It isn’t just Hugh Jackman who goes all Wolverine on people whose cellphones go off while he’s performing live (though it’s a kinder, gentler version of Wolverine, admittedly). At a reading last week at the Children’s Center of the New York Public Library, actor Jim Dale began with some pre-emptive action against errant adult noise-makers. (Many thanks to Ron Hogan at Galley Cat, who recorded the event for posterity.)
Dale, of course, is a Tony-winning Broadway veteran perhaps best known as the voice(s) of the seven Harry Potter audiobooks. On this occasion, he was reading passages from of David Benedictus’ authorized Winnie the Pooh sequel, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood. And his clever little ditty (“You’ll be tortured in the toilets if you Twitter or you Tweet”) will certainly be playing in my head the next time somebody’s “precious phone” erupts during a public reading.
Do you have any stories of cellphone interruptus from author readings or libraries or other book-related events? Or is the bookworm crowd just too smart to forget to shush its gadgetry in public?
I think I have a new hero and his name is Jim Dale.
Jim Dale has been my hero for a long time – his wonderful voice lulls me and my children into a peaceful fantasy world where even a traffic jam on the New Jersey turnpike is welcome because it means we can listen to him perform Harry Potter just that much longer.
Finally! Some people are putting their foot down about cell phone use. If more prominent people would say the same thing, maybe we could restore a measure of civility to daily life. They don’t have to be on all the time, or answered every time.
People need some manners. I am sick of people who act like they were born in a barn. By the way, you keep saying that Hugh Jackman went ballistic. He did not. He stayed in character and did not look at all ballistic to me. He has received so many good responses about this. people are just plain tired of rude manners and ringing cell phones.
Cindy, you’re quite right that I overstated Jackman’s reaction to the cellphone offender at his Broadway show. I’ve tweaked the item accordingly.
Haha! I thought this was going to be another Hugh Jackman type tyraid…but this was very clever!! Good job Mr. Dale!