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The ultimate in rudeness: cell phones in church. One rang during my son's ordination and another during a pastor's installlation. The owner of the phone that rang one during my son's ordination shut her phone down ASAP; in the other situation the person answered the phone and started talking as he stepped over people in the aisle to get out and continue his calll - it was his son calling to get a ride to the church. This degree of rudeness is helping to turn the tide; cell phones are now banned in our school for both students and teachers during school hours.

- Shiroi Kuma, Bluff Point, NY

Listening to American accents by non-American actors is more off-putting for me, than hearing a mobile phone ring!

- Catherine, Europe

Mobile devices have "silent" and "vibrate" for a reason. With a mother with a heart condition, I know the importance of a cell phone. Also, as an avid theatre junky, I can honestly say that nothing is so important that it needs to disrupt the show.

It would be an honor to catch "A Steady Rain" and if someone's cell phone went off with me in the audience, honestly... I'd probably punch them.

There is absolutely no reason a phone should sound during a play as I am sure they were reminded to check their phones and put them on silent before the show. It's inexcusable. It's plain ****ing rude.

I think Mr. Craig and Mr. Jackman handled the situation with the utmost of class and patience. I applaud them. Just imagine if it were Christian Bale... "I am going kick your ass!"

- Brandon, Upstate New York

It's the same as inconsiderate people taking a phone in to the cinema. I'd like to pick up the offending phone & drop it in the culprits drink.

- Dom, London

Not sure what Mark from Venice is on about but Daniel and Hugh appear to have been good sports.

- Pa, London

Its time for action, phone detectors/scanners should be installed in theatre foyers and all phones banned from cinemas and live venues.

- Roy Frisby, Lincoln

Hey Mark
that's ridiculous to think that the actors should accept that 'stuff happens' when a mobile phone goes off in a play. The person with the phone should have been kicked out. The sad thing with mobile phones is that some people have no manners in regards to using them and this is the height of rudeness to use it in a theatre environment. Put the bloody phone on silent.

- Craig, Newcastle, Australia

Mark, Venice, Italy "Can't actors just get a life and accept that 'stuff happens'?"

There is no excuse for even bringing a portable phone into a movie theater, much less leaving the ringer on. Anyone who can afford to go to the theater is mature enough to behave courteously to fellow human beings. If there is any call more important than seeing the show you paid to see, then stay outside the theater. Live theater is about what happens on the stage, not what happens in the mezzanine. So in answer to your question, Actors already have a life. They don't need to accept that 'stuff happens.' Today's live theater goers need to get a clue. The live stage is a form of theater that has existed for millenia. It is a sacred place filled with history and culture and tradition. It is not your living room. There's no remote control device, and no monitor screen at which to stare. It is not a place for texting or phoning from your cell.

Jackman & Craig shouldn't have been interrupted. That stuff should be checked at the door. Where were the ushers? Where's the house manager?

- Zachsmind, Dallas, Texas

I disagree. As an actress and a theatre-goer, I find active mobile phones inside a theatre both distracting and incredibly rude. If you are so important that you can't turn your mobile off, then you are too important to attend the theatre. Do everyone a favour and stay home.

- Mary, Los Angeles, USA

If you go to the theater, it's common courtesy to turn off your phone. If you need to have your phone on all the time, please stay at home.

- Bebe, Los Angeles, USA

So, Mark of Venice thinks it perfectly OK for someone to ruin a performance by allowing their mobile phone to ring.

Mark, you must be nuts!

- Nicholas, Edinburgh, Scotland

YES-YES!!! YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR M/B PHONE ON IN THEATER.

- Michael Franklin-Harris, london

Poor Mark...he doesn't like actors...get over it!

- Gwaddilove, London..England

I work in a mobile phone shop, in the last 2 years I've had to order at least 3 actors out of the shop for suddenly becoming dramatic over poor service and upsetting the other customers.

Touché

- Melvyn, London

are they having a joke - when i am at work the phone is ringing all the time - it does not stop me working - "they managed to stay in character"!!! oh please - not exactly saving a life is it - lets be fair they are reading back a story and acting out the parts - big deal - i would make sure my phone was switched on if i went to see them - precious darlings !!

- Tracy, london

I hate it when mobiles go off in theatres but I hate it even more the culprits are too cowardly to own up and try and sit it out and pretend it's not them. At a Royal Festival Hall concert I attended a woman's rape alarm went off in her handbag and she just sat there and allowed it to ruin 2000 evenings. She was forced to deal with it in a break in the music but then had the nerve to return after the interval!

- Gareth James, London UK

They should have told the phone owner to tell the caller " I am on my way home !"

- Peter, orpington, england

I am tired of seeing actors strutting around at the annual Venice film festival, with all the chaos it causes. Can't actors just get a life and accept that 'stuff happens.'

- Mark, Venice, Italy

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