No Standing Ovation?

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...

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.

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.

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...

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)

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.