Laura Benanti chides people for not applauding — Page 9

When I do to a show, I will applaud wildly if I love a number. If I like it, I will applaud healthily. If I don't like the number or the performance, I do not pretend that I did. I feel that there are enough people applauding to avoid embarrassment for the performr(s) and see no reason to applaud something I didn't like.

I have paid good money, travelled to the city, etc. Why should I be guilted to applaud if I don't like it. It is not like I am booing. I am talking about individual numbers, not every one. To me, applauds for a well done job just adds to the experience, but I am not going to pretend.

i have to admit that I rarely applauded at the Rocky numbers a few years ago because I thought the score was awful and everything sounded like filler leading up to the grand finale. Same thing with Bullets Over Broadway. I applauded wildly several times during Something Rotten, but did not feel compelled to do so after a couple of mediocre numbers. Shoot me.

SEE participation trophy mindset and entitlement society

i really do respect anyone who will get on stage for anything (ive done it a few hundred times)

applause and recognition is earned

its not a right of the performer or obligation of the audience member

I often pay up for my seats at a broadway show.

My obligations as a viewer are to not distract other viewers or performers and that's it.

I have to say that there have been a few times that I have not applauded. Applause is something to be earned, it is not something a performer is entitled to. If a performer delivers a lackluster or poor performance, then I will not pretend to have enjoyed it, nor will I fool the performer into believing I appreciated it.

I can't figure out where this sense of entitlement has come from, but it really does feel like more and more people feel like they deserve the world whether they deliver on their end or not. If she feels like she didn't get an appropriate amount of applause, then next time she will just have to put more into her performance. I'm sure she is capable.

I think when this season fully comes to a close (post tonys etc), both Laura Benanti & Jennifer Hudson will probably regret their twitter escapades.

Applauding should happen..period

The enthusiasm behind it can change based on emotional connection or like, but you really should always applaud.

You do realize you get a better show when you do. You are also applauding for the crew, the orchestra, the stage managers, everyone working to put on the show.

The public can sure dish out criticism to any performer they want, but god forbid the performer criticize a crappy audience.

I'm an actor and there are some audiences that treat theatre like its film by having no audible reaction at all. It can get incredibly frustrating because you feel like the audience is asleep. I love Laura and she's hilarious. It's obviously just a joke and wasn't supposed to create such a negative response.

I actually feel really bad for her. She really does sing her heart out in this show and deserves as much applause as the audience can give her. I'm sure she's having a really bad day and I hope this whole stupid thing doesn't hurt her career.

BobPopa said:

"The public can sure dish out criticism to any performer they want, but god forbid the performer criticize a crappy audience."

I have no issue with performers criticizing audience members for using cell phones, talking, rattling food and beverage paraphernalia, or otherwise being disruptive, but it's the job of the performers to engage the audience. If that doesn't happen, it isn't the audience's shortcoming.

I don't think this Twitter video will effect her paycheck for a heavily sold, limited run engagement that revieved raves from the major reviews and got many Tony noms. It's extended, which means it has to be selling pretty well.

Oh my god is this still going? This is the oddest thing I've seen anyone get upset over, it was a 15 second song joke about not clapping. Wow, if people put this much energy in to real issues the world would be a better place.

I don't know what's funnier: the tweet? or the people in this thread who took it seriously?

A lot of times people will not applaud at the end of a number in a musical because of the way it transitions into the following scene. Is this what is going on with Laura's number?

But Pal she said stuff after that suggested she was serious about thinking people should always applaud her. I don't think that's the greatest thing in the world.

lovebwy said: "But Pal she said stuff after that suggested she was serious about thinking people should always applaud her. I don't think that's the greatest thing in the world."

It's also not the worst thing in the world. She's obviously not going to take it down, and the producers aren't going to ask her to. The few on this website are probably the only ones still thinking about this. Just forget about it?

Updated On: 5/20/16 at 11:42 PM