No Standing Ovation?
No Standing Ovation?
Miss Jezebel DuPree2
Understudy Joined: 3/31/17
#1No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 9:42am
I was at the Sept 19th performance of TIME AND THE CONWAYS and at the curtain, NO STANDING OVATION from anyone in the audience. In my many years (decades) of seeing theater in NYC, I don't ever remember not seeing someone stand for an ovation at the end of a show.
It was refreshing and a bit strange all at once...
#2No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 10:08am
Standing ovations are entirely overused and meaningless nowadays. I typically only stand to see because the people in front are blocking. There are so few performances really worth a standing ovation.
aj88
Featured Actor Joined: 3/18/15
#3No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 10:35am
In my most recent theatregoing experiences, there are only two shows off the top of my head that didn’t receive any form of standing ovation (at least in terms of the mezzanine) were Matilda and Honeymoon in Vegas. A lot of the shows I stood for were strictly because I enjoy seeing the curtain call or I was just trying to get ready to exit quickly. Very few shows have been truly standing ovation worthy.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#4No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 10:50am
I find people are far less likely to give a standing O at a play....unless truly warranted. Musicals? I can't roll my eyes big enough. I will keep my ass in the chair if I feel it is unwarranted.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#5No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 12:48pm
Miss Jezebel DuPree2 said: "I was at the Sept 19th performance of TIME AND THE CONWAYS and at the curtain, NO STANDING OVATION from anyone in the audience. In my many years (decades) of seeing theater in NYC, I don't ever remember not seeing someone stand for an ovation at the end of a show.
It was refreshing and a bit strange all at once...
"
Do you see much theater beyond Broadway? The majority of theater I see is Off-Broadway, and I find that standing ovations are rare. When I see a Broadway show, they seem to be the default setting.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
nmlhats
Stand-by Joined: 5/26/14
#6No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 1:01pm
Do you see much theater beyond Broadway? The majority of theater I see is Off-Broadway, and I find that standing ovations are rare. When I see a Broadway show, they seem to be the default setting."
Here in Dallas, people hand out ovations like Halloween candy. Classical music, theater, you name it. It's ridiculous.
rayoflight104
Stand-by Joined: 8/15/03
#7No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 1:05pm
I am glad someone started a thread on this topic as one particular show/instance has been on my mind for a few months... Sunset Boulevard 2017. It seemed like the show had it built in after Glenn's two 11 o'clock numbers time for applause and/or standing ovation.
At the last Saturday night performance prior to the Sunday closing - I was at that show and only myself (center orchestra and one other person in the 2nd row orchestra stood for both of those numbers. No one else stood up. I thought wow - this is the last Saturday night show of this wonderful production and no one stood up.
I felt so bad that she (and the show) didn't get that ovation. but - it seems the consensus is that she wasn't owed these ovations for her solos? would i be right there?
(and i know sat night crowds are thing of their own.. but still 
... i wanted an ovation for her on the 2nd to last show...
nmlhats
Stand-by Joined: 5/26/14
#8No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 1:16pm
I don't "owe" anyone an ovation for anything. If I am so moved or thrilled by a performance that I impulsively spring from my seat, almost without thinking, that's when someone deserves an ovation. The worst is the "creeping" ovation, which only underscores the insincerity. As feedback for a performer, ovations are meaningless if they are so commonplace. I have a bunch of classical musician friends and they all agree.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#9No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 1:21pm
rayoflight104 said: "I am glad someone started a thread on this topic as one particular show/instance has been on my mind for a few months... Sunset Boulevard 2017. It seemed like the show had it built in after Glenn's two 11 o'clock numbers time for applause and/or standing ovation.
At the last Saturday night performance prior to the Sunday closing - Iwas at that show and only myself (center orchestra and one other person in the 2nd row orchestra stood for both of those numbers. No one else stood up. I thought wow -this is the last Saturday night show of this wonderful production and no one stood up.
I felt so bad that she (and the show) didn't get that ovation. but - it seems the consensus is that she wasn't owed these ovations for her solos? would i be right there?
(and i know sat night crowds are thing of their own.. but still... i wanted an ovation for her on the 2nd to last show..."
And here's the rub: it's not suppose to be about YOU. (and that's what standing o's have become)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#10No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 1:23pm
rayoflight104 said: "I am glad someone started a thread on this topic as one particular show/instance has been on my mind for a few months... Sunset Boulevard 2017. It seemed like the show had it built in after Glenn's two 11 o'clock numbers time for applause and/or standing ovation.
At the last Saturday night performance prior to the Sunday closing - Iwas at that show and only myself (center orchestra and one other person in the 2nd row orchestra stood for both of those numbers. No one else stood up. I thought wow -this is the last Saturday night show of this wonderful production and no one stood up.
I felt so bad that she (and the show) didn't get that ovation. but - it seems the consensus is that she wasn't owed these ovations for her solos? would i be right there?
(and i know sat night crowds are thing of their own.. but still... i wanted an ovation for her on the 2nd to last show..."
You wanted a standing ovation so you gave her one. You shouldn't expect people to stand just because. People earn it. I saw SB this summer and I couldn't imagine standing when I was grasping the arm of my chair every time she sang. (on a side note it does seem to be written into the show. Although I did stand in London after 'With One Look" when Patti performed it in the original production because she was amazing.)
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#11No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 1:33pm
Totally agree with you it is refreshing. I rarely stand after the show has ended. Fox example, I saw "Groundhog Day" Labor Day weekend and I just stood when Andy Karl took his bow.
#12No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 1:49pm
I've also noticed that standing ovations are much less frequent off broadway and for plays. I don't think I've ever been to a musical on broadway, or on broadway caliber tour for that matter, that didn't receive a standing ovation.
I so frequently don't want to stand, but have to if I want to see the curtain call. My luck always gets me seated behind Goliath sized men so it's either a full view of a butt or stand.
You also feel like a jerk if you're the only one not standing. Ugh, I don't like them. Feels so disingenuous.
#13No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 4:02pm
Nobody owes anybody a standing ovation, but I do one most of the time just to be courteous. I've loved pretty much everything I've seen though, so maybe that factors in.
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#14No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 4:43pm
aj88 said: "In my most recent theatregoing experiences, there are only two shows off the top of my head that didn’t receive any form of standing ovation (at least in terms of the mezzanine) were Matilda and Honeymoon in Vegas. A lot of the shows I stood for were strictly because I enjoy seeing the curtain call or I was just trying to get ready to exit quickly. Very few shows have been truly standing ovation worthy."
That is completely surprising to me. I saw Matilda an embarrassing amount of times and there was a standing ovation every time when Matilda came out....every time!!!
greensgreens
Broadway Star Joined: 10/14/09
#15No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 5:31pm
The only time I have ever witnessed a mid-show standing ovation was after the title number of Bette's HELLO DOLLY! And it was richly deserved.
At the end of a show, people will stand for anything. It's even worse regionally (I'm from the midwest).
RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns
Stand-by Joined: 9/8/17
#16No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 6:17pm
I've only ever really felt compelled to leap to my feet in an ovation for The Play That Goes Wrong and Great Comet (and Come From Away, but I was already standing at my SRO spot) because I had such a great time. All of the other shows I stood so I could see, for the most part.
Note: I've only just started to go to Broadway shows regularly now that I'm closer, but I have noticed the lack of standing ovation for Off-Broadway. It's quite refreshing, really.
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#17No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 10:32pm
Standing Ovations used to mean something. Now they mean nothing. They result from what I refer to as the 'American Idolization' of America. Automatons jumping out of their seat because they have been programmed to do so.
It is such a shame because I can remember when they meant something. When I started attending in the 60s, you could literally go for years without seeing one; when the audience did give one, it really meant something. And they only gave it two ways, either the audience jumped up as one the second the curtain came down, e.g., Moon for the Misbegotten, or when the lead came out, e.g., Angela Lansbury for Mame and Gypsy, Christopher Plummer for Cyrano, Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick for The Producers, Glenn Close for Sunset. In the last few years, IMO Hamilton, Glenn Close and Ben Platt deserved SOs, based on pre-200X standards. Bette would get one as a theatre legend; but, quite frankly, neither Carol Channing or Pearl Bailey got SOs when I saw them in Dolly in the 1960s, and both were better than Bette.
I actually think mid-performance standing ovations are even worse. I can remember sitting ovations with much lengthier and much louder applause (of the 'my hands hurt' variety). With the SOs, the audience stands, applauds, and sits. It is mechanical.
#18No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/28/17 at 10:38am
KathyNYC2 said: "aj88 said: "I saw Matilda an embarrassing amount of times and there was a standing ovation every time when Matilda came out....every time!!!"
Yep. I thought it was a great show and completely deserved it.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#19No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/28/17 at 10:57am
greensgreens said: "The only time I have ever witnessed a mid-show standing ovation was after the title number of Bette's HELLO DOLLY! And it was richly deserved.
At the end of a show, people will stand for anything. It's even worse regionally (I'm from the midwest)."
I live in Madison WI and it's horrible here. People stand for quite literally everything, from ****tiest new plays by bad writers to excellent classics being ruined by terrible performers who keep getting cast in everything. I have learned to stand my guns and keep sitting if I didn't think it was simply outstanding. Am still waiting for an actual standing ovation to come our way.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
carolinaguy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/13/06
#20No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/28/17 at 1:11pm
These automatic standing ovations are also killing what can also be a special moment for a truly great star performance. At Dear Evan Hansen, though everyone was great, Ben Platt was just beyond and I wanted to give him his own standing ovation. But the rest of the audience was standing before the lights even finished going down, so I was forced to stand to even see the curtain call. The same thing happens at Wicked, when the two leads may deserve their own standing ovation. But if you're already standing as the last notes are fading away, where can you go to show extra appreciation for the stars? Are you supposed to levitate?
Just remembering you've had an "and"
When you're back to "or"
Makes the "or" mean more than it did before
nasty_khakis
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/15/07
#21No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/28/17 at 1:19pm
I've seen it happen mid-show a few times: Bette Middler on her first preview got entrance standing O and after the title number, Andrea Martin in Pippin at ART and early in the broadway run, and Heather Headley on her first night in Color Purple after "Push Da Button." It's also happended after the last song for Cynthia Errivo and Patti in "Gypsy."
I'm very lucky that I travel to London to see theatre semi-regularly and it's astounded me what's received them there are what hasn't. Urinetown when it was off west end got one (I sat, I found that production quite awful. I've seen amateur versions I liked more) and so did Dreamgirls, but truly outstanding musicals and plays I've seen have not. I actually prefer seeing shows in London for that reason, they're still earned. It's also worth noting almost no one gets entrance applause there. Only Glenn Close in Sunset, in my experience at least. I'll say it's VERY weird to hear "Sing out, Louise!" and see Rose march up the aisle with no one clapping.
bear88
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/26/16
#22No Standing Ovation?
Posted: 9/28/17 at 4:38pm
My wife, who saw Broadway shows long before I did, used to talk about how picky audiences were then ('80s) about standing ovations. That's not my experience now. People stand for everything. Personally, I don't care all that much, but I agree it does deprive the audience of a way to express appreciation for a wonderful show or performance.
San Francisco audiences can be a little quirkier. I saw Hamlet on Friday and almost everyone stayed glued to their seats. A majority stood only when John Douglas Thompson returned for a separate bow. Perhaps they agreed with San Francisco Chronicle reviewer Lily Janiak, who panned the show and was only a bit kinder to Thompson. Or maybe it was the play factor. Enthusiasm was a little higher for La Cage Aux Folles, but almost everyone stood by the end of the curtain call. At the Orpheum, where the big tours go, almost everyone stood immediately for An American in Paris. I was sitting in the front row of the loge and didn't notice right away.
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