To microphone?

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 7:46pm

So I just returned from the incredible ?Exit the King.? The subject of this remarkable production has been covered to death on this board, so instead of the normal review or declaration of praise I?ll pose the following question: when did microphones (or general amplification devices) become so common in theater? I noticed that Susan Surrandon had a very exposed microphone device towards the back of her neck. (And should we talk about her MASSIVE tattoo, by the way?) Is this really needed in such a small theater?

Before those so inclined decide to pontificate about the merit of this question (e.g. ?but it?s been done for soooooo long!?) let?s consider these factors: the Met (and most other operatic institutions of repute) find it utterly offensive to use microphones. Further, most non-musical productions do not use microphones.

Discuss?

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 8:02pm

....and please accept my apologies for the misplaced question marks (those should have been quotation marks).

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 12:34am

... where's the apology for slaughtering Susan Sarandon's name?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 12:53am

Well, I think that you are expecting a far more simplistic answer than can be given. Putting a mic on an actor isn't usually the result of an actor not being able to project. There are MANY MANY factors..

The major culpirtit being white noise in the environment that wasn't a factor in the past. White noice is very good at cancelling out other sounds and it has to be overcome.. This white noise isn't just A/C, but also any "quiet" machinery in the show such as winches, motors on moving lights and ther set pieces, etc. Compare those to a child and the actor to a teacher - one child whispering is easy to speak over. A class of 30 kids whispering is a din that must be yelled over. For that reason, applification is used. Based on how loud the "white noise" is, you establish what the minimum volume of the show must be. If you want the sound to have levels of normal, quiet, and loud, you have to put the "normal" volume that much more over the minimum established. That minimum is, essentially, established by how loud all of those moving parts are at their loudest point during the show.

The miking can also be used for effect.. to help create a smooth transition between a live actor on stage and a voice over, for example, that wouldn't be possible otherwise.

That is one basic reason.. doesn't always apply, but it is a general rule of thumb for mic usage.

As far as operas.. they have a benefit. Operas do not usually employ a lot of machinery creating white noise.. most opera houses can afford an army of 80 stagehands to achieves that spectacular scene change. Opera houses are also VERY specifically built with the accoustic to carry a voice to the last row. Miking in opera house would RUIN the sound, not improve. A lot of standfrad theatres, partly in an effort to keep everyone 'close in', don't have such good accoustics. In fact, many houses have notoriously BAD accoustics that essentially kill the sound of the voice.

The biggest culprit of al is the modern auiences and an unwillingness, because many just do not know HOW, to listen. Modern audiences are accustomed to having their ipods blarings, stereos and TVs cranked up, and movie theatre speakers thumping loudly. They aren't accustommed to making an effort to LISTEN and be quiet enough to do so.

I always get angered when people blame actors for Mic usage.. an actor being able to project or not is far down the list in why a show needs microphones.

But yes, they DO act as the great equalizer and allow you a lot more freedom in casting, but a good actor knows how to really project. What is even more of a pet peeve is when an actor's mic goes out during ashow and the audience gripes that they aren't projecting enough to compensate. There are two problems here - 1.) The actor can't usually compete with the amped up system since the body is just not capable of it in comparison, and 2.) The actor can't get too loud, because they don't know when the mic may kick back in. Should the actor be too loud when the mic comes back, the audience will NOT be happy with the suddenly SCREAMING voice and the system popping in response.. not to mention what would happen if it caused the mic to go out again..

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 1:00am

Not to mention, miking also gives the production MUCH greater control over the complete sound of the show, but it allows the composer and orchestrator MUCH more freedom and allows them to use electronics in the orchestration and help them blend more seamlessly into the overall sound of the show. No, I do not mean simply using synthesizers to substitute for wind instruments or anything... that can be anything from, yes, using a sythesizer all the way to miking an accoustic guitar playing in a full enclosed orchestra pit because they wanted to pull the action close to the audience by covering the pit.