What happened to applause during a song?- Page 2

[latheatrelover]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 1:49am

Hmmm, I don't know about applause during a number, unless it's something the audience has been looking forward to with anticipation from previous experience of the person singing it, such as Andrea McCardle getting to the high point of singing "Tomorrow" or like in Dreamgirls with "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" at its highest point.

But one thing I have noticed from the standpoint of the audience is that so often after a song we are not given a chance to applaud. Just when you've felt this applause building up inside of you, and you're waiting for the chance to give it after the song ends, something dramatic happens immediately to cut off the ending of the song or it goes bang right into something else. I have noticed it with Phantom of the Opera and also in Sondheim shows. The audience feels frustrated.

Of course, then there are the shows that milk applause, such as Mamma Mia by overplaying to the audience. I can't recall what happens at the curtain call but it got a number of people to their feet and the rest of us had to stand simply to see what was going on, and it felt like a forced standing ovation.

[brdwybound2]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:03am

"Start a kick line and they will always applaud...I still don't get that. "

Hah I was in a show when we got applause in the middle of the show for a kick line. I don't even think kick lines are all that great, they're in so many shows it's not even interesting most of the time.

And what about standing ovations during the show after a particularly amazing performance of a certain song? How common are they, I've barely ever seen it happen.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:08am

Mustard, are you referring to the male octet in "The Merry Widow"? I did that, and got applause in the middle every time we did that.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:19am

My favorite mid-kick line break out applause moment was during a horific production of Company (in the good ol' Wilmington Delaware).

In "Side by Side," they go into the WORST kick-line I've ever seen. You had to squint to see their legs move, and people started APPLAUDING.

My friends and I were flabergasted, and horrified.

However, despite a horribly directed and performed production, it was my first time actually seeing the show live, and I was still impressed by what a fantastically written show it is.

Even though the actor playing Bobby WEPT (in that "actor-y" fake way) through Marry Me A Little AND Being Alive.

[EmieMarie]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:50am

I HATE it when people start applauding and freaking out anytime someone does a trick... it gets old! Especially in those crazy dance numbers