Many people have commented on Hugh Jackman’s handling of the cell phone’s ringing in the middle of his stage performance, and most have commended him. He does display humor and proper assertiveness in what must have been a frustrating situation, so good for him.
But what about the audience member? Place yourself in this person’s shoes for a moment. Sure, we all like to think it would never be us, but it could be. I left my cell phone on while preaching once and in the back of my head the whole time I was thinking, “oh please, mother, please remember I’m in church this morning and don’t call.”
As the phone continues to ring in this video clip, I can almost see the audience member, if a woman, kicking her purse under the chair in front of her and looking around with the same bewildered look everyone else has. Whose phone is that? Not mine. I left mine at home, of course.
It is so much easier to sink down in our chairs and avoid the stares rather than own up to our mistakes and move one. Sometimes we get away with it, too, at least for a little while. People laugh a little, are a little confused, eventually try to pretend it didn’t happen. Inevitably, though, the phone will ring again. We’re going to have to answer it at some point, so let’s get it over with.
Go ahead, grab the phone, say, “I’m so sorry, it was me,” turn it off and enjoy the rest of the play.
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