MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota patrons preparing to watch a performance of “A Christmas Carol” were subjected to some pre-curtain drama Friday night.
A person in the audience who stood up and began yelling before the show caused a 30-minute delay in the Guthrie Theater’s production of the Charles Dickens classic, WCCO reported.
The Minneapolis theater had been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and Friday was supposed to be a diversion. Instead, a Twitter video depicted an angry woman telling people sitting near her to “get out of my country,” calling them “losers,” KARE reported.
First play at the Guthrie in over 600 days. Still hasn’t been kicked out. pic.twitter.com/II4d2XJKjs
— Jake (@ekajmw) November 13, 2021
“You ruined my night at the play,” the woman yelled at a patron in front of her, according to the video. “Yours is gonna suck.”
Theater patrons were rattled, not unlike Ebenezer Scrooge when the ghost of Jacob Marley entered his room, rattling links from chains he forged during his lifetime.
The woman pointed toward the stage and said, “They’re mocking Shakespearean drama,” and yelled “Macbeth” twice, WCCO reported.
What caused the woman’s outburst was unclear, but one person tweeted that two people in front of her took a selfie after the director told the audience to put their phones away, the television station reported.
Two people in front of her took a selfie during the curtain speech (the director told people to put phones away, and keep masks on). This made her very angry and she decided to take her mask off because they were also “breaking the rules”
— Flo (@IsaBSACameroon) November 13, 2021
In a statement, James Haskins, the Guthrie Theater’s managing director, said the woman was asked by staff members to leave. Police removed her about 30 minutes after her initial complaint.
“On Nov. 12, the Guthrie Theater’s performance of ‘A Christmas Carol’ was delayed due to a disruptive patron in the audience,” Haskins said. “Members of audience services and our health, safety and security team responded immediately and asked the individual to exit the auditorium. After approximately 30 minutes, the person was peacefully removed by police and the performance continued.
“The staff who responded to the incident believe it was an unplanned, isolated event, and unrelated to any safety protocols the theater has required of its audience members,” Haskins continued. “We greatly appreciate the care our staff demonstrated in handling the situation, and thank the audience for their patience and support.”
Haskins said patrons who did not stay for the performance were offered refunds or the chance to exchange their tickets, WCCO reported.
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