Standing Ovations - your opinion?

[HeartinNYC]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 9:17am

What do you think of being one of only a handful of people giving a standing ovation? I've been at several shows where I've wanted to stand, but there were only a few reluctant "standers" who almost imperceptably half-stood during applause. I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb, and have even had people behind me tell me to "sit the f%^& down" because they couldn't see the curtain call. Now, don't get me wrong - I'm not a "jumper" who leaps up after every show to justify my ticket purchase. I do wish to express my admiration and thanks for a performance I consider ... outstanding (no pun intended!). Ever feel like this? Should I sit the heck down? (LOL!)

Updated On: 7/2/04 at 09:17 AM

[Craig]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 9:22am

If you are moved to stand, I say stand. I'd rather be one of the few who were moved and genuinely giving a standing ovations versus part of the masses who are standing up out of "groupthink" mentality...

[hawkeyemania]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 9:25am

agreed, When my friends and I saw wicked when it was in previews we were in the last row up top, and nobody up there was standing, and frankly we didn't care. We stood and cheered because that is how we flt about the show. At Avenue Q the same kind of thing happened and at thestage door the cast recognized us as the kids standing in the back, lol....good times.

[twogaab2]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 10:32am

Don't let other people intimidate you. Your opinion is just as valid as theirs' (or even mine, for that matter). Theater is to move, or stimulate or enertain. So if you feel so moved, stimulated, or enertained as to stand up then by all means stand up, even if you are the only one doing so. Differing opinion is what keeps theater exciting.

And this is just my opinion, I may be wrong.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 10:53am

I was just having this exact conversation with a friend of mine recently. It's sad to say that there are a lot of people who don't even know what a standing ovation really means. These days, audience pressure has a lot to do with it and some people are just plain scared to stand even if they loved the actor and/or show as a whole. This can be seen when in some sections of the theatre everyone is standing and in other sections no one is standing. Does that make sense? I think sometimes people feel that they are blocking other peoples view and the people who wouldn't normally get up stand anyway so they can see. The whole concept of the standing ovation is lost. How can we fix this?

Updated On: 7/2/04 at 10:53 AM

[robbiej]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 10:59am

The best explanation for the current obsession w/ standing ovations is given by one Mr. Stephen Sondheim in the film Broadway: The Golden Years.

I will not divulge it in order to force you all to see the movie.

[HeartinNYC]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 11:49am

It really says something for our society, doesn't it, that so many people feel awkward about something like this? You can express yourself...to a certain extent, apparently. Once during "The Producers", I witnessed an audience member yelling at someone in back of them for laughing too much! The person wasn't disturbing anyone in terms of hearing the play, etc. - they were just having a great time. Sad.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 1:06pm

I just saw "The Frogs" in previews and was the only one to give a Standing O before Nathan came out. No matter what the view on the show was, I thought the chorus was quite incredible also. I know Lane is legendary, but I thought the chorus deserved an ovation also. I was a bit embarrassed, but I did it.

Posted: 7/2/04 at 2:04pm

Fixing an ovation? Too late my friend. Just watch any TV show with an audience and EVERYONE gets a standing ovation. Witness the Springer show..they stand up for him when he comes out, when they go to a break, after they come back from a break, etc...

The "ovation" as a real sign of appreciation is gone for the most part. Sometimes I feel people actually do stand up for a performance is their butts are tired. I have been to many a show that didn't deserve an ovation, and the monkeys just stood anyway.

To fix maybe? If you feel a performer was outstanding, the second they come out...jump to your feet...be the first..be emphatic...chances are there will be an obligatory one, but you will be the first and your statement will be made ahead of the crowd (especially if it's for one of the supporting players or the ensemble that were exceptional.)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 2:13pm

Reading these, I feel kinda bad now because I've always been a follow-the-crowd stander. Some shows I absolutely loved, I really wanted to give a standing ovation but everyone in my area was sitting. Other times, I didn't enjoy the show that much, but was forced to stand by those around me who leapt to their feet. I've come to the conclusion that a standing ovation means very little about how much you or the audience enjoyed the show: it all depends if there's a courageous someone out there who was willing to stand first.

I think it helps if you sit near the front, then you don't have to see what everyone behind you is doing.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 3:09pm

Standing ovations aren't ALWAYS the entire audience. Sometimes lots of people hated it and stay seated. Others stand because they are moved, which sets other people to stand for the same reason or because people are standing and they can't see the people on stage.

Posted: 7/2/04 at 3:40pm

Remember the Tony's the year Ragtime went up against Lion King...
Everybody jumped out of their chairs for the glorified puppet show, but only one brave sole stood after the RAGTIME number, and she looked very moved/emotional...Good on her.

[mominator]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 3:52pm

I feel of you are moved to stand do so! I myself like to wait for the performer who deserves it to stand.
B

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 4:56pm

I think every musical and/or play I have attended this past year the audience gave a standing ovation. It seems to be the norm nowadays.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:00pm

If I feel moved to stand by teh show or a cast member, I will. At one show, I stood for a few supporting actors who took their curtain calls and sat right back down for the leads when they came out... and I waited to sit until I was visible to them.

[The Goat]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:16pm

I've always taken English audiences as my model in terms of standing ovations: stand if and when you are so moved (and this isn't very often with them), sit if you are lukewarm about the show or performers--so what if you can't see the performers take their bows. Why do you need to see them, anyway, if you didn't like the show or them all that much? And never, ever tell someone standing in front of you to "sit down" if they are offering a standing ovation. I was at a West End performance of "Mrs. Warren's Profession" a few years ago. My two friends and I thought Brenda Blethyn was brilliant, so we stood for her, even though no one else did--and the atmosphere was such that we weren't made to feel self-conscious or stupid. We also sat down after she had taken her bows, as we didn't feel the whole show was up to her performance.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:19pm

exactly correct.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:52pm

Singingbackup, you make me feel proud for being the lone soul standing until Lane came out! Thanks. :)

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/2/04 at 6:02pm

I usually dont' like giving standing ovations but if they're worthy I do.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 1:01pm

I experienced this standing ovation "sectioning" again last night and after thinking about this very thread, I laughed so hard I almost hurt myself. Finally, everyone just stood up, but it made me think why are they REALLY standing?? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 1:27pm

If I remember correctly, there was a poll on this awhile back- I just checked and it was in December... anyway:

I think that standing ovations should only be given if you really mean it. I know in a lot of shows, there were just people who gave a standing O because they wanted to leave. If the show was great, or the performer was great, then definitely stand up! I agree that sometimes it feels weird if you're the only one standing, but if you think the show/performer deserved it, then do it!

[on1ystarinthesky]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 2:36pm

How about it being the other way around? Everyone in the entire theatre is standing and clapping and cheering, and you're the only one sitting because, frankly, you found the show to be crap. Do you get up just so you don't look like an ass?

This happened at GYPSY. Everyone was standing and clapping after "Rose's Turn," except this couple next to me, who just stared blankly at the rear ends of the people in front of them.

Then again, these two spent the whole show playing tic tac toe on the girl's cell phone, so...

[sean martin]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 3:02pm

Stand if the spirit moves you.

And if it moves you to clap between movements of a symphony, I say screw convention and applaud.