Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Undeserved Standing Ovations?
moncruzz
Understudy Joined: 10/20/09
#1Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 2:50pm
I saw Spiderman Turn Off the Dark, WITH EXTREME CAUTION because off the reviews and well, IT SUCKED.
However, the audience still gave them a standing ovation in the end. The show had to "stop" or "pause" like 3 or 4 times because of technical difficulties. And regardless of that, the show felt like a cheap high school production.
I know the show ends on a high note, with Spidey swinging away and then coming back on stage upside down, making little boys happy. But a standing ovation? Seriously????
nomdeplume
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/20/05
#2Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 3:00pmSome are standing up just to be able to see him kiss the girl upside down onstage.
#2Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 3:37pmWicked. No matter how bad a particular production or cast is, those damn fan girls always go ballistic at curtain call.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
#3Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:18pmI think they're just getting up to leave as soon as possible.
#4Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:26pm
I can't remember the last time I was at a show with no standing ovation at the end. It's been a long time. Standing ovations have now become more of a "thank you!" to the actors than to really say "wow that was incredible!"
I admit it, I've joined in. Why not? I don't think it's a particularly bad practice to appreciate the actors.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#5Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:26pmAlmost any touring show... Not cuz they're usually bad, by any means, but I'm one of those people who doesn't really think you should stand up unless something was so amazing you can't stop yourself from standing...
#6Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:31pmMoncruzz, when did you see the show? You say they stopped three or four times, but I haven't heard of any recent performances that have had more than one stop, if that, and I've been scrutinizing.
"Why, I make more money than... than... than Calvin Coolidge! PUT TOGETHER!"
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
#7Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:41pma little off topic....has anyone ever witnessed a standing ovation after a show-stopping number in a show? I remember seeing a few people get up from their seats after Electricity from one of the BILLY ELLIOT boys.
#8Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:43pmAt Encores! and during the early part of the Broadway run of LuPone's GYPSY, she would get standing ovations after Rose's Turn.
#9Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:49pmJersey Boys. A woman stood up after Too Good to be True.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#10Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:50pmPeople gave a standing ovation to Angry Dance at Billy Elliot when I was there. I don't know if that counts as during the show though, because it does end the act. Still, it was pretty unusual. No ovations during Electricity when I was there (though I do love that song)
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
#11Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 12:03amA lot of times people stand after angry dance cuz it's the end of the act. It's also kind of confusing because Billy comes back out after the house lights come up.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#12Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 12:46amLOL - it's weird that he comes back out. At first, I thought the act wasn't over, even though I knew that's where it ended, it was sort of confusing.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
#13Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 12:52am^ I agree! I don't think there is a need for him to come back out. Turn the house lights up as the curtain falls. It has the same effect and won't confuse people as much.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
Actor2
Featured Actor Joined: 1/12/08
#14Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 1:07amIn response to standing ovations during shows, at the closing of 9 to 5, there was a standing ovation at the end of Shine Like the Sun, and semi-standing ovation right before Allison Janney's final note at the end of "One of the Boys". She half-broke character for a second, chuckle-sobbed, and said thank you to the audience. It was beautiful.
#15Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 2:05amI think it's become somewhat customary to give a standing ovation regardless of the performance. It sorta feels awkward w/o one, I noticed that with a lack of standing O at WSS in DC pre-Broadway.
"Rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."
-Neil Patrick Harris
broadwayizme
Chorus Member Joined: 5/14/11
#16Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 3:15amI feel like though some shows deserve more than others, and some shows are better than others, all shows deserve a standing ovation if given. That is just the audiences way of showing respect to the hard work put into the production, even if there are technical stops, or that the material is not the best ever written. That is just my opinion.
broadwayizme
Chorus Member Joined: 5/14/11
#16Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 3:15amI feel like though some shows deserve more than others, and some shows are better than others, all shows deserve a standing ovation if given. That is just the audiences way of showing respect to the hard work put into the production, even if there are technical stops, or that the material is not the best ever written. That is just my opinion.
#18Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 7:07amThat is the purpose of APPLAUSE. Standing ovations are SUPPOSED to be reserved to the most deserving of shows. Unfortunately, they have pretty much lost their meaning in America.
#19Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 7:28am
At Encores! and during the early part of the Broadway run of LuPone's GYPSY, she would get standing ovations after Rose's Turn.
At both City Center performances I attended, she received a standing ovation after "Sing out, Louise!"
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#20Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 10:01amWhen I saw Spring Awakening on tour, the whole audience gave them a standing ovation after Totally F****d.
#21Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 10:28amWhen I saw Baby, It's You! Beth Level's understudy got a standing ovation. What a horrible night of theatre.
#22Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 11:01am
I completely agree, standing ovations SHOULD be reserved for truly outstanding performances and this is a rule I obey... unless EVERYONE around me is standing (especially if I am front row, or with a group of friends who are standing) as I dont want to look miserable!
When I saw Wicked on Broadway, it was ghastly, there was nothing good to say about it, yet the entire auditorium lept to their feet, and I couldn't help thinking "I have just paid these people $120 to see this rubbish, and I am still expected to thank THEM, after that, they should be personally thanking me for paying their wages and sitting through that monstrosity without heckling or throwing stuff at them!"
On the topic of mid-show standing ovations. I have only personally participated in a mid-show standing ovation once, and that was during the final performance of Spring Awakening at the end of "Totally F****d." I have witnessed a partial one at the end of Defying Gravity in the London production of Wicked, however, it was Alexia Khadime's first performance as Elphaba, and I am 99% sure it was her family that stood up, so I dont think that really counts!
I have also been told Hugh Jackman gained a standing ovation at the end of "Before I go" on numerous occasions, they are the only examples I can think of.
#23Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 1:01pmBesides the normal end-of-show standing ovations that have become quite customary, I've experienced two instances of mid-show ovations. One was after Raul Esparza's "Being Alive" towards the end of Company's run, and one was after "Totally F****d" on Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff's last night. I gladly participated in both of them.
broadwayizme
Chorus Member Joined: 5/14/11
#24Undeserved Standing Ovations?
Posted: 6/11/11 at 2:08pmI'm not saying that every single performance every night deserves a standing ovation, but some believe that the show was better, or more worthy of one than others.
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