Standing Ovations

[bdwybelle]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:25pm

I may be very wrong about this, but I'm starting to think that standing ovations are becoming over used. I am only in high school and have not performed much (but have seen a lot of plays and musicals on and off broadway), so I can only imagine what it is like to get a standing ovation. To me a standing ovation is an act of recognition, letting the performers know that you really enjoyed the performance, and that it was beyond your normal standards. Now when I go to the theater, I almost feel that a standing ovation is mandatory. I also realize that not everyone has to stand up, and that I can stay seated while others stand up to applaud. Then I feel like the bad guy, and get looks from people that say "Why isn't she standing up? How rude..."
I know that standing ovations are also for effort. I went to see Dracula, which I did not enjoy, and some of the performers got standing ovations, which I did not take part in but agreed with. They gave all that they could to a performance that would not be remembered well.
I just think that standing ovations are being overused. When I give a standing ovation, it means that I am completely blown away by the performance. And this is all based on opinion, but every performance I have been to in the last couple of months (I go fairly frequently), whether deserved or not, got a standing ovation.

[cturtle]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 9:10pm

every show i've seen on broadway that got a standing ovation definitely deserved it. now i DO have a problem with regional theatre productions getting standing ovations at the drop of a hat. that happens a lot here in atlanta.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 9:12pm

I agree, belle.

(cturtle, are you familiar with Andy Meeks work? He's an Atlanta actor currently in the REnt tour.)