The standing ovation is a filthy American habit.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 8:18pm

Not my words; Michael Billington's.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/theatre/2008/07/standing_ovation.html

I'm not quite sure why the Guardian has so many articles on standing Os, but I do enjoy the opportunity of wondering whether Billington considers the habit filthy, or the Americans. O_o

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 8:31pm

He sounds like a friendly person.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 8:38pm

He seems to be going through an angry period where he doesn't like anything much. I'm wondering if the proliferation of Hamlets has anything to do with it, 'cos I'd've thought he was perhaps a little beyond the midlife crisis stage.

[HometownGlory]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 8:42pm

He sounds like someone who spends a lot of time on Broadway chat boards.


I kid, I kid.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 8:46pm

Oh sigh.

I love when writers try to seem all high and mighty and above the general public. He isn't better than us just because he thinks standing ovations are stupid, no matter how much he thinks writing this makes it so.

If he doesn't want to stand up while applauding, he doesn't have to. But I would prefer it if he didn't mock us for enjoying a performance or show enough to get to our feet and show our appreciation. I'm not going to stop standing up when I feel it is merited.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:16pm

you know... i can't recall any show that i've been to where the audience stands up right at the end of the show... most shows everyone stands up when the stars of the show take their bow or when everyone is on stage after the stars take their bow to do the final group bow...

anyways... i think this guy is just overexaggerating in his article.. eh

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:18pm

He's not wrong in the slightest.

I've seen way too many undeserved standing ovations. COUNTRY WIFE, DAMN YANKEES, to name a few...

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:21pm

What would he think of Patti LuPone's standing ovation in the middle of the show?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:21pm

"most shows everyone stands up when the stars of the show take their bow or when everyone is on stage after the stars take their bow to do the final group bow..."

That has been my general experience as well. The only time I can remember an instant standing ovation at the end of a show was the closing performance of Sweeney Todd two years ago.

[BroadwayBoy2]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:24pm

He seems soo happy! I wish he was in the audience during the fimling of Legally Blonde for MTV. That audience practicaly gave every number a standing O.

[Craww]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:26pm

Americans may give the standing ovation too easy, but I don't think that's necessarily a worse sin than being so damned withholding that you get that upset over some unwarranted praise.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:29pm

"He's not wrong in the slightest.

I've seen way too many undeserved standing ovations. COUNTRY WIFE, DAMN YANKEES, to name a few..."

If by Country Wife you mean Country GIRL (hmmm...wonder if you saw it...) the show did not deserve an ovation, but Peter Gallagher's performance sure did.

Ditto with Damn Yankees, while the show was overall middling, the three leads damn (heh heh) well deserved that ovation.
Updated On: 7/31/08 at 09:29 PM

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:38pm

Americans may give the standing ovation too easy, but I don't think that's necessarily a worse sin than being so damned withholding that you get that upset over some unwarranted praise.

Or, to be more forceful, Americans DO give the standing ovation too easily, and no, that's NOT worse than Billington's obnoxious attitude.

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 9:48pm

He should go suck an egg. Glad he isn't American.

Signed,
A filthy American who has habits

Updated On: 7/31/08 at 09:48 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 10:08pm

Robert Taylor is questioning whether or not I saw a show because I Freudian slipped in the title of a pretty damn funny restoration comedy that shares 2/3 same words?

Search the forum, buddy.

[adelaide3]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 10:19pm

In the end, who really cares? That guy needs to get over himself. Go colonize Mars if you have such an issue with the way Americans show their enthusiasm for things you find in poor taste.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 10:40pm

Perhaps if the standing ovation is becoming too common place, in case of a really extraordinary performance or production, we (the male audience at least) should drop our pants and do the helicopter while screaming "Woot! Woot!"

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 10:58pm

When I first started seeing shows, which wasn't too long ago, I felt like it was part of the package. You see a show, and you stand once it ends (or when the lead walks out). Now, I can call myself a regular theatre-goer, and now I know better.

I'm all for encouragement, but 4/5 of the time, the performances don't deserve one. Perhaps not standing would encourage the performers to do better next time.

When you're sitting in the first few rows, and you look back and everyone's standing, you're obligated to stand. I was reluctant to stand at Young Frankenstein, but I had too. Subscription houses though, are mostly filled with locals who don't give standing ovations away so quickly (i.e. Sunday in the Park with George, although completely deserving of it, I thought).

[george95]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 11:07pm

I stood up for the ovation at Les Miserables at the Palace Theater in London, and a woman behind me (with a British accent) yelled at me to sit down saying "I would hardly call this standing ovation material!"

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 11:25pm

I totally agree with him. The standing ovation has become completely meaningless in New York. I was surprised to see so many dissenting voices in this thread, given how much the rash of undeserved standing ovations has been criticized on this board.

[deadparrot]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 11:28pm

May I just venture to say that there are worse things in the world than people showing their enjoyment of a show?

Posted: 7/31/08 at 11:39pm

Although I do see where he is coming from, I rarely if ever see people leaping to their feet before the curtain has fallen. Almost always it is when the first supporting/lead character comes out that the audience generally enjoyed.

That being said, I think it is a shame that standing ovations are commonplace now. Partially what he said is too... it's becoming commonplace and therefore it doesn't hold the significance for an actor as it once did.

And lastly, I think its a pain when people stand up in front of me in places where I don't think it was really standing o material BUT if I don't stand up, then I can't see any of the curtain call... so its either stand up meaningless or sit there and be unable to see anything.

[ejnarciso]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 11:39pm

Even if a show is a "stinker," whether it be becuase of poor casting, bad songwriting or a poor script, I think the actors deserve a standing ovation for the hard work that they put into the show.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 11:57pm

"But why are we suddenly doing it here?" he asks. "Suddenly"?????? Where has this guy been for the past 20 years?

Blood Brothers was the first show I saw several years into its run that got (and even publicized its) nightly, ritualistic standing ovations. In LONDON.

I thought it was an okay show, and I enjoyed it. I saw it a few times because I went to London with different people at different times and they wanted to see it. But I never thought it deserved a standing ovation. Yet every time I saw it, Standing Os. I actually thought they were "planned."

I understand that the show still gets standing ovations every night...and it's been running in London for almost 17 years! "SUDDENLY"? Please Mr. B, don't blame us.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 8/1/08 at 3:50am

But 17 years ago standing ovations were still not common (which is why it was pointed out in the advertising), now it's almost compulsory at every show. I don't think it's anything do with America particularly - 'feel-good' shows like Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You (among others) are directed to almost force a s.o out of the audience by the end.

I think the actors deserve a standing ovation for the hard work that they put into the show.

That is what applause and a pay packet are for.

Updated On: 8/1/08 at 03:50 AM