#1
Posted: 1/17/10 at 12:30pm
I had my iPod on shuffle and "I Believe" from SPRING AWAKENING began to play, which brought back memories of seeing the show the two times that I did. My thoughts about the production can be found if you search the boards, but in a nutshell: first time I saw it I hated it but the following day the music and moments from the production haunted me and I couldn't get it out of my head. Had to see it again and my mind was changed -- I liked the show.
Back on topic now, I recall that after the (*SPOILER*: uncomfortable sex scene between the two leads, ending with the penetration and abrupt blackout *END SPOILER*) to end Act I, the theatre filled with applause. However, I did not applaud. I was shocked and felt uncomfortable about the events the characters just went to. I definitely wanted to stay glued to my seat and find out what happens next.
While all of the thoughts that the show produced going around in my head were making me think and feel, most of the theatre quickly burst into applause. I thought this was very inappropriate. A dramatic moment just occurred and with such enthusiastic applause, it seems like we are FAVORING what just happened. (I wonder if they applaud during this intermission over in the UK?).
Which brings me to the topic discussion -- is it appropriate or not? With the birth of the American musical comedy, applause is common at intermission because the audience had been entertained, enjoyed the show, and wanted the performers to know they were liking it. This 'applause' is a product from vaudeville and other precedent stage shows. As the musical evolved, it grew include more dramatic musicals and in my experiences of theatre-going, that intermission applause has retained. Of course the "appropriateness" call can only be made on a case-by-case, show-by-show basis, though using the kind of Act I closer that SPRING AWAKENING is, do you think that to follow with applause is still appropriate?
Additionally, if you were one of the performers or creative team, would you question why there WASN'T intermission applause and would it negatively impact how you think the show is going?
Personally, I think as a director of SPRING AWAKENING I would want zero applause then. It's other moments throughout the show and at curtain call that I would hope for applause.
Back on topic now, I recall that after the (*SPOILER*: uncomfortable sex scene between the two leads, ending with the penetration and abrupt blackout *END SPOILER*) to end Act I, the theatre filled with applause. However, I did not applaud. I was shocked and felt uncomfortable about the events the characters just went to. I definitely wanted to stay glued to my seat and find out what happens next.
While all of the thoughts that the show produced going around in my head were making me think and feel, most of the theatre quickly burst into applause. I thought this was very inappropriate. A dramatic moment just occurred and with such enthusiastic applause, it seems like we are FAVORING what just happened. (I wonder if they applaud during this intermission over in the UK?).
Which brings me to the topic discussion -- is it appropriate or not? With the birth of the American musical comedy, applause is common at intermission because the audience had been entertained, enjoyed the show, and wanted the performers to know they were liking it. This 'applause' is a product from vaudeville and other precedent stage shows. As the musical evolved, it grew include more dramatic musicals and in my experiences of theatre-going, that intermission applause has retained. Of course the "appropriateness" call can only be made on a case-by-case, show-by-show basis, though using the kind of Act I closer that SPRING AWAKENING is, do you think that to follow with applause is still appropriate?
Additionally, if you were one of the performers or creative team, would you question why there WASN'T intermission applause and would it negatively impact how you think the show is going?
Personally, I think as a director of SPRING AWAKENING I would want zero applause then. It's other moments throughout the show and at curtain call that I would hope for applause.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
