Grrr, cold audiences

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 2:02am

I made a return visit to the Canadian production of Hairspray last night, and was upset to find the audience so stone-cold. Hairspray is one of the most delightful shows I've seen in years, but the audience was just dead! They seemed to have missed all the visual gags and sexual innuendos that enrich the show! I felt like I was the only one in the theatre laughing and catching all the jokes. I kept thinking, WTF??

Now, I usually try not to let the people around me spoil my enjoyment of a show, but theatre is such a communal experience that I couldn't help but feel like this dead audience was ruining my fun (especially in a comedy, when part of the pleasure comes in sharing in the humour). Were they just clueless or something? It really annoyed me.

Anyone else have experiences where you're having a great time, but the audience is chilly?

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 2:04am

Frequently.

Posted: 9/15/04 at 2:19am

I have a rather 'outsized' personality, and can sometimes drag an audience along with me. Outside of that, I really don't care what anyone else does - if I enjoy it, you're going to know it!

I know what you're saying, though, it can be a bit deflating to realize you're in what amounts to an 'empty room.'

This probably isn't the appropriate point to discuss what you might do in an empty room, huh?

[cvapb]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 3:24am

haha.. try going to any show at all down here in south florida!

[badkarma719]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 3:33am

my favorite is a sunday matinee anywhere in the south

I found this out my very first hhow

the old people have gone to church, heard a sermon, had lunch at the picadilly, and now wanna see a show on full stomach, so its time for there nap, sadly they just paid $_____ for that nap, and your there bedtime song and story, NOw get out there and give a good show

I swear that is so close to the backstage pep talk I get on a sunday show its scary

[SamIAm]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 8:23am

Not only is it frustrating for an audience member who wishes to enjoy the show and feels isolated in his/her exuberance...but it ain't no fun for the actors either.

When you've done a show for awhile, you can really use the energy coming from the audience. It feeds you. And trying to jump start a dead audience is horrible. You just have to work that much harder.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 11:09am

In all my theatre going experiences, it seems like Friday evenings have contained the best audiences. Or, if I see a hit show early in its run, the night of the week I see it, doesn't seem to matter. The audiences there are usually responsive. But you're right, there's nothing like a quiet audience to drag everyone down.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 11:24am

In the theater industry there are 'good' nights and traditionally 'bad' nights though every once in awhile an audience will surprise you on a bad night of the week. Weekend evening shows (not matinees) are typically considered the best (Fri and Sat)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 12:03pm

I used to be under the impression that I should see a show on a Tuesday because a) it's less expensive, and b) the actors are well-rested. But last night's audience has certainly killed that idea! So what performances of the week are the best to go to (ie. good audience, energized actors), and which should be avoided? Friday seems to be the ideal night; what others?

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 12:45pm

i agree that fri and sat nights are the best--people are more likely to be a little liquored up and ready for a good time--also if the show is only playing one night, there's more excitement as well....

i think alot of people tend to forget that theatre is a communal experience, requiring the audience to participate--most folks are so accustomed to film and tv and just want to sit there....what can u do?

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 12:52pm

While I've been to several Saturday and Sunday matinees of professional shows, which all had good audiences, I think the worst shows for high schoolers to perform in are Saturday matinees. We did those my freshman and sophomore years and friggin' nobody came, except close family. I remember for one show, someone counted how many people were in the audience and we had 91. Doesn't sound too bad, but the theater can easily hold 500. Fortunately, our director scrapped those shows later.

[krisjoseph]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 1:22pm

Audiences follow mob mentality, for the most part. If people start out loud and are glared at by those who find that behaviour odd, they will shut up... but it can work both ways. And part of the onus is on the actors: for example, cut off laughs too often and you will literally train the audience NOT to laugh because they won't want to miss anything with their own outbursts. It's give and take.

Bottom line, though: it's not the audience's job to supply a cast with energy; it's the cast's job to find the audience. I wish more actors were keenly aware of that.

Last night I performed to a sold-out crowd of people whose wives dragged their husbands away from the World Cup hockey final (and yes, I'm in Canada) because this was their only night to see our show -- and lemme tell ya, THAT was a tough crowd. Men everywhere SQUIRMING at the thought of missing The Big Game... sigh.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 1:26pm

Kris, where are you performing? If it's in the Toronto area and you're still performing into October, I'll make it a mission to catch your show!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 2:01pm

Friday nights are usually good.

However, if you are in adead audience, but you are one of the few live ones, in a GOOD way, the cast knows and are VERY appreciative.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 2:12pm

Blue Wizard,

What did you think of the show itself though. NOw that I am back in Toronto for the year, I am definitely going to see it soon, and drag my freinds along. Have they picked up their comedic timing yet? Because that was the biggest problem when I saw it in previews.

Akiva

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 2:50pm

Hi Akiva,

I saw it in previews, too: the first public performance, actually. I love the show, but the Canadian cast still need to work on their comic timing. Some actors have grown very nicely into their roles and surprised me with their improvement. Others, however, haven't found their portrayals yet.

Many jokes went over the audience's heads. Part of this was because the audience I was with was a dull lot, but some of it was also due to the fact that the lines weren't delivered properly. But I don't remember this being a huge problem when I saw the first preview, so I'm assuming it's because the cast was being bogged down by the awful crowd they had to perform to. There were some blatantly funny and well-delivered jokes that were completely lost to the audience.

I still think Vanessa Olivarez is a weak link in the show. Her Tracy is too bland, too universally nice. She needs to make Tracy more geeky, more teen-bopper quirky. Despite a great singing voice, her Tracy is underwhelming. I don't think she gets even some of her own jokes: during "Without Love", I love the moment when Tracy sings "But I am still a nothing...though a thousand fans may disagree!" It's a loveable Tracy moment, because she does allow her fame to get to her head in an adorable fashion. But Olivarez just delivers the line without any bubbling enthusiasm, so it just gets lost.

I do want to single out Susan Henley, though, who is absolutely fantastic as Velma! She's a complete natural onstage, and with a strong stage presence.

So the Toronto production is fabulous and energetic, but hasn't changed much since previews. But go and tell me what you think!

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 2:50pm

I've had dead audiences before BlueWizard and it always drives me crazy. Not that I'm expecting everyone to love a show as much as I do, but a modicum of applause would be nice once in a while. :P

However, if you are in adead audience, but you are one of the few live ones, in a GOOD way, the cast knows and are VERY appreciative.

I totally agree. My sister and I saw Avenue Q when it was playing the Vineyard off-broadway and had first row seats. The crowd was into it but my sister and I were almost crying from laughing so hard. After the show, John Tart told us we were the "best laughers" in the whole place and how he loved that.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 2:53pm

The theory for Fri and Sat nights being better audiences in general is simple. Most people don't work on weekends and they are ready to rest, relax and have a good time. They often go out to dinner and have a glass of wine and are ready for the theater.

Tuesdays may be good because of rested actors but on the other hand, some actors take their days off seriously and may have stayed up late the night before anyway...so, it's hard to tell. Tuesday audiences are not great, followed in general by Wed.

Yes, the actors do have to 'find' the audience but sometimes the audiences are just dead. And there is such a thing as working too hard to get the audience to respond and then the show starts to feel desperate.

[buddha2]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 7:12pm

I thought weekend audiences were so good because it's mainly composed of B&T's and out-of-towners that clap at most anything.

[mfshutte]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 7:26pm

I saw the Hairspray tour in Rhode Island last year. I went with two family friends orginally from New York. The three of us had a great time. The audience--not one laugh. The woman next to be was bored out of her mind and gave me weird looks when I laughed. Of course, once Bruce Vilanch cracked some jokes about Dunkin' Donuts, Buddy Cianci and Pawtucket during "You're timeless to me" the enitre place went crazy.

Though I can't single out Rhode Islanders. I had a miserable audience at Mamma Mia in New York and the people behind me at Frogs were making outrageous claims about Aristophanes, mythology and the Greeks, but that offended me more as a classicist than as a theatre patron. Updated On: 9/15/04 at 07:26 PM

[virgil blessing2]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 11:23pm

Oh Christ on a cracker....dead houses are the WORST, whether you're sitting amid one or performing to one. I have been in both scenarios. Contemporary audiences really peeve me @ times. But I just do my thing and laugh up a storm or give the performance of a lifetime. If they sit there in utter silence, well, as we like to say backstage: "Dig a hole and BURY 'EM. They're DEAD."

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 2:37am

If it's a show I love, I laugh extra loud so people realize something may be a COMEDY. If I enjoy the show, I personally feel nervous or offended if an audience is cold. Anyone agree?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 3:07am

Definitely - it was almost like a slap in the face!

The strange thing is, the audience gave the performance a standing ovation at curtain call (not that that means anything these days). I mean, if they enjoyed the show, why did they give it such a cold shoulder all the way through? It's as if the audience was intent on not enjoying themselves.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 9:16am

buddha2: In the OLD days (and I am old, so I remember them) before the theater in NYC was peopled with a lot of tourists, the theater patrons were from the Tri State area with a few out of towners sprinkled in.

The men typically worked in the city and had had a long week and were ready for a cocktail and the women were looking forward to a night on the town away from the kids...hence weekend audiences...

As for the idea that out of towners will laugh or clap at anything...I don't know if that means they are unsophisticated. I think it simply means they are on vacation and AGAIN more relaxed and open to being entertained. So...whether they are residents or out of towners, it comes down to one thing: the bulk of the audience needs to be relaxed and not thinking about their meeting tomorrow morning in order to really respond.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/16/04 at 11:25am

I saw the "Hairspray" tour in Hartford on a Thursday night and the audience was very responsive. It's amazing how a show plays and is perceived in different regions.