"Coordinated Foot-Kicking" Earning Applause

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:57pm

Disclaimer: Please don't bash me for this! I mean it in a tongue-in-cheek way.

I was watching the DVD of “Company” and wondered something. During the “Side By Side” reprise, the song gets slower and the entire cast kicks their feet together (is there a term for this?). The audience applauds. I’ve seen this type of “coordinated foot-kicking” in numerous shows, and it gets the same audience reaction EVERY time. What I don’t get though, is what’s so appealing about a bunch of people slowly kicking their feet in time to the music? It just seems rather humorous to me.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 12:13am

That's a kick line. usually moments like that come after a huge dance break with impressive choreography, so the applause is warranted. Audiences get so used to hearing applause at those moments they will do it even if it isn't warranted. Hence the applause.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:04am

Now that you point it out like that, it does make sense. I'll admit, normally during big dance sequences I kind of zone out.

[Boq101]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 4:12am

Well, that's why you're going to hell. :)

I think the idea that the cast will attempt any dancing is what merits the applause. A lot of the cast doesn't look very young or very fit and the idea of a kick line while playing a trumpet it funny. I also enjoyed the little knee bump, very fosse.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 4:39am

Well, that's why you're going to hell. :)

Hehehehe exactly, right?

But after reading what both of you have pointed out, I do get it now.

[BwayBound2]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:01pm

I find it humorous too! The kick-line is probably the most famous example of what my friends and I call a "claptrap." A claptrap is some sort of theatrical trickery or choreography that doesn't necessarily make any sense, but gets audiences to instinctively clap along no matter what. I love that word (claptrap!)... spread it around! Haha

[Weez]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:18pm

It's like the linking hands, running forward, and raising arms trick to incude standing ovation in your audience. The ULTIMATE claptrapif you will! XD

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:19pm

haha BwayBound2, I am going to use that word from now on!

claptrap :)

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:23pm

Or end-of-show megamixes while cast members do that clap-above-the-head thing?

I think someone on here once coined the phrase "standing faux-vation."

[Weez]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:27pm

Oooh, this place has such good vocabulary! I'm going to have to start writing these down.

[StarUsher]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:34pm

That is a great word, I have to remember it! Me and my partners in crime had a similar concept when we directed/performed in children's theaters. Only for us it was cheap tricks we used to get children to laugh. Falling down, getting hit with something and bad breath jokes always worked...