THE STANDING OVATION- Page 2

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 3:55am

When I saw 'In My Life' the whole theatre was on it's feet except me and my girlfriend. After the bows had finished, the lady behind us asked us why we didn't stand. I said that despite the valiant efforts of the cast there was no way it deserved a standing ovation. Her reply was "Oh, you're English! That explains it."

This doesn't really have any relevence to the thread, but the memory made me laugh...

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 4:01am

Somebody only needs to fart these days and they get a standing ovation, if that was me on stage i think i would be offended.

There was once a time when getting a standing o was held for those rare magic moments, Think Dreamgirls, Angels in America and many others.

Most of them these days seem to be done only cause thats what people think they should do.

[K2503]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 4:54am

A number of "Juke Box" musicals in London that have a mega-mix at the end to generate a dance and audience participation section(ie Mama Mia and We Will Rock You)actually then make the sales pitch "Standing Ovation at Every Performance"!!!

Billy Elliot and Wicked were the last shows I saw where I got to my feet as the standing ovation was deserved totally - otherwise I sit tight! (quite a few at Wicked sat though)

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 6:12am

"It may be trivial to you but I feel it devalues the recognition of truly great performances..."

To the people here who believe that standing ovations should be reserved for outstanding performances...isn't this subjective? It's a matter of one's own opinion if a performance was great. A lot of the audiences are made up of tourists, and if it's something they don't get to do a lot, I wouldn't be surprised if they were thrilled with the show so much that they gave a standing ovation.

Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. Whether the show is good or bad, the performers work their butts onstage for the audience about 8 times a week - it's not an easy job, and I think most casts deserve a standing ovation. It adds a boost of energy to the end. If you don't want to stand, that's your own right, but I think it's unfair to criticize the audience members who choose to stand.

"If you stay in your seat, you can't see a thing, so you are forced to stand."

Well, I don't even see why this is an issue. If you don't think they deserve a standing ovation, then must you actually need to "see" them while sitting in your seat to praise them for their work? You saw the show, you clap, and if other's want to stand, I say, so what?

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 7:17am

It's not a great moral issue, but if everything gets a standing ovation, then how does getting one make a cast feel that the audience feel they've done an especially good job?

It's gotten to the point where I more trust the response when there's no standing ovation, but rather long and enthusiatic applause. It tends to indicate (at least sometimes) a more sophisticated, theatrically savvy audience.

And that's something you rarely see (hear?) anymore. Musical numbers rarely really stop a show anymore. Instead they get lots of whooping it up, which is over quickly.

I suppose that's OK, I'm a whooper myself when I like a musical number. Things change, traditions change. But I do miss the days when a really great number would truly stop the show. In my experience, that almost never happens nowadays.

Sometimes I feel all of this, including standing ovations, is because people don't have time nowadays. We all want to rush on to the next thing. And a standing ovation is a quick way of showing appreciation. Whooping and standing is a quicker way of showing it.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 2:39pm

In musicals that I have seen in the past 10 years, the standing ovation has been the obligatory response at the curtain call. But, interestingly, in recent years the same thing has been true at Carnegie Hall, following a classical music concert. This just was not true in the past. The standing ovation used to be reserved for truly outstanding performances, not as a measure of general courtesy for the hard work done by a performer. It is not true that every performance deserves a standing ovation. Sustained applause and the shouting of "Bravo" could be more meaningful to the performer and would also allow everyone to see what is happening on stage during the curtain call with the occasional reprise of a musical number from the show.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 2:58pm

Standing Ovations are totally relative. I saw John Doyle's Sweeney Todd in late previews and not a single person in the audience stood. It really depends on the audience. I'm not afraid of being one of a few people standing/sitting....I stand for whatever deserves it.

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 2:58pm

"Whether the show is good or bad, the performers work their butts onstage for the audience about 8 times a week - it's not an easy job, and I think most casts deserve a standing ovation."

Not always--I have seen some slacker casts in my day.

I reserve the standing ovation for those extraordinary shows or performers; this is of course, different for everyone.

But when every show gets a standing ovation, it ceases to have an impact.

I personally don't want one unless what I've done is somehow spectacular and I don't think I've done anything worthy myself, though the shows I've been in have received MANY, all undeserved.

[joshy]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 5:10pm

When every show gets a standing ovation, they are rendered meaningless. Enthusiastic applause, whooping etc. is plenty to show a good cast and show your appreciation. Standing ovations should be reserved for greatness. Where else is there to go, when you see a true masterpiece or a truly magnificent performance, if you stand all the time? A jumping-up-and-down ovation?

This is one of the things that I think is better about audiences here in London to the NY ones. Here, people don't jump to their feet, Pavlov-style. It has to be earnt. It actually means something. For example, when I saw Caroline or Change, there were still only a bunch of us who stood up when Tonya Pinkins came out. People always seem to stand at Les Mis. I was so glad that no one at all stood last time I saw Phantom.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 7:24pm

Really glad to see that I wasn't alone in thinking that the STANDING OVATION has changed meaning. I'm sure it always has conveyed a sense of appreciation but whereas in the past this was of GREATNESS now maybe it means EFFORT or in the worst scenarios "YOU TURNED UP!". I come from a background when it signified a singular performance or combinded performance " OUT OF THE ORDINARY" and this is the only reason I would stand up.

RE""If you stay in your seat, you can't see a thing, so you are forced to stand."
Well, I don't even see why this is an issue. If you don't think they deserve a standing ovation, then must you actually need to "see" them while sitting in your seat to praise them for their work?" MILLIE DILLMONT

When I saw CHORUS LINE some people were forced to stand up to see the FINALE "ONE" as audience members stood as soon as the number started. If you chose to sit you don't see the FINALE!!

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 7:39pm

PSSST ...did it ever dawn on you that more people stand near the end of a curtain call because they are getting up to GO HOME!?

People also do the "nosey standing" thing because they can't see what's going on, not because they are enthralled by a actor.

The only SO that counts are the people that jump up at the sight of an actor appearing at the curtain and start cheering/clapping/ BRAVO louder than anyone else. Let them have their fun. They paid for it!

I only stand if I am extremely impressed...which is not that often. But I always applaud everyone.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 7:45pm

PB ENT.... I agree everyone deserves applause.

By the way, a beautiful AVATAR!

[Danielm]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 8:01pm

I'm with you Landlady--Standing Ovations don't really mean much anymore. Both as an audience member and as a performer it just isn't the thrill it used to be. For awhile in LA it seemed like everything EVERYTHING no matter how dreadful got an SO, there were letters and articles in the paper and it has tapered off a bit but there are still people who stand no matter what--I think some of them are trying to get to their cars faster, others feel like they've spent so much on the tickets they have to do something to make it seem worth it.

As a performer, you know when you don't deserve the ovation--it just isn't the same.

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 3:23am

I agree, since the invention of Viagra the standing ovation has devalued. I feel it's the same with tip money in many countries. It has become a stated percentage sum that you are supposed to give regardless of how you have been served.