Can't you keep your mouth shut?

Almost every time I go to the cinema or theatre, I have to ask a fellow member of the audience to shut up. What is it about these people that makes them unable to keep their mouths closed for any period of time? The worst incident happened at a screening of 'Good Night and Good Luck' in Liverpool a few years ago, when my neighbour repeated every single word of dialogue to his non-English speaking girlfriend. When I nudged him and whispered 'shhhh' - he actually responded 'She can't understand the film'.. begging the question - why come to the cinema? Get the Dvd and watch it at home - then you can talk all you want - and I won't hear you.

I think most people who talk at the theatre possibly don't go very often. They are so used to sitting on the sofa, conducting a one-way conversation with Simon Cowell or Jeremy Kyle or whoever's on the box, they don't understand that the big screen / stage isn't just an enlarged version of their Tv, and that there are other people present who don't need or want their moronic commentary. I know people who no longer go to the cinema because of this bad behaviour - what do you think?

Pure grace and beauty

Dance rarely moves me to tears, but the pas de deux Fix Me Jesus by the Alvin Ailey dance company at BAM last week made me cry. Its sheer, simple beauty combined with the spiritual music was unlike anything I had ever seen. Plus, being brought up on European Classical ballet with its tradition of being singularly unimpressed by the dancers until the curtain falls, I loved the audience in Brooklyn whooping and cheering individual steps - these dancers have incredible strength and control and deserve props like break dancers and musicians!

Whilst she wasn't dancing this particular piece, I have to single out Briana Reed (pictured above during Wade in the Water) - one of the best dancers I've ever seen - so strong, joyful and expressive. Wow. Made me want to start dancing again and push my body to extremes.

You can see Fix Me Jesus on youtube, but I am almost reluctant to post the link - as I think seeing it online loses so much of the impact of being immersed in the soaring music and the intimacy of two people dancing barefoot.