A Good Try, a Disrespectful Audience
by Shannon B on 12/16/23Rating: 3 out of 5I would give my evening's experience a 1 Star, but I'm going with 3 because the performers tried. The sound was insanely loud to the point that it was sometimes uncomfortable especially when the elfs used high pitched voices. I couldn't figure out if the music was live or pre-recorded but the talented lead woman missed so many of her musical intros that she was off rhythm for the first half of the show. The "script"is loose at best and NOT good. The attempts at audience interaction (minus the bit in the second act with Holly) were awkward and uncomfortable. The dancers, particularly the females were very good. There was a number in the second half that was so bizarre I thought at first it was a joke and would be quick- it honestly felt like someone got high and invented that number (I'm trying to avoid spoilers). The best production of the evening was Hallelujah , and that isn't even a Christmas song!
Now for the BAD! The audience exercised no live theatre etiquette at all. Many people were so late that the house lights stayed up for the first 1 1/2 numbers so they could find their seats. People were talking at full volume and just walking in and out constantly. The family behind us was inappropriate in how they yelled OVER the music and dialogue. They were heckling the performers and generally interrupting the 3-4 rows around them but no one from staff would talk to them despite standing 10 feet away. Finally my husband turned around and asked them to keep it down but the dad was very confrontational and threatened my husband. Then a man from 2 rows away got up to complain to security and on his way back to his seat the dad pushed him down the stairs. We then got up and went to leave but instead moved to vacant seats several rows away. The family (mom, dad, grandma & 2 kids) were told to leave. The dad stopped in the middle of the audience during this show and gave us the finger and tried to instigate again. The grandma was the last to leave, several steps behind the family and poured her drink on the man that was tripped.
The whole experience was harrowing and ridiculous during a holiday, family show. My blood pressure was through the roof- first from my frustration with the rude family for not letting me enjoy or hear the show, and later my heart was racing from all of the confrontation. The staff didn't even apologize despite my husband having to give a statement on the Dad's behavior before they ultimately kicked him off the property. I get that the Borgata can't be responsible for the guest's behavior but they can work to make us feel safe and also to enforce basic theatre etiquette like not speaking at full volume during a live performance.
Overall a very disappointing night and quite the opposite of the "Christmas magic"we were hoping to experience.