When performing on stage, actors are told to behave as if there is a fourth wall between themselves and the audience as if no one else is there watching the scene take place. But during a performance of a Streetcar Named Desire, Joe Manganiello (Alcide Herveaux) broke the fourth wall to address a photo taking fan in the audience. The breech in theater etiquette had been going on consistently throughout the performance according to a report from Playbill. Joe addressed first addressed the audience member on his Twitter account, asking them to leave:
“Dear person taking pictures during our show tonight… The ushers are going to be looking for you and you will be thrown out…you are insanely distracting to all of the actors onstage and incredibly rude. If you read this, please leave and don’t come back.”
But when the photos continued into the third act after an announcement from the house staff about photos, Joe turned to the audience in character as Stanley during a scene between himself and wife Stella saying:
“Can you stop with the camera? You have no idea how distractin’ it is!,” he remarked, remaining in character and returning to complete the scene.”
A statement from the Yale Repertory confirmed the situation and said that Joe responded properly and went on with the performance.
Bravo to Joe for standing up for his fellow actors!
Source: Playbill.com- “True Blood” Star Joe Manganiello Pauses StreetcarPerformance to Address Photo-Taking Fan”
Image Credit: Vivien Killea, Getty Images
