NEWS emerged this week that a London theatre director halted a performance of a play because a gent in the front row kept using his mobile phone.

The reason was not because the fellow was getting umpteen calls and the ring tone was annoying the two actors and other members of the audience.

It transpires that the male and female actors appear nude for most of the performance and thought they were being filmed. Incidentally, there was no explanation why they were in the buff — perhaps the stage lighting got unbearably warm most nights.

When the audience member was asked why he was continuously using his phone the man replied that he was texting his son who was ill. Staff checked the phone and no footage of the play was discovered.

It is natural for a parent to be concerned if a child is ill.

However, it is reasonable to think that most people faced with this worrying situation would stay at home or be at the bedside of the child. They would not think of attending a play.

Other considerations aside, one would have to be good at multi-tasking to be texting at the same time as trying to follow the storyline of a play in which two actors were devoid of clothing.

The director who stopped the play says theatres may have to consider asking that mobile phones be handed in before a performance.

I share his puzzlement why some people cannot disconnect themselves from mobiles for an hour and a half.

There are places where the use of mobiles and cameras is banned. Perhaps it’s time for additional clampdowns.

Last week, I was bumped into twice on one section of pavement by individuals oblivious to their surroundings or anyone else.

Their fingers and eyes were glued to mobile phone screens.

It is possible there are people who spend several hours a day on mobiles sending and receiving messages that have nothing to do with their work duties.

In closing, I wonder if a theatre has ever staged a play involving clothed actors performing before a naked audience.