Giving flowers at the curtain call?- Page 2

[philly03]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:59am

I'm pretty sure when I saw Gypsy some gave LuPone roses....and several times at The Scarlet Pimpernel Douglas Sills got small red flowers, especially at the closing.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 7:16pm

"I think the cynicism of many above me is a little over the top. I think if you're in the front row and want to give a performer flowers you should do it."

No, you should not.

Why do you think it's okay for you to stop the show so you can hand flowers to a stranger? Just so YOU can see the expression on their face? That's a bit self centered.

It's not okay.

Send the flowers backstage.

[winston89]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 8:58pm

There is a right time and a wrong time to give a performer a gift such as flowers. You don't do it during the curtain call because that would be stand out and not in a good way.

Hell, I was in a production of Footloose at my college where one of the kids in the cast used the final curtain call as a way to give the senior in the cast a gift of flowers that he personally bought for her. It would have been one thing if it was a gift from the rest of the company and he was picked out to give it to her. But, it is a little selfish to use that time for something personal.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 9:07pm

Plus, to be honest from what I have heard from actors, gifts and flowers handed to artists quickly find their way to the dumpster or the home of a crew member. Save your money. Seriously. It's not being cynical, it's being practical and honest.

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 8:28am

And that's why I wonder why people give flowers out at curtain call. Because I assume that the actors really aren't going to be able to do anything with them and they just end up discarded somewhere. I know that personally, if someone were to give me flowers at a curtain call - while I'd think it was a nice gesture - I'd also probably just set them down somewhere because I'd have to run off and get changed out of my costume.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 8:46am

Plus, to be honest from what I have heard from actors, gifts and flowers handed to artists quickly find their way to the dumpster or the home of a crew member. Save your money. Seriously. It's not being cynical, it's being practical and honest.

This is why I advocate charity donations. If you're so bent on spending money on someone you don't know then I really suggest making a donation in their name to a charity. Most places will send a card to the person letting them know. Flowers die, food gets thrown out. But a donation to a charity does some good. A lot of high profile performers have their favorite charity and would love to know someone helped. If they don't you could always do BC/EFA or your favorite charity.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 12:14pm

"Plus, to be honest from what I have heard from actors, gifts and flowers handed to artists quickly find their way to the dumpster or the home of a crew member."

True dat!

[Sandy in Sable]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 12:56pm

I think it's also worth mentioning that there are a lot of people who are anti-cut flowers out there. I have heard friends and celebs say that they find them wasteful, even depressing (watching them die). You may have that sweet, "I'll never forget this" stagedoor moment of handing your favorite B'way star flowers, then read a month later in some Playbill interview that such and such just *hates* it when fans give her flowers.

It looks nice on TV, but I have been on stage when people tossed (hurled!) plastic-wrapped bouquets to the cast, and it is frightening ("THWAP!").

We watched this documentary on Shirley Bassey once, and I was surprised by the many many fans who at the end of the concert coaxed her to the foot of the stage and gave her flowers, chocolates, even jewelry. I mean, if you made her a pair of earrings with little gold fingers, that's one thing, but FOOD!? I'm sorry, but I would never trust that no matter how unsuspicious it looked.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:13pm

but if you want to give your favorite performer a chihuahua, then a bouquet of flowers is the perfect place to hide it.

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:47pm

The mention of food reminds me of Spring Awakening. If memory serves me right wasn't there a person at the stage door trying to give cast members food? Or something to that effect, anyway?

I can tell you from experience that food given to the actors usually finds its way to the crew. (One of the girls I worked with a few years ago let me have some of her leftover food that was given to her as a gift).

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 2:01pm

I believe someone was giving the cast of SA treats and someone said they were on a diet as an attempt to dissaude her and she brought a can of spinach.

[nealb1]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 2:05pm

Eris0303, I love what you wrote about giving money to a charity, rather than spending the money for flowers.

90% of the people who rush to the stage to give flowers to their favorite performers, are complete and total strangers to them. And, they are just looking to get attention - nothing more. A true friend would leave flowers for their friend at the stage door with the door man, and meet up afterwards, backstage to offer congratulations.
Updated On: 9/23/09 at 02:05 PM

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 2:12pm

I believe someone was giving the cast of SA treats and someone said they were on a diet as an attempt to dissaude her and she brought a can of spinach.

Yes, that was it. Thank you, Eris.