Shows you refuse to applaud at- Page 2

[shira467]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 11:59pm

That always drives me nuts. I mean, even when the show sucks, if you don't stand, you don't see.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 12:08am

People do give standing ovations way too fast these days. Its almost as if just for being on stage people think those are deserved.

When I was in London recently I caught Blood Brothers, actually I thought it was phenomenal. The entire audience, myself included, was on its feet for the last notes of the show before the lights even went down.

Posted: 7/26/04 at 12:14am

For me it as WE WILL ROCK YOU, which, as I have stated elsewhere on the board, it didn't.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 12:26am

"When I was in London recently I caught Blood Brothers, actually I thought it was phenomenal. The entire audience, myself included, was on its feet for the last notes of the show before the lights even went down."

The production I saw was a high school/middle school performance at a Thespian convention two years ago. It would probably help if I saw a professional production, with real Brits to boot. You would not believe the mangled Beatles impersonations these kids were trying to pawn off as "Liverpool accents."

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 12:36am

Its funny because my British friend told me I wouldnt be able to understand their Liverpool accents but I was actually in Liverpool the day before I was in London, so by the time I got to London I was used to the accents, otherwise I might have been totally lost.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 2:08am

I refused to applaude CAROLINE OR CHANGE. It sucked ass IMHO.

Posted: 7/26/04 at 7:50am

The recent tour of CATS- we didn't applaud b/c it was so horrible that we left at intermission....I have NEVER left a show before.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 7:57am

I didn't applaud The Lieutenant Of Inishmore in the West End as every aspect of the show was horrendous, including the performances. Same with the much ballyhooed Kevin Spacey starring production of Iceman Cometh which was unbearable.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 12:16pm

I saw Seussical the Musical on tour. I won free tickets, but they gave us balcony seats and the performers looked like ants! You think that if you won a contest, you would get better seats, especially since not every orchestra seat was filled. Anyways, I only stayed the first act for 2 reasons:

1) The show sucked.
2) I had to work on a project for school that I waited last minute to do.

I probably would have applauded, if I stayed for the whole show, but it was a waste of time.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 12:23pm

ya i also think its kinda rude to not applaud for a show even if its the worse show you have ever seen. people put alot of work into show. i know if i was in it i wouldnt want peopel not to applaud thats kinda like a slap in the face.

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 1:10pm

I always applaud b/c of the work the performers put into creating the show, however I must say I was extremely angry when, at A Raisin in the Sun, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs got a larger ovation than both Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad, WHO WON TONYS FOR THEIR ROLES!!! Updated On: 7/26/04 at 01:10 PM

Posted: 7/26/04 at 1:23pm

Ugh, I can't stand "P. Diddy" or whatever the heck his name is. He's trying to take over everything!

[Plum]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 1:33pm

Nah, I don't really have a problem with Combs anymore. I never cared much for his music, but you have to admit the guy is a fine businessman. He seemed to be pretty genuine about trying to act on Broadway, unlike certain celebrities who thought they were too cool to work *cough*Chris Kattan*cough*. And I've got a soft spot for anyone who really tries to encourage voter registration.

So yeah, he was only "okay" in a Raisin production filled with superlatives, but Ms. Rashad and Ms. McDonald, not to mention the rest of that great cast, would never have gotten on stage without him. And everyone would have missed out on a great play that hadn't been on Broadway for what- 40 years?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 1:35pm

I REFUSED to applaud at BIG: THE MUSICAL. It sucked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 1:45pm

OH I'm cool with Combs as a person and a businessman. And I have to agree that the show wouldnt have been seen without his star power and I know it needed to be seen. I was shocked to find that some people I know had never heard of the play.

I guess my being a big fan of Audra and Phylicia took over at that moment though.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 2:21pm

I doubt the people there who were giving Combs the ovation you mentioned even really had a clue as to who won Tonys for what in that cast.

[NYSinger1]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 2:49pm

There was a whole article in the New York Times about standing ovations a couple months ago. They didn't pinpoint a reason, but they acknoledged the fact that every show gets a standing ovation. They said that shows that end in tragic death generally don't either, and Assassins, since it has such a dramatic ending....

I am going to try and dig it up....

But, I think that Applause for all shows is a given, the actors still worked hard, even if the show isn't fantastic. We should give standing ovations to exceptionally good performances. (Idina in Wicked, Hugh Jackman in Boy from Oz, Matthew and Nathan when they were in the Producers)

[Plum]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 2:57pm

It's harder to stand up right away for a show like West Side Story, regardless of the quality of the production and performances. It's just a heavy ending.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 4:55pm

Everytime I saw Assassins they got a delayed standing ovation. It was as if it took the audience a minute to take in what just happened then they jumped to their feet.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:01pm

Actually, when I saw Assassins the audience stood quickly and gave a very protracted ovation. But then, I went the day before it closed.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:04pm

When I saw the tour of 42nd Street, one lady gave a standing ovation too early.

Of course out of hundreds of people, she happened to be the one in front of me and was blocking my view. I wanted to slap her. Later, everyone gave a standing ovation.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:10pm

The 2nd time i saw Assassins, I was the only person in the mezzanine on my feet...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:18pm

This lady stood up early though. Even if I liked a show so much, I would not stand up unless the rest of the audience did. Or, I would wait until the bows, towards the ends.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:23pm

Oh I was there for Assassins closing night and it was so loud they made the cast come back out even after their regular bows. I can imagine you got a taste of how it was if you were there the night before that.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:31pm

I agree with most people here -- standing ovations have become too regualr and not reserved for the outstanding performances (and those are not every person above the board).

Even if you hate the production, polite applause is just plan good manners and appreciation for the performers and the effort they put into it -- I have been to some performances that were very stale, but I think it would be plain worng to not appluad -- if you hate the show, go home at intermission -- that's my motto.