Grrr, cold audiences

Frequently.

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

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.

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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)

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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?

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.

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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.

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!

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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.

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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

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?

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.

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