Laura Benanti chides people for not applauding — Page 4

Of course it was a joke! C'mon people, Laura Benanti tweets stuff like this all the time.



My only complaint is that it's not quite as funny as we've seen from Ms. Benanti in the past. Typically I literally laugh out loud at her tweets/presence. This one was kindof meh for me.

With her incessant, dumb tweets she really is turning into Donald Trump of the theater world, isn't she?

HenryTDobson said: "Of course it was a joke! C'mon people, Laura Benanti tweets stuff like this all the time.



My only complaint is that it's not quite as funny as we've seen from Ms. Benanti in the past. Typically I literally laugh out loud at her tweets/presence. This one was kindof meh for me.



"

It was a joke, yes, but a joke that was very clearly born out of the fact that she was ticked by some people not applauding after her number.

Liza's Headband said: "Oh, Jesus. People... Just as you have the right to not applaud, she has the right to call out those people on her personal social media account, provided it doesn't cross the line into personal libel or defamation. There's no "right" or "wrong" here. Someone chose not to applaud and Laura, whether joking or not, clearly took umbrage with it. We could question why the audience member didn't clap and we could analyze why a Broadway star, like Laura Benanti, needs such validation but that's not questions for us to answer since it doesn't directly impact or affect our own lives. This argument is so overblown and very circular... We'll keep going back-and-forth with what's appropriate and what's 'expected.' It wasn't only 30 or 40 years ago that dressing up in formal wear was also 'expected' for the theater, so that's not a great argument (by the way).



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Of course she does, but for someone who literally makes a living off people wanting to come see her perform, doing things to alienate those people isn't really in her best interest.

Of course she does, but for someone who literally makes a living off people wanting to come see her perform, doing things to alienate those people isn't really in her best interest.



Okay, maybe not, but that's not our issue to deal with or worry about. Why should I concern myself with what an individual does on their own personal social media account?

I guess I just don't get either side of this manufactured outrage. While I don't necessarily agree with or endorse either view, she has every right to express frustration about something she observes just as a patron has every right not to applaud or recognize a live performance. There will never be a conclusion to this issue. This thread will live on without any change of opinion because, as I said earlier, there can be no "right" or "wrong." It's that simple.

1) I think it's strange to be at a show and not give even cursory applause for something BUT it certainly isn't rude to sit there silently after a number or scene or joke if you weren't moved by it. I'd rather a silent neighbor than someone hooting and hollering and making the moment about them and their reaction more than the show.

2) I think Laura Benanti is far and away one of the best women performers in musical theater today. I wish she'd step away from social media for a while, because her persona there makes me forget how much I've adored everything I've seen her do onstage.

3) Patti LuPone says to use your judgment and not feel obligated to give everything you see a standing ovation.

Liza's Headband said: "Well, you certainly have strong views and opinions without any hesitation to share them considering your "newbie" status. Interesting. It also seems like you're just looking to pick a fight with me, which is even more interesting.



You need not push against me. I'm not on anyone's side because there are no sides to take. A patron didn't applaud, which is completely acceptable. Like some on this board, I guess Laura feels that's rude or disrespectful so she voiced her opinion. An opinion that you may or may not agree with. There's nothing more to say on the issue, unless you enjoy beating a dead horse; a rare speciality of many posters on this board!



ETA: my reply was directed to shubox



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I have views and opinions yes. Do I have to have been here a certain amount of time before I am allowed to express them? I am absolutely not looking to pick a fight, I am just stating an opinion. You seem to be welcoming a fight. Interesting.

And this is a discussion board. To discuss things. If you feel the discussion has run its course feel free to not return to the thread.

There may be reasons why a person might not clap other than not being moved by a song/performance. My late grandmother had extremely arthritic hands and would never have put herself through the pain of clapping, even if she were having the time of her life.

The concepts of logic and reason are foreign to most on Broadwayworld.com.

Anyone who owns a TV understands the concept of applauding after a number. You see it in concerts, sit-coms, dramas, school dance recitals, everywhere. People are not applauding because they don't want to. Not because they don't understand the practice.

Some of you need to learn to take a joke. It was funny.

"Sometimes I wonder how old the people on here are."



Well, speaking only about myself, quite.