Have audiences forgotten how to think?

There are 2 kinds of audiences: gawping morons and frowning morons. And then there is the third kind, who is right, and is called Michael Billington.

Alan Bennett once went to see Complicite, and didn't like them when other people did. This proves that everyone else had decided that Complicite were great before the show. This proves that it's the fault of popular music, where people will listen to any old shit.

Like Alan Bennett, I agree with Alan Bennett. Look at the Globe. Often the groundlings actually appear to be enjoying the experience! If they really liked the theatre, they'd pay for the expensive seats like I do when I see the shows for free.

More proof: some people liked Kneehigh's Cymbeline! Even though they changed some of the words. Why? Because they're idiots. Like football fans. They came along to support the company and would do so blindly. Like football fans. Who often boo their team if they don't think they're performing. Stupid Kneehigh Orient fans.

Of course there are some people who are wrong in the other way, in that they refuse to surrender to the collective nature of theatre. In my opinion, surrendering to the collective nature of theatre means not using your mobile phone during the performance. More than that would be undue reverence.

Audiences sure have got dumb since shakespeare had hamlet describe the groundlings as "for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumbshows and noise".

Or for the really lazy:

The Reduced Micheal Billington Digest

I know nothing about Football. And you're all idiots!