Scaring the Audience

[Tag]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:35pm

Anyone know the reasoning behind some shows trying to scare the sh*t out of an audience with overly loud openings? (ie. Mamma Mia [Act 1 & 2] or in Toronto LOTR [Act 3])?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:42pm

Actually a lot of us industry insiders do know but there's a secrecy clause in our contracts.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:43pm

I'm not sure the exact reasoning behind it, but it sure does quiet down the audience rather quickly and gets their attention. I remember the first time I saw Avenue Q, and the way the opening song starts without any warning or dimming lights, made me jump a bit in my seat.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:46pm

I love the way Mamma Mia opens. It gave me chills. Very cool. Wicked's opening would be chilling too if they didn't give announcements before.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 1:21am

Sweeney Todd's factory whistle scares me...

[clarkstallings]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 1:28am

When I saw Wicked in Atlanta last Wednesday, I was waiting for the opening to be very powerful but all was ruined by the throng of teenage girls who started cheering like its a damn rock concert as soon as the announcement was over. It nearly drowned out the orchestra.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 1:41am

I just worked on a show where the sound crew played a boom noise EXTRA loud just to watch the audience jump.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 2:07am

I was actually kind of disappointed by the opening sequence in Chicago as well. Well, the little overture part. I was expecting the first couple of notes to be so powerful, but it didn't. I guess I had listened to the OBC so much that I had ruined the whole shock appeal.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 2:17am

To really grab your attention?

[justme2]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 2:26am

I commented on this after seeing Lennon in SF. To get the audience's attention is one thing...

To have them wet their pants in fright is another.

I can never understood the gleeful sadism involved in utilizing the loudest prop gun/cannon/lightening/whatever noise when a simple drum beat will suffice.

[bwaymizfit]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 11:51am

I agree with COOOOLKid. I know it's coming, and I still am utterly freaked out by the opening factory whistle in Sweeney

[broadwaybaby692]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 11:54am

i remember seeing "Tommy" on tour and it was the most sensational, jarring opening i had seen and heard up to that point in my life.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 11:56am

What do you mean the beginning of CHICAGO?

The CHICAGO overture starts off with just a solo trumpet, very slowly, and almost quietly. What about that is jarring on the CD?

[singtopher]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 12:02pm

Munk, I believe he was referring to the "Wicked" opening when he saw it in Chicago.

I was confused a bit too.

I always jump with gun shots.

[yeahthatsnotmyname]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 12:17pm

The first time I saw Mamma Mia.. it was intermission and I was sitting by the speakers.. that Act 2 overture made my jump.. it was loud and I didn't see it coming.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 12:19pm

I remember being startled in the beginning of Act Two of INISHMORE. That music was so loud.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 2:11pm

When I saw the show The Scottish Play by Lee Blessing, the music was made up of drums and chains, made me nearly yell it was SOOOO loud and abrubt.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 3:52pm

The damn Phantom overture gets me every time.

AUCTIONEER: "...with a little illumination!! GENTLEMEN!!"

*LOUD CHORD*

No matter how many times I see the show or how much I prepare myself, I jump in my seat. I love it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 4:01pm

A lot of shows have the jarring openings. Tarzan, Mamma Mia, and Phantom are the ones that spring to mind immediately.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 4:06pm

When I saw The Wedding Singer it kinda u know....made me jump but that`s it!

Speaking of scaring the audience (This is NOT about the orchastra) CATS. At the begining they shut out the lights and glowing eyes appear IN the audience and they get right in your face and hiss!!!!!! Scars the @*$*#(@!! out of you! (Mainly the first time you see it!)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 4:14pm

When i saw TWS, there was this old lady, that literally jumped out of her seat. But nothing can top the poor old lady in front of me, at Good Vibrations, they threw one of those beach balls to her, and it was kinda hard. I felt so bad for her.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 4:26pm

Pillowman was so scary because the music started soft and got loud...shivers

I loved Sweet Charity blowing you out of your freakin seat with the Overture.... AMAZING

ps. Wicked is a ****ty rock concert, look at the horrific lighting.

[WiiCKED x3]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 4:28pm

I hate when the music make you literially jump out of your seat. It scares the sh*t outta me. When we have a concert at our school the band always starts out on a reeaally loud note and I always start screaming.

Phantom made me jump... and scream.

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 5/24/06 at 3:05pm

i remember going to see Blood Brother's in Cardiff in late March and the gun shots usesd in the show in the end were so loud that i nearly had 2 heart attacks

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/24/06 at 3:09pm

Les Mis jars me. A lot of overtures slowly introduce you into it, but Les Mis just... BAM! It's great!

Someone mentioned the factory whistle in Sweeney Todd... that ALWAYS startles me, even though I'm expecting it!