Kevin Spacey was onstage for the opening night of Clarence Darrow at the Old Vic Theater in London when a ringing phone interrupted the play – much to his displeasure.

Kevin Spacey Calls-Out Theatergoer

Oscar-winning actor Spacey put the play on hold to address the member of the audience who failed to put his or her phone on silent before the show. “If you don't answer that I will,” Spacey shouted down to the individual, reported the Daily Mail.

When the cell phone went off, Spacey was in the middle of a monologue in which he was directly addressing the audience. In the scene, his character – a legal pioneer in 19th century America – was on trial defending himself. As Darrow, Spacey was making an impassioned plea directly towards the audience when the ringtone melody began. Spacey continued to perform, but the noise wouldn’t let up, which led him to address the offending theatergoer.

Audience Members React

Those present on opening night praised Spacey for how he handled the incident on Twitter and chastised the person who interrupted the performance.

Spacey took on the play for the 10th anniversary of Old Vic productions. It was an appealing role for Spacey for a number of reasons, including the fact that many of his favorite actors (Henry Fonda, Orson Welles and Spencer Tracy) have played Darrow in the past. He also welcomed the challenge of a one-man play in the round.