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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 15:34:27 GMT
That's an interesting point, I do wonder if certain people do it to get attention themselves from the actors and the rest of the audience rather than showing genuine appreciation. There are plenty of people more extrovert than me and that's fine but don't try and outdo others just for the sake of it. Yes, that's the impression she was giving - it was all a bit "LOOK AT ME!!". Of course I could be being totally unfair and she was just blown away by the play. Most of the time if I stand up, it's because the person in front of me has and the only way I can see the curtain call is to stand up.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 15:41:27 GMT
There was a drunk woman in front of us at Sister Act who bowed along with the cast... acutally found it quite amusing!  Also, if this is a big epidemic, just to pre-warn everyone going to Cast Change at Wicked, there was a standing ovaion at the end of the show and after Defying Gravity at both the 10th Anniversary and at Louise's final show in my experience, so, ya know, brace yourself for that shocker. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 15, 2017 15:50:09 GMT
After 2 hours in some theatre's seats, frankly I'm glad of an excuse to give my rear end a break  Can we get an Amen in here? On a similar subject, one of my friends is really really annoyed by people clapping in time to the music at the end. It kind of annoys me too, on behalf the ensemble and even some of the leads who don't end up getting the applause they deserve because people are bouncing along in time to the music instead. I try to break rhythm and clap OUT of time to the music (no matter how tempting it might be) and increase/decrease according to how much I liked that person's performance. It's only fair init |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 15:55:50 GMT
After 2 hours in some theatre's seats, frankly I'm glad of an excuse to give my rear end a break Can we get an Amen in here? On a similar subject, one of my friends is really really annoyed by people clapping in time to the music at the end. It kind of annoys me too, on behalf the ensemble and even some of the leads who don't end up getting the applause they deserve because people are bouncing long in time to the music instead. I try to break rhythm and clap OUT of time to the music (no matter how tempting it might be) and increase/decrease according to how much I liked that person's performance. It's only fair init YES!! This is an epidemic that needs to be stopped, its drives me insane that when most of the cast are bowing, the audience claps along to the music and not to the actors, and the there is a key change or song change, and the main cast member (s) bow and everyone goes wild. Like no! The Bodyguard did it right with their bows. Just have no music until the leads come on to bow. |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jan 15, 2017 16:09:14 GMT
When I went to see that pile of crap also known as wonder.land at the National, a woman in the front row stood up. It was exhilarating, especially considering that the rest of the audience seemed to clap out of pity and good manners... I bet her child was in the show.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 16:41:53 GMT
There was a drunk woman in front of us at Sister Act who bowed along with the cast... acutally found it quite amusing! Also, if this is a big epidemic, just to pre-warn everyone going to Cast Change at Wicked, there was a standing ovaion at the end of the show and after Defying Gravity at both the 10th Anniversary and at Louise's final show in my experience, so, ya know, brace yourself for that shocker. I was at the 10th Anniversary show, and there were also several mid-show standing ovations for Cynthia Erivo when I saw The Color Purple on Broadway, so if it does happen it won't be anything new to me! I might even be tempted if Rachel's Defying Gravity is as good as we all know it can be, plus then I can be primed to squeeze out and rush across to the other side of the theatre at the start of the interval as I'm annoyingly on the wrong side of the stalls for the ladies!... |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 16:44:00 GMT
There was a drunk woman in front of us at Sister Act who bowed along with the cast... acutally found it quite amusing! Also, if this is a big epidemic, just to pre-warn everyone going to Cast Change at Wicked, there was a standing ovaion at the end of the show and after Defying Gravity at both the 10th Anniversary and at Louise's final show in my experience, so, ya know, brace yourself for that shocker. I was at the 10th Anniversary show, and there were also several mid-show standing ovations for Cynthia Erivo when I saw The Color Purple on Broadway, so if it does happen it won't be anything new to me! I might even be tempted if Rachel's Defying Gravity is as good as we all know it can be... Her Defying Gravity at the 10th Anniversary was a holy ghost moment, it earned it! |
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Post by shady23 on Jan 15, 2017 17:11:56 GMT
There was a drunk woman in front of us at Sister Act who bowed along with the cast... acutally found it quite amusing! Also, if this is a big epidemic, just to pre-warn everyone going to Cast Change at Wicked, there was a standing ovaion at the end of the show and after Defying Gravity at both the 10th Anniversary and at Louise's final show in my experience, so, ya know, brace yourself for that shocker. I was at the 10th Anniversary show, and there were also several mid-show standing ovations for Cynthia Erivo when I saw The Color Purple on Broadway, so if it does happen it won't be anything new to me! I might even be tempted if Rachel's Defying Gravity is as good as we all know it can be, plus then I can be primed to squeeze out and rush across to the other side of the theatre at the start of the interval as I'm annoyingly on the wrong side of the stalls for the ladies!... There are ladies loos on both sides of the stalls now. |
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Post by mrtumnus on Jan 15, 2017 17:30:36 GMT
I don't mean to put the cat amongst the pigeons, but what is the big issue. I had the misfortune to attend the woeful Monkeys jukebox musical, to say that the audience were less than impressed would be an understatement . The last 5 -10minute musical medley of their hits was good and they got the crowd on their feet. Their Social Media marketing reported the first night 'standing ovation', no doubt enticing others to part with their hard end cash based on the audience 'recommendation'. On the grand scheme of things, not a big issue, but still annoying. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 15, 2017 18:38:31 GMT
Personally I'm so bloody-minded that if I don't want to give a standing ovation I will spend an entire curtain call looking at the backs of the people in front rather than be forced to stand. I find this happens fairly often at Phantom in particular, where I'm always in the cheap rear stalls. As for giving standing ovations, I like sitting at the front when I can afford it & am therefore very aware of blocking other people's views so often check behind me first to see if others are standing before standing myself. The exception is at closing nights/cast changes for favourite shows where I will stand no matter what, as a sort of cumulative appreciation for the cast.
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Post by alece10 on Jan 15, 2017 18:56:31 GMT
After 2 hours in some theatre's seats, frankly I'm glad of an excuse to give my rear end a break Can we get an Amen in here? On a similar subject, one of my friends is really really annoyed by people clapping in time to the music at the end. It kind of annoys me too, on behalf the ensemble and even some of the leads who don't end up getting the applause they deserve because people are bouncing along in time to the music instead. I try to break rhythm and clap OUT of time to the music (no matter how tempting it might be) and increase/decrease according to how much I liked that person's performance. It's only fair init I do that too. |
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Post by alece10 on Jan 15, 2017 18:59:44 GMT
When I went to see that pile of crap also known as wonder.land at the National, a woman in the front row stood up. It was exhilarating, especially considering that the rest of the audience seemed to clap out of pity and good manners... I bet her child was in the show. I was desperate to stand at this show but only because I was sitting on one of the Travelex seats and my back and legs were begging me to get up. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 19:03:56 GMT
I'm not even shameless in my standing ovations. If I feel a show or a cast member deserves it, I will be the first up, I will stand alone if need be. A mid week matinee of Mrs Henderson Presents, in its final week, I was the only one to stand for Emma, then more started rising when Tracie bowed, even though I personally felt Tracie was great, but Emma was the whole show.
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Post by duncan on Jan 15, 2017 19:54:16 GMT
There was a drunk woman in front of us at Sister Act who bowed along with the cast... acutally found it quite amusing! Also, if this is a big epidemic, just to pre-warn everyone going to Cast Change at Wicked, there was a standing ovaion at the end of the show and after Defying Gravity at both the 10th Anniversary and at Louise's final show in my experience, so, ya know, brace yourself for that shocker. Made in Dagenham of course even included a song that was clearly nothing more than a feeble attempt to get a standing ovation prior to the end of the show. Poor Gemma Arterton and Co begging people to stand up with all of those over emphasised hand gestures as well but being met by nothing but a wall of apathy as the audience stayed sat on their posteriors is a sight that will stay with me till my dying day. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 19:59:18 GMT
There was a drunk woman in front of us at Sister Act who bowed along with the cast... acutally found it quite amusing! Also, if this is a big epidemic, just to pre-warn everyone going to Cast Change at Wicked, there was a standing ovaion at the end of the show and after Defying Gravity at both the 10th Anniversary and at Louise's final show in my experience, so, ya know, brace yourself for that shocker. Made in Dagenham of course even included a song that was clearly nothing more than a feeble attempt to get a standing ovation prior to the end of the show. Poor Gemma Arterton and Co begging people to stand up with all of those over emphasised hand gestures as well but being met by nothing but a wall of apathy as the audience stayed sat on their posteriors is a sight that will stay with me till my dying day. Really? Is that the experience you had at Made in Dagenham? Because the three times I went, most audience members were up and clapping by the time the cast started clapping. And the fourth time, the final, performance, anyone who wzs there can back me up, the entire audience were on their feet fro the very beginning of that song, and didn't sit doen at all, even once the speeches began. So the audience were on their feet a solid 20 minutes. But it was amazing, and actually quite overwhelming a sight to see! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 20:13:06 GMT
Made in Dagenham of course even included a song that was clearly nothing more than a feeble attempt to get a standing ovation prior to the end of the show. Poor Gemma Arterton and Co begging people to stand up with all of those over emphasised hand gestures as well but being met by nothing but a wall of apathy as the audience stayed sat on their posteriors is a sight that will stay with me till my dying day. Really? Is that the experience you had at Made in Dagenham? Because the three times I went, most audience members were up and clapping by the time the cast started clapping. And the fourth time, the final, performance, anyone who wzs there can back me up, the entire audience were on their feet fro the very beginning of that song, and didn't sit doen at all, even once the speeches began. So the audience were on their feet a solid 20 minutes. But it was amazing, and actually quite overwhelming a sight to see! That was probably because closing night was filled with fans! Hardly any people were standing when I saw it either. |
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Post by sondheimhats on Jan 15, 2017 21:47:47 GMT
It seems like some people simply resent other people being happy and excited. I see why you say that, and resenting others' enthusiasm is definitely common among theatre-snobs. In this case, however, it seems to me that it has more to do with the gesture losing its power. If we stand up for everything, standing ovations cease to mean anything at all, which is just a shame. |
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Post by d'James on Jan 15, 2017 22:34:55 GMT
It seems like some people simply resent other people being happy and excited. I see why you say that, and resenting others' enthusiasm is definitely common among theatre-snobs. In this case, however, it seems to me that it has more to do with the gesture losing its power. If we stand up for everything, standing ovations cease to mean anything at all, which is just a shame. I think you're right. If every good performance gets a standing ovation, how do we, as the audience, reward something truly extraordinary and remarkable. Should we carry party-poppers at all times? Maybe we should use our phones' torch facilities and flash them on and off to blind the performers, but at least they'll know. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 16, 2017 0:15:23 GMT
Oh boy it is embarrassing when you are sitting in the front row and the whole audience are on their feet, you get strangest of looks from the cast.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 0:17:13 GMT
I was at the 10th Anniversary show, and there were also several mid-show standing ovations for Cynthia Erivo when I saw The Color Purple on Broadway, so if it does happen it won't be anything new to me! I might even be tempted if Rachel's Defying Gravity is as good as we all know it can be, plus then I can be primed to squeeze out and rush across to the other side of the theatre at the start of the interval as I'm annoyingly on the wrong side of the stalls for the ladies!... There are ladies loos on both sides of the stalls now. Excellent! It's been years since I sat on the low numbers side of the stalls so I had no idea! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 9:28:47 GMT
I don't stand if I don't want to, I don't stand if everyone in front of me is standing, I don't stand if I'm in the front row and I'm the only one, and I don't recall ever getting strange looks from cast. I have been known to stand, I'm just more likely to do it at the end of a marathon day, or at the end of a run, or if I'm so swept away by the show I'm on my feet before I even know what I'm doing. If at any point I find myself consciously thinking "shall I stand?", then I know the answer in my heart is no.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 9:41:11 GMT
Oh boy it is embarrassing when you are sitting in the front row and the whole audience are on their feet, you get strangest of looks from the cast. I mean only if you're the only one fast asleep in the front row....
Seriously though, I stand, I don't stand. I've never felt anything except perhaps a mild annoyance at my final view of the curtain call being blocked, but I can live with that, or I can stand and clap politely.
I do get the idea that it's devalued, particularly when (musicals generally) seem to now orchestrate it. But in the grand scheme of things I can live with it. I know when I've given a 'genuine' one from me and that's enough. If the cast go away feeling a bit happier because the audience stood up, who am I to argue?
I DO join the 'please stop clapping in unison when we should be applauding' chorus. As well as the 'You clearly can't clap in rhythm so please stop'
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 16, 2017 11:13:54 GMT
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Post by infofreako on Jan 16, 2017 11:23:37 GMT
I don't stand if I don't want to, I don't stand if everyone in front of me is standing, I don't stand if I'm in the front row and I'm the only one, and I don't recall ever getting strange looks from cast. I have been known to stand, I'm just more likely to do it at the end of a marathon day, or at the end of a run, or if I'm so swept away by the show I'm on my feet before I even know what I'm doing. If at any point I find myself consciously thinking "shall I stand?", then I know the answer in my heart is no. Sums up my feelings. I think standing for everything devalues what standing ovations are for. It should be a spontaneous act, I dont stand just because others do or to ensure I can still see. If you have to think about it the performance is probably not deserving of it |
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Post by profquatermass on Jan 16, 2017 11:28:40 GMT
Some actors now take them for granted "But what if you really don't think the show merits such adulation? Should you let yourself be pressured into standing just because everyone else does? It can be embarrassing when just a few people give a standing ovation, and you often see people peering around to make sure they are not in danger of finding themselves standing alone. Occasionally, you even see people do a short bunn- dip when they leap to their feet too quickly and then realise that no one else is following. But you might feel equally exposed and just as embarrassed to be the lone person seated – however hard you are clapping – amid a sea of people who are standing and stamping. That's what happened to a woman in the front row at a performance in Vancouver of Miriam Margolyes' show Dickens' Women. It's been reported that when everyone else rose to their feet, she remained seated, much to the annoyance of Margolyes – who reportedly targeted the woman and demanded to know why. Of course, there could be many reasons why someone does not stand: not least physical frailty. Or perhaps they just want to make sure they get full value from their allocated time in an increasingly expensive seat. But – rather bravely, I think – the woman told Margolyes the truth: she had only ever stood once, and that was for the veteran actor, Derek Jacobi. Margolyes told the woman she was rude." www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2012/dec/17/theatre-standing-ovations-gift-or-right |
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