The Met broadcasts opera performances live to movie theaters worldwide. Today, I sat in the last row of my local theater to watch *I Puritani*. The theater was maybe two-thirds full. There was an empty seat on both sides of me. Early in the first act, the gentleman two seats down yelled something like "Would you please! Just stop it!" I turned and saw him waving his arms around in anger, speaking to me. I had a drink and a bag of popcorn. I sheepishly asked, "You mean the popcorn?" He turns away in a huff, and in a few minutes, he and his partner leave. By the following scene, my heart was pounding, and I couldn’t concentrate, let alone enjoy, the opera, so I left, too, and got a refund for my ticket (the staff were sympathetic and needlessly apologetic). It took some time for me to calm down.
I have yet to attend an opera in person (soon will) but have attended several orchestral performances. Some people drink and eat small snacks at their seats, but I don’t, because it’s cramped and feels disrespectful to the performers. At movies, I take quiet sips of my drink and only grab popcorn or candy during noisy parts of the film. I was doing the same at this remote opera performance, so I doubt whether he even heard me. But maybe he did, and I’m not sufficiently self aware. Maybe, out of the corner of his eye, he could see me eating, and that alone bothered him.
For those who don’t know, operas tend to be three hours long, with the upcoming Met production of *Tristan und Isolde* likely being five hours. There are intermissions, but audiences tend to stay seated at these broadcast performances because there is so much interesting behind-the-scenes action. So it’d be a long haul to sit without anything to eat, although I did so at my first remote performance, of *La bohème*. Maybe that’s what I should do from now on.
ADDENDUM: I realized after posting that maybe *neither of us* was the asshole. People who like classical music tend to be elderly, like me (I’m 68). I’ve been around people suffering from dementia for several years, and this gentleman was acting like some of them. The unreasonable, angry outburst and the violent arm movements make me think that he was acting out and cannot be blamed for his actions. His wife was probably taking him on an outing, hoping for the best.
NTA unless you eat so loudly that you are ruining the other person’s viewing. Most people eat popcorn in a theatre. I’m not sure what they do at an opera, but I suspect people eat there, too. That person might have been having an off day and went off the handle at any small thing. Either way, you didn’t do anything wrong, unless (as I said) you were eating obnoxiously. I highly doubt you were, however.
I don’t think people tend to eat at the opera, but I could be wrong.
In any event, this was a remote performance at a movie theater, where they SELL POPCORN, presumably for you to consume during the show.
NTA
NTA unless you were chucking popcorn at the back of the guy’s head or crunching into a megaphone. If he went to a venue where snacks are served and admissible during the performance, then he needs the realistic expectation that someone might eat a snack during the showing. And this is true whether it’s live, recorded, or broadcast! If you’re doing your best to be respectful and make as little noise as possible, keeping it to eating during louder parts of the performance, at that point you are doing everything you can while also staying easily within the rules of the venue and general social etiquette. That guy needs to take a chill pill or go somewhere else.
Absolutely in no way the asshole, but they were massive assholes, sorry that happened to you.
It doesn’t matter what was being projected on the screen, you were in a movie theatre.
you can eat popcorn in a movie theatre.
very NTA
I wouldn’t be concerned over one annoyed patron who probably had his hearing aid turned up to hear everything (even the popcorn). Everyone usually eats something. What you eat depends on you. If you’re really worried, put snacks in your own container so you don’t have to open bags etc. Then you can just grab and eat away.
NTA. Youre in a movie theater. Let them take that snooty attitude to a Opera Theater where it belongs.
NTA. It’s a movie theater. They sell popcorn for the purpose of eating it. You weren’t at the opera.
NTA I go to those showings and popcorn is 100% expected and acceptable. I’m sorry the guy ruined it for you. Don’t take it to heart.
NTA- but were you chewing loudly? I know some people eat popcorn with their mouths open, especially that first bite, and shuffle around a lot.
They weren’t in the opera house and were being unreasonable, but just in case I’m mentioning it because in the movies I’ve gotten distracted by people that really chomp down (I would never say anything)
Next time tell him to mind his own business.
If the cinema didn’t want you eating popcorn in the opera screening they would have banned food. They didn’t.
Hell, in a real opera you can often get snacks from the bar before it starts and bring the snacks in with you.
Now, you should try not to be really loud or obnoxious about your popcorn eating. But forget about that AH.
NTA. We’ve attended many Met Opera performances. Usually with popcorn or candy. Never had an issue with anybody. Ignore those people, and keep enjoying the worlds greatest art form.
i’m going to say that, if the theater was selling snacks including popcorn, then it’s fine.
HOWEVER: 1. put small amount of popcorn in mouth 2. CLOSE LIPS 3. chew.
most people put a fistfull of popcorn in their mouth and have their entire mouth open for that first chomp and it sounds as if somebody is breaking branches off of a tree. that open mouth is an echo chamber. same with chips.
NTA, the reason they limit what foods you could eat inside an actual opera house is because the opera singers don’t wear any mics and any little sound in an opera house can echo like opening a candy wrapper or coughing.
But I’m this instance you’re in an actual movie theater so that is not an issue at all and it sounds like this guy was just being a snob. I’ve gone to these with snacks no problem, please don’t let this keep you from attending another one!!
If they sell it, you can eat it.