Standing Ovations- Page 2

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 3:33am

You're right. There really isn't a reason to give the label of "legend" to anyone under the age of 65 or so, and that includes Lane, Peters, Lupone, Buckley etc....

There's no way around it -- "legend" implies that you're OLD and your best years are behind you. Lane and the rest have many many years of great performances ahead of them.

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 3:58am

I most def stand if I'm in the front row for shows I've done the lotto for. I DO NOT want to be labeled "that bitch who didn't stand up" by a bunch of scowling theatergoers, even if I never see them again. I do not appreciate the scowls!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 4:49am

I guess I'm just different. I WISH someone WOULD scowl at me for refusing to stand. I'd scowl right back and if they still have a problem afterwards I'd have more than a few things to say to them face to face -- but NOTHING could ever possibly make me stand up for a show that I didn't think deserved it ... and to me, only a very TINY number ever do. And if I'm the only one seated for rows and rows around me, then so be it.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 5:20am

I agree with the people that say I rather be considered the bitch who didn't stand up than the person who gave a standing ovation to a mediocre show/performance. In the argument about standing ovations people usually refer back to West End theater, where standing ovations are rare. I had a boyfriend who used to live in London and he always told me how annoyed he was by New York audiences standing all the time just to justify their overpriced tickets. I think he was right. If there's no reason to stand, then you shouldn't stand, period. Also, I think audiences feel obligated to stand, someone posted a comment that said that when he/she saw Phantom the audience didn't stand so that makes them rude. This is the general idea of the public, that a standing ovation is something you give out of good manners. I believe a standing ovation is a reaction that comes from the excitement of live theater, when Bernadette Peters did Rose's Turn in Gypsy I was crying and couldn't keep myself from standing, I had to control myself not to go up to the stage. But I saw a production of Hamlet in which I thought the actors were completely off and I stayed on my seat until it was time to leave.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 6:38am

Thanks for that article, Margo. Hilarious!

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 9:08am

The mid-week matinee I saw of 'In My Life' got a standing ovation from the (admittedly small) audience. I know it was probably praising the actors for managing to get through the show, but I'm afraid I refused to stand up for something I didn't think was that good. In contrast, my friend and I were one of the few to stand up at Piazza before Victoria Clarke came out - it's a personal choice and people shouldn't feel pressured to stand up just because the cast might notice if you don't!

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 9:22am

for those of you who are new to the new york theatre scene let me quote to you from the mandated rulebook of broadway theatre behaviors as determined by those who shall remain nameless:

chapter 9, paragraph 3, section a.5:

standing ovations

a standing ovation is a requirement of all theatre patrons regardless of the worthiness of the performance. listed as a condition of attendance on all tickets sold to broadway venues (see chapter 2, definitions), participation in the standing ovation is accepted by the patron upon acceptance of the ticket. persons who refuse to participate will be barred from future entertainments, but may petition the powers that be for re-instatement of their broadway attendance privileges at a time no sooner than thirty (30) days following their non-participation in the standing ovation. persons failing to participate in three (3) or more standing ovations within a six (6) month period may have their attendance privileges suspended for up to one (1) year.

standing ovations are not just the right thing to do, they're required!

Updated On: 1/6/06 at 09:22 AM

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 2:22pm

I'm in the standing ovations are over-done camp. A standing ovation should mean something--it should be only done in the case of an extraordinary performance, not because the cast made it through the show. Also, I've been in shows where people stood and we (the cast) knew we didn't deserve it, it's not the greatest feeling--I've also been in shows where we deserved and got the standing ovation, that's an incredible feeling.

Also, some people on this thread seem to be somewhat narcissistic--I'm telling you here and now that the cast is not scouring the audience to see who's not standing and they won't remember the people who don't.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 2:24pm

When I saw Piazza, there were only a few people on their feet until Victoria Clark came out for her bow. Then, everyone was up.

[Emilia]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 2:34pm

being a long time west end theatre goer I was surprised the first time I went to New York at the amount of standing ovations. In London I've seen ovations at closing nights of plays (I've only attended a handful of west end musicals so I can't really comment) and also plays that have drawn a lot of fans (Gillian Anderson's west end debut springs to mind)

to throw in my personal opinion if something really moves me I leap to my feet, this applies to a whole show or just one person but I dislike the sense of obligation felt in some shows.

[crzyrocket]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 2:39pm

In my case, I give standing ovations to shows that I have enjoyed watching. Most of the time, it's a "happy" show, something that's got me smiling the whole night.

Then there are the awe-inspiring shows. I was sixteen when I saw the revival of Assassins and when it was over, I was speechless. The woman next to me was sobbing and the audience was pretty subdued. My legs would not get up to acknowledge the cast for their superior job.

The most recent example I can think of is probably Sweeney Todd. The show ended and I sat there for a few seconds silent. I didn't even realize I was clutching my arm until I started clapping. This time I did manage to stand up.