#1
Posted: 7/25/04 at 4:28pm
Anyone have an unusual curtain call moment? I can think of 3:
1. Ice Man Cometh - This had to be the shortest curtain call of all time. The play ended and the audience rose to its feet. And before you could blink an eye, Kevin Spacey left the stage and the rest of the cast followed. It was the weirdest thing I had ever seen. Someone behind me said that someone in the audience took a picture during the curtain call. I did not see that, and I don't know if that had anything to do with the abrupt departure of the cast. All I know is that I felt cheated at the end, as I enjoy showing my appreciation and sharing that brief moment with the performers.
2. Amy's View - Judi Dench had left the play for about a month to attend to her very ill husband in London. I had tickets and wasn't sure if the play would ever reopen. But she did return to NY for the last few weeks. She was marvelous on stage. At the curtain call, the audience rose to its feed and cheered her. She did not crack a smile. In fact, she looked like she was attending a funeral. Her husband did pass away shortly thereafter, and I can certainly understand the emotional strain she was under. It's just that it was very uncomfortable to watch. She had been animated and lively during the performance, and then her face was stone cold during the curtain call.
3. Sunset Boulevard - tour with Petula Clark. At the curtain call, the audience cheered with a standing-o and then became very quiet, as it looked like Petula wanted to say something. She took a step forward and before she could open her mouth, someone in the balcony yelled, "Sing Downtown!" The whole audience laughed, as did the cast. She did too, and made some brief comment about she couldn't because of copyrights, or some such thing. Then she made her appeal for some charity.
1. Ice Man Cometh - This had to be the shortest curtain call of all time. The play ended and the audience rose to its feet. And before you could blink an eye, Kevin Spacey left the stage and the rest of the cast followed. It was the weirdest thing I had ever seen. Someone behind me said that someone in the audience took a picture during the curtain call. I did not see that, and I don't know if that had anything to do with the abrupt departure of the cast. All I know is that I felt cheated at the end, as I enjoy showing my appreciation and sharing that brief moment with the performers.
2. Amy's View - Judi Dench had left the play for about a month to attend to her very ill husband in London. I had tickets and wasn't sure if the play would ever reopen. But she did return to NY for the last few weeks. She was marvelous on stage. At the curtain call, the audience rose to its feed and cheered her. She did not crack a smile. In fact, she looked like she was attending a funeral. Her husband did pass away shortly thereafter, and I can certainly understand the emotional strain she was under. It's just that it was very uncomfortable to watch. She had been animated and lively during the performance, and then her face was stone cold during the curtain call.
3. Sunset Boulevard - tour with Petula Clark. At the curtain call, the audience cheered with a standing-o and then became very quiet, as it looked like Petula wanted to say something. She took a step forward and before she could open her mouth, someone in the balcony yelled, "Sing Downtown!" The whole audience laughed, as did the cast. She did too, and made some brief comment about she couldn't because of copyrights, or some such thing. Then she made her appeal for some charity.
Updated On: 12/17/04 at 04:28 PM
Maybe for me, sitting down means you gave a spectacular performance! 
... I still have the two velvet roses 
