Curtain Calls

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Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:39am

Would anyone feel cheated if they saw a show and there was no curtain call at the end? Just lights up, show over, done.

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:40am

I certainly would...

What the puck?!

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:43am

In any show though? See, I just think there are some shows that are all the more powerful for not having one. Shape Of Things, in its original London run, did not have one.

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

On rare occasions, it may suit the show.

I'm currently directly "Fool for Love" for the New Hampshire Theater Festival and may decide not to do a curtain call.

Did the revival of Cabaret at Studio 54 have a curtain call?

BLAH BLAH BLAH

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:45am

I would not feel cheated at all. While a curtain call is a nice acknowledgment for the cast, and, as an actor, it a great feeling after the hard work one puts into a show. As and audience member, I'm there to see the performance so if a cast decided to not have a curtain call, I would respect that decision and know that I got what I came there for in the first place, the show.

"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"

Updated On: 5/26/05 at 10:45 AM

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:47am

Although this is not entirely on the subject, I have to say no one does a curtain call like Zoe Caldwell. It's a one act play all by itself.

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:48am

There were many times when I saw A CHORUS LINE (yes, I saw it MANY times) that the audience didn't realize the "One" reprise was the curtain call - and I heard many comments when the houselights came up.

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:49am

Mikewood, yes it did and it's one of the shows I was thinking of that would actually have been better off not having one.

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:59am

The reason I ask is that I saw a fantastic, (and yet very derivative community theater production of Cabaret last year) and they foregoed the curtain call. There was a rather disquieting lull and then the actors appeared in the back of the theater to meet and greet.

BLAH BLAH BLAH

#10

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:03am

As much as I loved seeing the Cabaret cast get applause and cheers thrown their way (and some of my favorite actors no less), it was rather disconcerting, especially after the way the revival ends. I would have completely understood had they not done a curtain call.

#11

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:12am

But then there's also the argument that not having a curtain call and not giving the audience "closure" can have a detrimental effect on how you feel about a show. You think?

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

#12

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:14am

Maybe you don't want closure....maybe sometimes a show should leave a kick you in the gut....whoa! feeling.

Like a musical about the holocaust should. Not that this thread is about Cabaret per se.

BLAH BLAH BLAH

#13

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:16am

No indeed. And I did find it interesting that Shape Of Things received so many complaints about the lack of curtain call, they put a notice up front of house about it, explaining why there wasn't one.

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

#14

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:23am

I was in a production of "The Glass Menagerie" once where we decided not to have an actual curtain call. We did a tableaux. At the end of the show, the lights came up on us in a grouped, frozen position and as the audience applauded the lights slowly faded to black.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#15

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:26am

While I can understand not having a curtain call in some instances; Cabaret for example, I actually think they do some good. Even if the emotional impact of a show is intense, I like the curtain call because it gives me a minute to pay tribute to those hardworking people who have brought me to that emotional level. It also gives me a moment to readjust my state of consciousness before going back to "real" life. Also, putting the performers at the back of the theatre to meet and greet, is really a muted equivalent of the curtain call and serves the same purpose, so what's the difference?

"And the postman sighed as he scratched his head, you really rather thought she ought to be dead..."

#16

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:28am

As an actor, I HATE curtain call. It;s my least favorite moment of my job.
I am not in theatre to have people applaud me. I perform because I love the process of the creation of my character and the physical pleasure it gives me to act, hit a great note and dance my legs off.

At curtain call (especially when I am the lead), I am always worrying, "Are they going to applaud, cheer, boo?"

I don't need that kind of pressure at the end of my day. I just want to get dressed and go home.

#17

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:29am

I think the actors would feel more cheated by not having a curtain call than the audience. It's their moment of glory....

#18

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:30am

VERY interesting, Di2.

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

#19

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 11:32am

Well, I have to admit I am the complete opposite, I love curtain call as an actor, especially when I am a lead.

It never occurs to me in that moment I might get booed.

OHMIGAWD! That would suck.

BLAH BLAH BLAH

#20

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 12:44pm

Here's a question for our British fans:

In several musicals I've seen in the West End, they didn't play music at the curtain call. Is there any reason for that? On Broadway, I don't think I've ever seen a musical that didn't play music for the curtain call.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#21

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 12:46pm

I am doing a show right now and we are not doing curtain calls. I am not trying to sound snobby, but I definitely feel cheated.

"When you're a Jet, / You're a Jet all the way, / From your first pirouette / To your last grand jete." --Brian Kaman

#22

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 12:48pm

Gotham: Maybe it's because the audience ALWAYS ends up clapping in rhythm to the music at the curtain call, so it doesn't sound like genuine applause?

And keggss23, does the audience still applaud at the end?

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

#23

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/26/05 at 12:50pm

I just finished Miss Saigon and the orchestra was silent during our curtain call. I hated that. The audience had no clue what was happening and it was just...odd.

#24

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/27/05 at 5:17am

I know that for the Woman in White, all the cast come out and take their separate bows, then the orchestra kicks in for the company bow. I can't quite remember, but I think that it's the same for Les Mis as well. That seems to work quite well, and as popcultureboy said, when the audience is clapping in time, it never sounds quite genuine. And when that does happen, I always get the one person who has no sense of time next to me and claps maybe half a beat later than everyone else

#25

re: Curtain Calls

Posted: 5/27/05 at 6:45am

I think it depends on the show. I, for one, like curtain calls, when I am performing or when I'm in the audience. It's kind of nice to regroup after a show and know that you were appreciated and when in the audience it's, as someone else said, a chance to get back to reality. However, you don't always *need* one. I'm currently in a show and our finale would have been fine as a curatin call because of the way everyone is set up and the way it's staged, but we do have a curtain call right after. I don't think that it's necessary in this particular show, so it really does depend on what you're seeing and/or acting in.

A most ingenious paradox.

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