Standing Ovations

After many Broadway trips, I have noted that every show I see gets a standing ovation, I have seen this happen and a show close quite soon afterwards, so word of mouth cannot be that good. a standing Ovation is very rare in the West End, where I come from.

So I have a question. Do the audience applaud the production or the performance or both?

LOL Taryn. And to answer the original question, I think it's a cultural difference. In fact, the practice isn't a general United States thing but certainly exists on Broadway and in other areas. I was recently at Mamma Mia (Broadway production -not West End) (don't ask - it was for the third time!!) and I continue to find it unappealing yet I obliged in giving a standing ovation with the rest of the crowd.

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I'm kind of annoyed with the way standing ovations have become so commonplace. Not to take anything away from the performers, but people I've seen in NY, and certainly here in St. Louis (many folks here will give a standing ovation to a well-executed passing of gas), rise to their feet the second the show ends. Like Taryn said, it's as if people stand to reiterate what a good time they had, and how well their $$ was spent, as opposed to the ovation being an almost involuntary reaction, reserved for characters that truly moved you. The standing ovation has lost a little potency. But of course, although I resent it, I end up standing too, just so I can see the curtain call!

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Or maybe they just want to get out...

Reggie, that's very interesting but it obviously doesn't apply in the West End (though the standing ovation is becoming more prevalent there). Isn't applause in itself a 'courtesy' to the actors? I'm with the poster who said they will usually only stand if they felt blown away by a performer / production.

I believe the phenomenon is down to three things on Broadway: (1) affirming that you got your money's worth (2) being able to actually see the curtain call (a sort of ripple effect) (3) dance-style endings which encourage audiences to their feet. I was one of perhaps a dozen people who didn't stand at Lombardi today, but in no way did I think the actors sucked. And egghumor: standing because 'gifted people' have had to work with weak material smacks of patronising them. If everyone stands for EVERYTHING how is an actor going to know that their efforts are genuinely appreciated?

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Sometimes I have to stand up so I can see over the person who is giving the real standing ovation in front of me.

I've found audiences are less likely to stand after plays (that don't feature a big name actor).

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I refuse to stand unless I feel the show was truly outstanding. I don't care if everyone else is standing up around me. I somehow sincerely doubt that the actors will focus on one person sitting instead of the people standing. (Even if they did, it's really not my responsibility to coddle their egos if they are that delicate.)