Moments of Silence in theatre

[esparza 333]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 5:37pm

Whether it was because the show was so breathtaking or emotional or because a person did not a land a joke please describe your experiences.

[kate2]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:07am

The part in Gypsy when "Gypsy Rose Lee" yells at Rose while they're in her dressing room had to theater completely silent both times I saw it.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:10am

The moment in A CATERED AFFAIR when Aggie is watching the sun rise after her fight with Tom.

Breathtaking.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:11am

The end of the Mendes revival of Cabaret. The first time I saw it I had goosebumps and was speechless.

The audience was in shock, and the applause took time to get going and build.

[DavidPatrickS82]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:11am

August Osage County right when Barbara starts to pull Violet's hair and starts pushing her. The entire audience was silent. You didn't even think you could move let alone make any type of noise. I wasn't even breathing

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:12am

As far as awkward moments go, when John Cullum forgot his lines in AUGUST sticks out in my mind.

adam, what was the end of CABARET? I never got to see it and am still kicking myself about it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:13am

The scene after ANOTHER WINTER in Grey Gardens.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:21am

Spoiler for those who have a time machine and might go back in time to see the Mendes "Cabaret:"

If I'm remembering correctly, the entire backdrop, which seemed to be permanently installed, suddenly and slowly rose up to reveal the MC and the entire ensemble clothed in concentration camp stripes, bathed in a blinding light. It was stark and bleak and frightening. It was so unexpected and such a "coup de theatre." It was a vision of the future even more horrible than the one Cliff was imagining when he boarded that train.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:25am

Oh yes I had heard that! Thanks! (From WIKIPEDIA: Most dramatic of all was in the final scene in which the Emcee removes his outer clothes to reveal a striped suit of the type worn by the internees in concentration camps on which were pinned a yellow Star of David (identifying a Jewish prisoner) and a pink triangle (denoting a homosexual).)

Kinda OT but I wish that re-mounting of the CABARET revival would come to fruition. Even if it's for a very limited run.

[sparrman]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:27am

I remember reading a review in the NY Times of a signed-for-the-deaf production of Big River that played Broadway recently. While doing the boisterous finale "Waiting for the Light to Shine", they apparently did an entire chorus in silence, signing only. Reportedly a very moving, poignant moment.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:33am

More about the Cabaret ending....

One of the most powerful bits was when the Emcee (still in the black coat) repeated the, "Even the orchestra is beautiful" line and the scrim went up to show where the orchestra used to be. Their chairs were still there, and you heard music, but they were gone. Gradually, the music built to a horrible cacophany, which lead to...

The sound of incinerators, and all of the characters we knew reappearing, as if they were dead, showing the real future to be much worse than anything Cliff imagined, as someone wrote below. As the music faded (and all we heard was the sound of the incinerator), the Emcee said, "Bonswa" (or however you spell that), took off his coat, and joined the rest of the cast at the back of the stage. Then there was an immediate blackout. It was a BRILLIANT moment, and I have chills just writing about it now.

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:51am

The moment in the revival of Company, late in the second act, the scene between Joanne and Bobby in the disco. They had a starring contest that seemed as though it lasted for ten minutes. The audience went silent. You could have heard a pin drop. It was truly masterful!

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:52am

The CABARET ending as I remember it was the cast reappearing around the Emcee, the backdrop rising, the blinding light, he takes off his coat to reveal the concentration camp clothes, and he bows as the light strobes to black.

A really poignant moment of silence was the second time I saw the ALL MY SONS revival. The lights went down and came back up for the bows. Everyone was onstage to bow and the audience literally stood without even starting to applaud. It was just a stunned silence. It was incredible. Then after everyone rose to their feet, the applause was thunderous.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 2:27am

In AUGUST, when Amy Morton says something like "Father's Dead" then it goes to a blackout with a bum bum music right after.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 2:35am

At the end of "Alabanza" in In The Heights, it's the only song that the audience doesnt clap after.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 3:02am

Those chilling moments in the whole Finale sequence of Sunset Boulevard.

[musikman]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 3:07am

adamgreer

It's Bon Soir : )

And yes, that finale to Cabaret was bone-chilling.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 3:16am

During the Deaf West production of "Big River," the music cuts out during "Waitin For The Light (Reprise)" and the entire cast just signs the whole chorus. By then, they've repeated it enough times that the audience basically knows the lyrics, and when all sound is cut off and the actors are just signing the song, it's DEAD silent and you feel like you're a deaf person. It's unbelievable. Incredible.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 3:19am

That great silence in Grey Gardens, after "Another Winter," before Edie says "Coming, mother, darling." So intense.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 4:59am

"During the Deaf West production of "Big River," the music cuts out during "Waitin For The Light (Reprise)" and the entire cast just signs the whole chorus. By then, they've repeated it enough times that the audience basically knows the lyrics, and when all sound is cut off and the actors are just signing the song, it's DEAD silent and you feel like you're a deaf person. It's unbelievable. Incredible."

That must have been AMAZING!!!

I saw the tour of the Sweeney revival and when (spoiler) he dies at the end...everyone onstage was quiet, everyone in the house was quiet...it was all very spooky.
Updated On: 11/9/08 at 04:59 AM

[sparrman]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 8:41am

thevolleyballer writes: "During the Deaf West production of "Big River,"..."

I can't deny that this firsthand account of the moment is better than my secondhand account of the exact same moment eight posts earlier in this thread!

[Brick]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 12:54pm

In this new GYPSY revival, in the dressing room scene. I was blown away by Laurents' bravery to have the scene completely stop cold for however long it takes for Rose and Louise to pick up each of the items Rose threw off the dressing table. Watching them pick up the pieces, if you will, was so organic and yet something many directors would have tried to avoid.

I have a thing for silence, so there are many more I've got tucked away. That was just the most recent.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 1:20pm

*spoiler* In Spring Awakening, the awful silence after Moritz sticks the gun in his mouth and everyone just waits for the gunshot that never comes. I hate that part.

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 2:08pm

I second many of the ones that have already been said- but to add another from August: Amy Morton's "I'm running things now!" had the whole audience in stunned silence.

[withoutyou08]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 2:30pm

a quiet moment was at the last [title of show] show during "part of it all" when jeff says "part of dreading the day they post the closing notice" it was so freakin quiet especially compared to the rest of the loud applause