Bergen PAC in Englewood NJ - Thom915 01:00 am EDT 05/09/15

The problem with Gala audiences is many of them were given tickets to attend because someone or some corporation "bought a table" and they have no idea what the entertainment is or any appreciation. And unfortunately the ticket holders feel some sense of entitlement because the affair is high priced. I saw the same thing happen not long ago with Jennifer Holliday. Many people had no idea of who she was, and when they found out she wasn't Jennifer Hudson they just got up and walked out.


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