The horror of standing ovations on Broadway. It's getting awful. - Page 2

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:38pm

I have occasionally stood to see the curtain call and for no other reason. But I will typically only stand for a performance that wows me. At CHAPLIN, I stood when McClure came out - because he is astonishing and deserved it.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:39pm

No one is saying, "Let's do what Brantley says. Let's listen to Brantley." I was pointing out that Musto is "covering" a concept Brantley addressed 7 months ago.

[beaemma]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:39pm

I'm sure that some people stand up because they loved the show, but I think more stand up simply because, as PalJoey said, it's the new way of applauding. I saw the obligatory standing ovations in the Midwest before they started happening in New York. There was an article about them in our local paper. The journalist asked someone why he always stood and was told that the actors might think he didn't like the show if he didn't stand. I don't know why applause stopped being enough. I find it hilarious when actors and others promoting a show will cite the standing ovations as evidence of the show's quality. I mean, what doesn't get a standing ovation? I stand up because I like to see the curtain calls and, occasionally, because I loved the show. It bothers me that there is now no way to recognize and pay tribute to something truly exceptional.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:41pm

My church choir director controversially wrote an article in the newsletter about how the congregation should not applaud soloists, but they still do. People gonna do what people gonna do. There are worse things in the world.

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:46pm

Applause becoming a convention as opposed to the expectation that applause will be withheld if you are not WOWED is fairly new also. Conventions change over time- all the complaining in the world won't fix the fact that as time goes on, standing ovations will probably replace applause as the polite curtain call convention. But if that happens, audiences will develop a new way of showing extreme appreciation as opposed to simple respect for effort spent.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:59pm

I was part of a standing ovation at Wicked once. I realized that, nope, it wasn't the fault of Kristen Chenoweth's understudy that I didn't like Wicked the first time. I stood up, grabbed my coat, and made a beeline for the exit.

In all seriousness, I don't always join in. The last time I did was for The Book of Mormon. Before that, it was Caroline, or Change. I'll clap louder for performers I particularly enjoyed, but don't see the need to stand up just because they finished a show.

Maybe I got spoiled by parents always trying to start a standing ovation for high school theater productions I music directed. It's not always warranted. It's not required. Anyone who feels entitled to a standing ovation is probably overly fond of themselves.

[Sugar78]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 2:10pm

As someone who has never been physically capable of giving a standing ovation (i.e.: paralyzed), it's interesting for me to read these different perspectives. I've always worried that I looked disrespectful for being the only one not standing, & it's actually made me feel quite self-conscious. Buy hey, I guess I've just been on-trend all these years without even knowing it!

Posted: 12/4/12 at 2:13pm

Hey over at the NASCAR fan Chat Room they are debating if people wave pennants too much at NASCAR Races these days. They seem pretty pissed off about it.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 2:14pm

I'm in a tour right now, and there are almost always a few people who decide not to stand up. Nobody likes seeing it, because it means we didn't manage to touch those people, but it happens. Few performers are going to take offense to it, but in this day and age the implication of not standing is clear.

Pretty simply, standing o's have become good etiquette in 2012, and not standing sometimes seems a bit pointlessly contrarian to me. I tend to stand in recognition of the performers' and creative team's hard work and talent, if nothing else - I've gone to see shows (Chaplin comes to mind) where my friends and I were bored to tears, but when curtain call came we all stood and applauded.

[FireFingers]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 2:17pm

I'm not saying that people shouldn't enjoy themselves, or display that, it's just interesting and possibly sad that the 'currency" of a showing your appreciation of an exceptional performance has become to mean less that it used to.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 3:05pm

I think standing ovations are given out to easily, it used to be something had to blow you away to get you up on your feet yet anytime ive gone to NY to watch a show it seems the audience just stand for the sake of it (When i watched Dracula the musical it got a standing ovation....i mean really?)

It's quite different here in the UK, other than the crappy jukebox musicals that get you up by doing a megamix at the end people only seem to stand when the work makes them stand. In recent years ive only stood for American Idiot (a few weeks ago on tour, phenomenal, the audience just lept up and would not stop applauding) and Parade

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 3:06pm

The actress was in a recent thread on all that chat... sorry her name is escaping me but she did a one woman show of all Chrelws Dickens

Miriam Margolyes?

She's a friend of a friend and I adore her, but it does sound like something she might say, half (but only half) in jest.

Updated On: 12/4/12 at 03:06 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 3:10pm

I agree with Pal Joey: standing ovations for everything have become the convention and we might as well get used to it.

At the very least let's stop congratulating ourselves for our superior taste in refusing to stand. Standing is optional, but smugness should be avoided.

[once a month]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 3:43pm

Oh please....why make an issue out of something so emotional that is in no way intended (personally) towards anyone other than the performers?

Such a 'gucci' complaint....be grateful that as the minority we are we even have such a dilemma! MOST folks don't get to Broadway at all, much less as regularly as we do on this board!

Merry Christmas!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 4:14pm

Have to say last week when I saw Whos Aftraid of Virginia Woolf? the were only a few standers, there was however a thuderous applause and people shouting "Bravo!". Seemed a delightful change!

[Kad]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 4:19pm

I'd say that plays usually get standing ovations less often than musicals, generally. And off-Broadway shows don't see them much, either.

But I digress.

The horror! THE HORROR! of standing ovations. Bitch, you'll all be standing in another minute anyway.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 4:44pm

While I try to only stand for things I believe deserve it, I am never upset that others are standing even if I am not. I also find it hard to NOT stand quite often (one reason being wanting to see the curtain call) as, if the performers gave their best, I want to show them my appreciation. Even if I didn’t enjoy the show, if the performers were up there working hard, I will stand for them (the last one I can think of is “Kinky Boots” – did not think the show deserved a standing ovation but that hard-working cast sure did).

One time I did not stand up was after Patti’s “Rose’s Turn,” although for different reasons. I was in the front row with my mom and sister and when she received a standing ovation we remained seated. However, not because I didn’t feel like she deserved the standing ovation, but rather because I was so blown away I could not stand up. That was the only experience I have ever had like that I wish I could have expressed to Patti my reasoning, as she was probably wondering why the 3 in the front row did not stand.

This thread also reminds me of encores…encores are now expected, rather than demanded by the audience.

[theatredk]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 4:52pm

This standing ovation thing seams to have thankfully died out here in Melbourne, Australia
It was big around when Wicked & Priscilla were touring

[Marianne2]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 5:05pm

I don't care either way if people do this or not. Though, I have stood up at shows if I couldn't see the curtain call. But, that's all that means to me if I hadn't planned to. Interestingly, If I've sat in the very front row of theaters with really low stages and that row was so close to the stage, I don't like to stand up, even if I really liked the show. It just feels weird being practically face to face with the performers. That happened at Xanadu at the Helen Hayes Theatre.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 5:06pm

Marianne2, I agree about the front row thing, can be pretty awkward. That's why I try to sit further back if there's any possibility of that.

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 5:08pm

This subject has been discussed several times here.

Wholly apart from the merits, or lack thereof, of the shows being accorded these standing ovations, there's the far more important question of courtesy- or in this case, discourtesy-- to the patrons behind you, who either will not be able to see the curtain call, or who will be forced to stand as well, whether they liked the show or not.

Yes, yes..... I know... courtesy towards others: how archaic a notion.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 5:17pm

Standing ovations at each show is like giving trophies to everyon on the team for showing up. Therefore, it means NOTHING. And worse, it takes away from the shows that DO deserve being shown they are extraordinary.

I don't pretend to get to decide what any individual audience member deems to be outstanding and worthy of a standing "o", but it is clear that most audience members do not value their own opinion.

Me? If I don't think a show is "worthy" I refuse to stand, even if I cannot see who is taking their bow. I do, happily, stand when I feel it is warranted. Whether I'm the only or the last one to do so.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 5:41pm

I think that's a fine standard, dramamama, and I certainly don't think you or anyone should be forced to stand.

But at this point, the standing "O" has become so conventional, I have begun to think in terms of what sort of statement am I making by NOT standing along with everyone else. To some degree, the statement is relative: Did I really dislike this performance so much that I have to be the only person who refuses to stand?

[CHOOKA2]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 5:48pm

What annoys me more? Audiences who clap along to the music played as the performers take their bows so there is no level of distinction between each artist.
I recently saw an all Thai cast of Miss Saigon in Bangkok[now that's another story] and their curtain calls were weird--as each artist came on-polite clapping then silence till the next person appeared-audience couldn't sustain applause,much less get on their feet.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 5:49pm

Interesting thought, Gaveston.

But I will stick to my guns, I was told a standing ovation is for excellence and that's when I'll wholeheartedly give one.