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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2023 8:29:05 GMT
Dianne Pilkington (Wizard of Oz at the Palladium) was booed at the curtain call at Saturday's matinee purely because she was playing the Wicked Witch of the West. She made a mock "oh no, whatever shall I do?" face so I don't think it bothered her, but regardless, we should do away with booing the actor playing the antagonist at the curtain call as well. They deserve as much appreciation as those portraying the good guys.
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Post by BVM on Jul 3, 2023 8:44:17 GMT
Dianne Pilkington was booed at the curtain call at Saturday's matinee purely because she was playing the Wicked Witch of the West. She made a mock "oh no, whatever shall I do?" face so I don't think it bothered her, but regardless, we should do away with booing the actor playing the antagonist at the curtain call as well. They deserve as much appreciation as those portraying the good guys. God don't even get me started on the change of reaction to Javert at the curtain call over the last 15 years..... |
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Post by danb on Jul 3, 2023 9:27:55 GMT
So, are we to reinvent hundreds of years of theatrical tradition, history and a large part of pantomime fun for kids, based on the last 3 years blossoming realisation that these traditions denigrate another person (baddie or not)? It seems like a very broad stroke to eradicate quite a fine line. To me the issue lies in the intent & the voracity of the action, rather than the action itself.
Same with the neuro-diverse lady’s reaction to stage door. Most SD’s have been a bun fight for years, and only from the likes of Carrie et al speaking out on it have things begun to ‘get better/be acknowledged/the venue realise that they have a role to play.’ If I know that a situation is going to make me uncomfortable I either don’t do it or work out my coping strategies well in advance. I rarely find anyone else to ‘blame’.
Just an alternative take on it.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 3, 2023 9:33:27 GMT
I don't think booing the villain at something like WOZ is a problem. It's one step up from panto as it is, and if anything it shows the performer has done their job well.
Les mis is different, but it's also clear the audience isn't doing it from a bad place. I'm not sure if it's the norm now for les mis though. It's never happened when I've seen it (although I know it happens).
Not sure how Carrie has shed light on it though tbh. She's pretty well known for encouraging stage door behaviour then back tracking when it all goes wrong.
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Post by ladidah on Jul 3, 2023 9:37:04 GMT
I agree, booing at the Wizard of Oz is very different to most other shows.
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Post by BVM on Jul 3, 2023 9:49:10 GMT
So, are we to reinvent hundreds of years of theatrical tradition, history and a large part of pantomime fun for kids, based on the last 3 years blossoming realisation that these traditions denigrate another person (baddie or not)? It seems like a very broad stroke to eradicate quite a fine line. To me the issue lies in the intent & the voracity of the action, rather than the action itself. Same with the neuro-diverse lady’s reaction to stage door. Most SD’s have been a bun fight for years, and only from the likes of Carrie et al speaking out on it have things begun to ‘get better/be acknowledged/the venue realise that they have a role to play. If I know that a situation is going to make me uncomfortable I either don’t do it or work out my coping strategies well in advance. I rarely find anyone else to ‘blame’. Just an alternative take on it. Sensible counterpoints! |
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Post by Jon on Jul 3, 2023 10:38:56 GMT
I don't think booing the villain at something like WOZ is a problem. It's one step up from panto as it is, and if anything it shows the performer has done their job well. Les mis is different, but it's also clear the audience isn't doing it from a bad place. I'm not sure if it's the norm now for les mis though. It's never happened when I've seen it (although I know it happens). Not sure how Carrie has shed light on it though tbh. She's pretty well known for encouraging stage door behaviour then back tracking when it all goes wrong. I think a good compromise would be booing the Wicked Witch then applauding the performer. |
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Post by Jan on Jul 13, 2023 8:05:39 GMT
I’ve seen Don John booed at the end of Much Ado About Nothing, I doubt the actor took it as a criticism of his performance - it’s not Opera after all.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 13, 2023 8:15:58 GMT
Massive compliment as far as I’m concerned. Any actor playing a villain who takes umbrage at a bit of light hearted booing (and yes you can tell the difference between that and angry booing) at the curtain call shouldn’t be playing the part. Probably shouldn’t be in the business!
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jul 13, 2023 8:17:10 GMT
I really don't mind it, at least it shows folk are awake!
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Post by starlight92 on Jul 13, 2023 9:12:14 GMT
I think it's a bt rude personally, they do it for Hans in Frozen too. They're not in character anymore and deserve to be applauded like anyone else!
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Post by mkb on Jul 13, 2023 10:16:50 GMT
I'd be interested to hear the take of actors who have experienced this when playing villains. I'd be amazed if they don't take booing as a massive compliment and a lovely ego trip. It's the audience telling them, in what amounts to friendly banter, that they've done an excellent job.
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Post by Jon on Jul 13, 2023 11:18:34 GMT
I'd be interested to hear the take of actors who have experienced this when playing villains. I'd be amazed if they don't take booing as a massive compliment and a lovely ego trip. It's the audience telling them, in what amounts to friendly banter, that they've done an excellent job. It must be great to be a panto villain, you may get booed but the flip side is that you can say mean things to the audience and get away with it. |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 13, 2023 12:03:38 GMT
I think it's a bt rude personally, they do it for Hans in Frozen too. They're not in character anymore and deserve to be applauded like anyone else! But they do? I've never seen an audience stop applauding when the villain comes out. They get boos and applause. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 13, 2023 13:08:39 GMT
I’ve seen Don John booed at the end of Much Ado About Nothing, I doubt the actor took it as a criticism of his performance - it’s not Opera after all. I've seen a Pinkerton get pantomime booed so it does occasionally happen at the opera too. The tenor looked rather upset by it. He wasn't British so may not have understood that it was aimed at his character rather than his performance. Hence why I think pantomime booing certainly has no place at the opera, though I dislike it at plays & musicals too (I never go to pantomimes). |
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Post by fluxcapacitor on Jul 13, 2023 13:49:44 GMT
I've never seen this as an issue personally in a mainstream show with a clear, traditional "bad guy" (e.g. the Wicked Witch of the West, the Childcatcher... hell, even out and out villains like Franklin Hart Jnr). It's done in jest, and is ultimately still a reflection of how much the audience has enjoyed the actor's performance. Booing during the show should be restricted to panto, of course, but as long as it's accompanied by clapping and cheers I don't see an issue with it during bows. In fact, I know some performers welcome it and play up to it.
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Post by starlight92 on Jul 13, 2023 13:50:49 GMT
I think it's a bt rude personally, they do it for Hans in Frozen too. They're not in character anymore and deserve to be applauded like anyone else! But they do? I've never seen an audience stop applauding when the villain comes out. They get boos and applause. What I mean is they deserve a regular applause, not applause mixed in with boos. (With boos tending to be much louder). |
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Post by BVM on Jul 13, 2023 15:29:44 GMT
Thing is, in Les Mis I just think it shows a complete misunderstanding of the piece.
Javert isn't a baddie - he's a complex multilayered deeply troubled character. And when he's played well, which he usually is, it shouldn't be met with boos (even more frustrating when the Binge Britain sets are going wild for the Thenardiers).
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Post by Jan on Jul 13, 2023 16:00:15 GMT
Booing the baddie is the only time I’ve ever heard booing at the theatre - has anyone heard genuine booing ?
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Post by eatbigsea on Jul 13, 2023 16:11:17 GMT
I have at the opera (especially in Milan) but not seriously at plays or musicals.
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Post by Jan on Jul 13, 2023 16:15:58 GMT
I have at the opera (especially in Milan) but not seriously at plays or musicals. Yes in certain opera houses it is commonplace. I don’t go to musicals much but I’ve never heard it there - what’s the difference ? |
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Post by marob on Jul 13, 2023 21:28:10 GMT
I can understand it happening at fun shows. But it happened this afternoon at Matthew Bourne’s version of Romeo and Juliet, which is a kind-of psychological thriller, with a fair bit of violence and sexual abuse themes. Felt strange to have a jokey reaction like that.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2023 0:14:21 GMT
I've always seen it as boos at first then into cheers. A lot of panto performers pride themselves on how many boos they get.
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Post by vickyg on Jul 14, 2023 8:17:20 GMT
I think in something like Wizard of Oz or Frozen it's a compliment to be booed. It shows the audience has engaged with your performance and it's done in a very light hearted fun way. I imagine that non-Brits in the audience could be confused because it's a very British panto tradition, but I can't imagine an actor being upset or offended?
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Post by michaell8 on Jul 14, 2023 11:07:20 GMT
At Mary Poppins, when Miss Andrew (the evil nanny) appeared for the curtain call, the music suddenly changed to something like her "theme tune" and there were huge boos and she played up to it - then the music went back to normal and she received the applause for her excellent acting. It was so so funny and a clever way (with the change in music) to separate the character from the actor!
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