Comedians were beaten because they continue to perform while a dying man was treated in the theater during the first night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
The opening evening comedy Allstars Superershow in St Kilda's Palais Theater was eventually canceled halfway through the show because of the medical emergency at the top level of the location.
However, the show had continued for at least 15 minutes while the man was treated, one patron said that continuing in those circumstances was 'disgusting'.
“Paramedics had to start their concern in the dark with the help of Torchlight because the show was still going,” the participant Andrea Bortoli told The Age.
“It was the most shameful, disgusting thing I've ever seen.
“I don't think I was the only one wondering if we were in a kind of dystopian, parallel universe where we prioritize 'the show must continue' above human life.”
Several others who were on the show said that a maximum of three comedians continued with their sets of five minutes after the man fell ill.
Responses to the social media account of the festival said they were worried about how the incident was handled.
Comedians were beaten because they continue to perform after a man died while attending the first night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (photo)
When organizers did not stop the show, Public members screamed on stage for artists on stage that a medical emergency situation took place.
But the show reportedly continued for another 15 minutes.
“It was deeply worrying that the show continued nearly two comedy acts, while resuscitation and defibrillator shocks were administered in the dark,” wrote a participant on Instagram.
“They attracted CPR and Defibrillator shocks while flashy lights of production continued to change,” wrote another.
The volume of the microphones was still extremely loud and people laughed and slapped. It should have been handled 100 percent better. '
Another said it was “very bad that the show went on for about 15 minutes, while compressions took place with only customers who shouted to stop the show while the crew took care of the person.”
In a statement, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival said that it regrets that there was a medical emergency while the opening evening Allstars Superershow took place … in the Palais Theater.
“The show was stopped and canceled. The festival contacts all ticket holders. '
Comedian Michael Hing (photo) organized the opening evening of the festival with 'A Star-Studded Line-Up'
A woman named Stephanie who was in the show said that a comedian kept telling a 'funny story about a drug trip' while the man received resuscitation.
She was sitting behind the back of the theater and watched people hurried to help the man who was close to where she was.
“First we saw a few people gathering, we thought someone was fainting,” she told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“We expected that they might be worn or supported to rest.”
But Stephanie said that three comedians each did five minutes sets while the 'very painful' scenes unfolded.
“As other people said, it has been going on for quite some time,” she said.
“Once we saw someone doing resuscitation, we were all shocked and so the people in the upper part were not at all attention to the poor comedian who tried to tell a funny story about a drug trip, which was an unfortunate content at that time.”
Shocked customers were eventually told that the show would not continue because of the medical emergency.
The iconic location in Melbourne was emptied on Wednesday evening when customers went home in tears
One participant told Daily Mail Australia that before paramedics arrived, customers initially provided resuscitation in the dark when the Headline -Act Michael hung his performance, was not aware of what happened.
“It would have been worth at least 15 minutes before the show stopped, and it only stopped when customers shouted to stop performing,” said the public member.
Another participant confirmed that the show continued, even after the paramedics arrived.
'People started to get up and leave. I saw people in tears and comforting each other, “he said.
'Nobody really laughed or watched on stage, maybe just to see if anyone would come out and stop the show.
'It was only when a few people who left, got away and talked loudly or argued with an employee before they leaned forward and shouted in the comedian on stage to stop the show that something happened.
'The public and paramedics were in the dark for a good 15-20 minutes and did resuscitation before the show stopped.
“I can't believe that they (the organizers) do not communicate with Backstage to stop the show, and that it took the audience to scream to the comedian to stop something that happens.”
Comedians including Dave Hughes (photo) expressed their shock and sorrow
Another participant said she was further away from the incident, but acknowledged the seriousness of the situation when she heard the defibrillator use.
“You could hear the defibrillator sounds from the room,” she said.
“While this happened, the show was still going until a man shouted from the audience – somewhere from the clothing circle – to stop the show, followed by another man who shouts:” someone dies “. ”
'However, the lighting was dark – still light enough to see that a lady and man exchanged with breast compressions.
Well -known comedians went to social media late on Wednesday evening to share their shock and sorrow.
“All thoughts of artists are with the affected family,” said Dave Hughes.
Tahir Bilgiç added: “Triest news but treated correctly … well done everyone and thoughts with those involved.”
