I was excited to see Wicked in theaters then a group of theater kids ruined everything

As I entered a sold-out cinema for a “Wicked: Part One” preview event in Sydney this week, I had a terrifying thought: What if people started to sing along?Moments into the film and just seconds into the first song, my worst fear was realized.A group of musical theater kids, who fancied themselves more talented than the on-screen cast, which includes Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey, broke into song.Look, I get it.It’s a premiere, you’re excited, and you want to show your friends that you know all the words.

Cool.I, too, know all the words, hence why I’m at a “Wicked” premiere.I also want to nail that “Defying Gravity” riff and sing both parts of “Popular” to show off my impressive vocal range.But I have to remind myself that I was only an understudy in my school’s Year 11 musical, Pippin, and am precisely four letters short of becoming an EGOT winner.This is communal viewing – not your home or shower.We are all here to see the movie, not to listen to your slightly off-key rendition of “Dancing Through Life” while you try to fulfill your failed dreams of making it to Broadway.After a few exaggerated sighs and one or two side-eyes, they eventually got the message and stopped singing.But it made me wonder: Should singing be allowed in cinemas, especially during musicals?The cinema etiquette debateI went online to see if others shared my annoyance, and I found countless TikToks discussing the same issue.One user, @nadismediacorner, said, “Don’t leave your movie theatre etiquette at home.I just know people are going to be singing along, but I refuse to be interrupted.”Another user, @sing_with_jake, remarked, “When people start singing during the “Wicked” movie … don’t even try.”“I don’t get people who want to hear themselves over the performances,” commented yet another user.“Theatre and movie etiquette are basically: sit down, be quiet, and enjoy the show.

Don’t sing during the movie, b...