Villains and Curtain Calls

[PatrickDC]

Ursula, Jafar, Trunchbull, Miss Hannigan, Captain Hook, Gaston, et al. 

The bigger the villain, the bigger the applause at the curtain call, nearly always the loudest applause and louder than the hero/heroine/protagonist.  

I have theories. Would love to hear yours. 

 

[HogansHero]

it's easier to write drama than comedy, and it's easier to write villains than heroes.

i have no support but that's my theory

[adamgreer]

Jafar certainly doesn’t get the kind of applause the Genie gets at curtain call. And I’ve never heard Captain Hook get more applause than Peter, particularly when Peter takes flight. Gaston doesn’t get more applause than the two leads, and the kids in Matilda always got the loudest applause.

I understand your point, but it isn’t (anecdotally, of course) true with most of the examples you gave.

[CATSNYrevival]

I’ve expierenced the opposite where people boo the villain during the curtain call which I think is disrespectful.

[MattRVA]

Heroes are admirable, but villains are fun.

[Mr. Nowack]

When I saw WAITRESS Earl kindof did a motion like "I'm Sorry" at the curtain call which I thought was pretty amusing.

[zainmax]

When I read the title of the thread, I also thought of Waitress, and the same experience where I saw Earl get boos.

[TheatreRocks]

I have seen Scar get boos and Trunchbull get rapturous applause

[mailhandler777]

Earl in Waitress always gets boos when I see the show and the guy on tour always says "I'm sorry" when it happens.

[haterobics]

CATSNYrevival said: "I’ve expierenced the opposite where people boo the villain during the curtain call which I think is disrespectful."

Seems like a compliment of the highest order.

[StephieElise]

haterobics said: "CATSNYrevival said: "I’ve expierenced the opposite where people boo the villain during the curtain call which I think is disrespectful."

Seems like a compliment of the highest order."

When I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the actor playing the child catcher got boos and when we asked him he said that he considered it a compliment. 

[henrikegerman]

PatrickDC said: "Ursula, Jafar, Trunchbull, Miss Hannigan, Captain Hook, Gaston, et al.

The bigger the villain, the bigger the applause at the curtain call, nearly always the loudest applause and louder than the hero/heroine/protagonist.

I have theories. Would love to hear yours."

These are juicy roles which stand out in ensembles and which in the vast majority of cases give highly talented actors chances to shine.  They are typically played by vivid, scene-stealing performers who rarely fail to make big impressions on audiences.



"

 

[BuddyStarr]

 When I played Ismay in Titanic I got I got booed during the curtain call.  I kind of expected it but didn’t take it personally. 

[Lot666]

Javert (if he's good) and the Thénardiers usually get a lot of love at the curtain call.

[darquegk]

The genre of the piece has something to do with it too- not necessarily just children's theatre either. Look at Waitress, which is written and staged in such a way that the final hospital scene seems designed to elicit loud audience response, Tyler Perry style. I've never seen a performance where the audience didn't hoot and holler when Jenna finally kicks Earl to the curb, and once you're in that performative mindset, booing the misogynist doesn't seem like such a stretch (especially in the Me Too era, when the show seems to invite that demonstration).