The horror of standing ovations on Broadway. It's getting awful.

[chanel]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 10:40am

Amusing observations, and very true.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2012/12/the_horror_of_s.php

[Wynbish]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 10:57am

Didn't Brantley write about standing ovations a while ago?

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:00am

I absolutely agree!!! Standing O's are WAY too common place these days and not just on Broadway but everywhere.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:07am

Brantley: Want to Applaud a Broadway Show? Don’t Get Up. Really. Updated On: 12/4/12 at 11:07 AM

[eperkins]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:12am

I think some of the standing o's are just people standing up to put their coats on, or are tired of sitting for 3 hours.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:18am

Or standing up just so one's view isn't of the posteriors in front of you who are either standing to ovate or standing to avoid views of the posteriors in front of them who are standing....

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:21am

It's the new way of applauding. Get used to it.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:28am

I wonder who the actress was...

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:33am

^^^ I agree, PalJoey.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:46am

That Musto column had to be a joke, right? An actress interrogating a seated audience member during bows? "The Horror"? It's a joke.

[homeimp]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:49am

The writer of the original post should consider that each sentence does not necessarily deserve a paragraph to itself. Not every sentence in every post is extremely well constructed, thought provoking, entertaining, and deserving of such splendid isolation. That should be reserved for only the best sentences. Too many writers today honor each of their sentences with this special treatment. Consequently no sentence stands out amid the the proliferation of sentences all demanding the same attention. Please consider this in future posts.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:49am

Standing Ovations are awful. They will stand for anything these days.
I refused to get up when people stood up for that awful Annie Revival. I sat in my seat and watch the tuchus of the guy in front of me.

They stood up for Scandalous, Chaplin, Annie.... they will stand up for anything. It didn't used to be that way.

[D2]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 11:59am

"I wonder who the actress was..."

An apocryphal story I've heard many times has this being said backstage after a performance of HAIRSPRAY to a guest of the original Velma Von Tussle by the original Velma Von Tussel.

Updated On: 12/4/12 at 11:59 AM

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:08pm

goldenboy-- If you think they're awful, don't do it. It's not a difficult concept.

I stood for Chaplin (actually Rob McClure), Leap of Faith, Follies, Wicked, and loads others. Because I wanted to.

I did not stand for Sister Act, Evita, Phantom, Chicago, and loads others. Because I didn't want to, but I didn't take offense to those who did. Other people were moved in ways I weren't. Good on them.

Updated On: 12/4/12 at 12:08 PM

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:18pm

I did not stand up for "End of Rainbow"...LOL..

[FireFingers]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:19pm

I've only given 2 standing ovations for a musical. Les Mis when Alfie Boe and Hadley Fraser were the leads and Matilda. The entire cast (or 95%) have to be amazing to get me on my feet. And I regularly sit whilst others stand.

If you are in a theatre with wooden floors, I find a great alternative to the standing ovation is stamping your feet. Only come across it at Glyndebourne opera house when Gerald Finley played Hans Sachs in Mastersingers, it has an amazing effect. The building really does feel like it is erupting.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:22pm

The actress was in a recent thread on all that chat... sorry her name is escaping me but she did a one woman show of all Chrelws Dickens

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:29pm

I agree to some of the ideas expressed here. I am very selective with my standing ovations, however, I still do not want to miss anything sometimes. I am often found standing towards the end just because I am unable to see with the people in front of me.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:31pm

OK. Really? You are all posting, with total sincerity, that it bothers you that PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES TOO MUCH at the theater? What is wrong with you folks?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:33pm

Me when I don't stand and people are judging me for it.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:52pm

Lea Salonga has said that they appreciate heartfelt applause more than a standing ovation done out of obligation.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 12:59pm

Am I the only one who doesn't see this happening consistently? Maybe it's because I don't go to a lot of the big crowd-pleasers ("Wicked", "Jersey Boys", any Disney show, etc.), but I haven't found it to be a huge problem.

The only thing I've seen recently that fully deserved my, and others', standing ovation was "The Mystery of Edwin Drood". I haven't loved a show so much in years. However, I don't begrudge others for having different taste than me.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:27pm

I see it all the time.

And I have to say this is old news. Standing O's became de rigueur
years ago. If this is the thing that get Musto's panties in a knot he leads a charmed life.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:30pm

oh, it's all so, so terrible. People are excited and want to show their appreciation for people they've witnessed do amazing things. Oh, the horror, the horror! Thank heavens we have jaded theatre queens to show us the way! Yes, Ben Brantley is who we should be listening to! He's the way and the light!

[bk]

Posted: 12/4/12 at 1:37pm

The point is they will stand for anything, including people and shows that have NOT done amazing things. It's a simple point, really.