THE LADY IS A TRAMPLER

Fellow opera tweeter Cheryl A. Pierce (@OperaZone) has joined the chorus against what she terms "tramplers" - operagoers who dash from their seats at the last note to prevent a cab wait, often trampling others in the way. She writes: "If you're gonna go to the opera but you spend the entire time planning your cab/exit row strategy then a) hire a car or b) get the DVD."

Trampling is an epidemic in American opera houses, particularly in trafficky cities like Chicago, where Lyric Opera patrons jockey over main floor aisle seats to facilitate the fastest departure possible. @OperaZone points out trampling shows a lack of respect for the performers and fellow patrons. When the opera being trampled has a particularly stirring finale, like Turandot, I say a silent prayer in thanks for gun carry laws without which a crime of passion might be inevitable.

More than disrespect, though, trampling is emblematic of those who are in the opera house not to enjoy the opera but to be seen looking like they enjoy it. Anyone who loves opera loves the curtain call almost best of all. It's the first and often most knowledgable review of the show. Reading the curtain-call reaction from the audience is indispensable to post-opera conversation over the beverage of one's choice. Which the trampler is likely forgoing as well. What is the point of attending in the first place?

In short, bounding out of an opera house during the curtain call is like leaving a football game without knowing the score. No one who cares about the game would do it.

Comments

[Red Mesa]

Thank you for this. We attended Carmen at the Met in NYC this past Saturday and were APPALLED at the poor behavior of many of the people around us at the end. We had paid top dollar for our orchestra seats but were apparently surrounded by season ticket-holders who couldn't have cared less. Our entire row emptied (and unlucky us, we actually had the aisle seats) before the first curtain call. The fellow next to me actually crushed my foot in the process. What on EARTH could be so important that you can't be 2 minutes later out the door, and give those hard-working performers their due? And needless to say, it certainly ruined our ability to enjoy and participate in the curtain calls. SHAME on you, Met season ticket-holder tramplers. SHAME SHAME SHAME.