Last night. Jeremy and I headed over to Cheesman Park to enjoy a free concert by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. The night was warm and we found a spot in the shade of some trees. After positioning our chairs so we wouldn't block anyone else's view (common sense courtesy being our mantra, of course), we settled in to wait for the concert, chatting amiably with a couple seated on a blanket next to us.
As the time for the concert drew near, the park was really filling up and it was a festive atmosphere. People were chatting, meeting and greeting their neighbors, children ran all over the place--doing what children do when given the unfettered freedom to hoot, holler, jump and dance about. People brought picnic suppers and enjoyed them as the sun went behind the trees and the field was bathed in blissful coolness. I was enjoying the experience and was so glad we'd come. Until...
...the performance started. After the preliminary thank-yous and introductions were extended, the orchestra began to play the beautiful overture to Russian and Ludmilla. And the people in the audience, rather than being attentive and giving themselves the opportunity to be swept away by the music, simply kept talking. The wife from the congenial couple next to us began a running commentary about her latest trip to Nordstoms. The children continued to hoot and holler, and were given no admonishment by their parents to hush and be respectful. The adults continued their conversations while the orchestra played on.
I was appalled. I tried the dirty look, but that went unnoticed (odd, since I generally give a very effective dirty look; it still scares the bejesus out of my kids, and they are in their 20s!). In most situations, I would have no problem with politely asking the offending party to pipe down, but in this case, I'd have had to ask at least 50% of the attendees to mind their manners. In fact, when I glanced about, I saw that it was largely the audience members over 60 who were valiantly trying to absorb the music while looking askance at their blathering younger neighbors. I was embarrassed for my peers; is this what we've come to that only the elders among us show any respect?
Bear in mind that this was a free concert. The musicians were giving of their time willingly in order to advance the arts in our community and to present this opportunity for leisure and relaxation to city residents. Yet, how was it received? By rudeness and disrespect. The warm ovation given to them at the end did nothing to make up for the paltry manners exhibited during the performance.
Even I, who rarely gets confounded when I witness a lack of common sense courtesy, was stunned by the behavior of the audience. Some folks were even blabbing on their cell phones during the performance! What did they think made this acceptable? That it was a free concert? That it was held outdoors? That they are the center of the universe and no one else besides them matters? Ummmmm.....NOT!
Since there is but one Common Sense Courtesy Rule for performances of this nature, I'll phrase it in as many ways as possible so that all will comprehend. Shut your mouth, close your trap, zip your lips, button your pie hole, muzzle your mouth, dummy up, can the chat-chat, still your tongue, put a sock in it, keep still, hush up, be quiet, pipe down, stop talking. In short...SHADDUP!
I think you'll find that the things you will hear are amazingly beautiful!
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