Wendell Pierce Talks Down Unruly Audience Member at Death of a Salesman

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

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https://playbill.com/article/wendell-pierce-talks-down-unruly-audience-member-at-death-of-a-salesman

At the December 27 performance of Death of a Salesman, an audience member rushed to the front of the auditorium to yell at Wendell Pierce, currently starring in the seminal Arthur Miller play. To his credit, Pierce did his best to diffuse the situation, reasoning with the patron while attempting to direct them to the lobby of the theatre, so the performance could continue. The patron and their theatregoing partner refused, and were eventually escorted out by law enforcement. Reasoning for the patron's outburst is unclear.

Videos of the incident immediately spread across various social media platforms, with numerous audience members expressing their shock.

Said Pierce to the audience member, seemingly channeling Willy Loman in speech and stance, "Hold on! Talk to me, talk to me. I'll make a deal with you. I'll make a deal with you. I'm going to ask them to let you stay. Hold on, hold on, I'll make a deal with you. Ma'am, I'll make a deal with you, alright? You can stay, but we have a show to do."

Later in the video, Pierce offers to personally give the patron their money back, but the patron appears to disregard him completely. Other audience members soon began to yell at the patron as the stage manager urged the cast to leave the stage.

[SharonClark]

1. Did you mean to say "attempts" to talk down?

Because Pierce sure didn’t succeed. The actors should have left the stage and let security handle it.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

4. I guess "attempt" would be a better word. Most theaters don't have security though

have to wait for police. There was no one else to handle the situation until police got there

[MyOwnPeace]

2. You had to know.....

'BUNK'* would give it a try!


*BUNK - The Wire......

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

3. oh...that's why he's famous

[hlthe2b]

5. What a shame. I am a big fan of Pierce

He was just trying to be the consummate professional.

If I were in that audience I'd be ready to "take out" the woman and person with her myself. (as nonviolently as possible, of course). Then again I'd be motivated by the price I'd paid for tickets which would make this such an extreme extravagance for me--as opposed to many, I suppose.