Sweeney Entrance Question

[SahDu]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:05pm

So I'm going to see Sweeney in a couple weeks (just found out my girlfriend is taking me...quite awesome) and I was listening to the CD and had a thought. Obviously, it is general courtesy to applaud when a star enters. I have the Philharmonic recording and when George Hearn enters you hear the audience applaud and they intrude a bit on his first line of singing. It is more polite to applaud for the actor when they enter or is that distracting to some of the audience who might not know the show as well? Thanks!


Updated On: 2/15/14 at 03:05 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:07pm

It's distracting.

Each time I saw the show, there was minimal applause - let alone at entrances.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:19pm

I've actually never heard applause at Sweeney's entrance in this production. You somewhat feel compelled to applaud, but actually not as much as in other shows. Just as most other buttons were removed, I guess they found a way to tone down the entrance/applause button.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:21pm

The way this show is arranged, there are really no points for enterance appaulse let alone applause for songs. The only time I remember applauding is after a Little Priest and Green Finch.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:22pm

All the actors start on stage. So, it's not like anyone gets a huge entrance. Also, the way that it's staged and directed...the show flows with little space for applause.
As munk said, it's distracting.
Just sit back and enjoy. You'll know when it comes time to applaud.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:22pm

Well, Michael more or less "enters", but there's never any applause after it.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:29pm

Like others have said, there's really no room for applause throughout the entire show. There wasn't any entrance applause and after most of the songs they lead right into lines, so if you were to applaud you'd be cutting them off. The only time I remember clapping was after "A Little Priest" and the end of the show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:35pm

The day I went although Patti was on stage since the start. When she said "A Customer" she got applause. I'm almost positive.

Hmm, interesting that happened at my show.

A LITTLE PRIEST gets thunderous applause and roars. I love the reaction it gets. It deserves it.
Updated On: 3/2/06 at 03:35 PM

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:41pm

After Patti's "Good, you got it," in "A Little Priest" she gets a ridiculous amount of applause. Brilliant delivery. Sometimes it doesn't die down for a long time.

[timote316]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:44pm

That was one of my favorite parts of Sweeney - no entrance applause. It ruins the flow of the show.

I hate it even more when the applause is written into the script...

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:53pm

Well there is the difference between written appluase that works and those that don't. Gypsy's Rose entrance is brillant while DRS's Lawerence enterance doesn't really work now that John Lithgow has left. The last time I saw it, I was like "ummm yeah lets get on with the show" and Johnathan Price kinda just stood there. Awkward.

[musicalgeek13]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:41pm

I think its distracting... but perhaps that is just me. You will know when it is time to appluase. Its a great show, and i hope you have a really good time! enjoy it!

[Horton]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:48pm

I always hate entrance applause, and I never give it. I dont mind clapping at the end of a good proformace, but what are we clapping for? showing up at your job? or walking onto stage without tripping?

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 6:21pm

The first time I saw Sweeney Todd, people applaused when Sweeney "entered". It was VERY distracting. But I've never seen it happen since.

Sometimes people applaud Patti's tuba entrance, as well. But usually, people save their applause for the act break, and finale. There's really no place for applause during this show, and when it DOES happen, it ruins the flow.

[James2]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 6:33pm

The audience applauds between "Johanna" and "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir", don't they. They did at the performance I saw.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 7:01pm

Yeah, there's a blackout after "Johanna", so there's applause. Which works well, so Toby can sing, "Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention, perlease?" That, end of Act I, and the end of the show are the only real consistent times of applause.