When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
#1When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:39pm
So the other night I saw Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Probably the worst audience experience I've ever had because people were still coming in twenty minutes after the show started and were not being quiet about it, and the audience as a whole talked through the whole show.
But the one thing I've been really thinking about is how everyone kept laughing at all the inappropriate moments, like when Brick is limping around trying to hit Maggie with his crutch. Whose fault is it when stuff like that happens: is it the production's fault or the audience's?
LePetiteFromage
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/08
RyToast1
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/07
#2re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:41pm
I saw the show last night, and I thought the SAME things.
I don't think it was the production's fault that people were laughing at those times. I think it was the audience.
LePetiteFromage
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/08
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#4re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:46pmIt is never the audiences "fault" for having an honest reaction to anything that happens on stage. If the humor was not intended by the director it is his/her or the actor's "fault". Don't blame the audience for reacting sincerely to what you put on the stage.
PEACE.
TooDarnHot
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/08
#5re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:49pm
just blame Bush. It seems to work.
Updated On: 6/21/08 at 04:49 PM
#6re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:55pmI would say if the audience is laughing at something serious, then something went wrong with the writing or the delivery or something. It's not the audience's fault.
The Best Thing Right Now: Hair Revival!
Marinacat
Chorus Member Joined: 1/31/08
#7re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:06pm
Sometimes audience members laugh because they feel like they should, or that it is expected.
I recently sat through a play where it seemed that certain audience members laughed out loud a number of times when the lines were not that funny, ie, had the lines been delivered in a movie or TV show, I doubt the viewer would have been compelled to laugh. But, the audience member *wants* to connect or be connected to the play, so they laugh, even when it's not called for.
Salene
Broadway Star Joined: 3/26/07
#8re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:12pmBlame Canada.
#9re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:13pm
I haven't seen Cat in a Hot Tin Roof, but I assume the director wasn't going for humour in a serious part of a scene. It might be the audience.
The last time I saw Passing Strange, the scene where youth and Mr. Franklin have a conversation up on Arlington Hill. The scene itself had funny moments, but overall it was a serious scene. The part when Mr. Franklin talks about slaves.. "Slaves have options -- Escape. Revolt. Death. Cowards have only consequences." One or two people in the audience laughed after every word.
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#10re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:17pmWhen I saw the revival of Into the Woods (I've told this story before), someone laughed when they announced the death of The Baker's Wife. I don't know who to blame for that. And don't say Vanessa Williams cuz she was out that day.
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#11re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:27pmI too, blame Bush.
He's a faker, and you've been taken in by his con. And in doing so, you are enabling him. He is doing more damage to aspergers than papa's words ever could. -Chane/Liverpool on me having asperger syndrome.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#12re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:48pm
It depends on what moment you're talking about...in the case of CAT, it's obviously not Williams' fault (it's one of the best plays of all time), I didn't think it was the actors' faults, Allen could be credited a bit for staging it a bit too much like a sitcom, but 90% of my blame for the audience's reactions goes to ... the audience. They just seemed like they were sitting in on a shooting for "Saturday Night Live" laughing and talking and joking throughout...it was one of the rudest and most irritating audiences I've ever sat with in a theater to be quite honest. I think most of the audience was so thrilled to see Terrence Howard, Rashad, and Jones on the same stage that they were giddy and expecting Rashad to break out into a scene from The Cosby Show or something...they just didn't get that these actors were playing characters other than themselves. I know that sounds odd but I don't think I can articulate it any better.
And I mean, also, with the perfection that is the current revival of GYPSY, both times I saw it, stupid tourists burst out laughing at things that were NOT funny in any way and when they realized no one else was laughing, they did not stop screaming like hyenas. Some audience members are just plain stupid.
Updated On: 6/21/08 at 05:48 PM
#13re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:53pmI blame the lakezurich and his constant use of the word ferosh.
He's a faker, and you've been taken in by his con. And in doing so, you are enabling him. He is doing more damage to aspergers than papa's words ever could. -Chane/Liverpool on me having asperger syndrome.
#14re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 6:04pm
It's Debbie Allen's fault.
This has been happening the entire run of the show, as I understand, and its clearly the fault of the production. (Unless, of course, that was the intended effect, in which case it is nobody's fault.)
#15re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 6:19pm
The first time I saw Wicked, I laughed when they put the green baby up with the rest of the audience. But when the dad was like "Take it awaY" I felt like I had laughed at the wrong time.
I think that is just a fault in the play. In some cases, maybe that's the problem.
Hunter: Your teeth need whitening./ Heidi: You sound weird./ Jeff: You taste funny.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
Yankgrl46
Understudy Joined: 12/1/04
#16re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 6:33pmLast fall I saw a local production of West Side Story, and to put it nicely, it left a lot to be desired. During the scene when Chino runs in to shoot Tony the crowd erupted with laughter over the very poor acting and lack of fitness of the man playing Chino. It was more than just a giggle, and you could tell it really distracted the performers.
#17re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 6:50pm
The audience. Absolutely the audience. People pay big bucks for Broadway shows, and DAMNED if they're not going to have a good time for their money, and SHOW you they're having a good time for their money! Some of the West End theatre programmes have articles, like Playbills, and I remember one article that had a section about audience reactions; the quote I remember went along the lines of: "directors would tell me they hadn't realised how funny their Chekhov or Ibsen was until they took it to New York". I'd love to quote a bit more of that article, but I have too many programmes to go through them all to find it.
I wish people realised you can have a good time and not be vocal about it. This is England for heaven's sake! We're meant to be the ones who sit in stony silence, only making noise at the end when we rise to our feet with thunderous applause! I'd love to go back to those days. ;_;
Yes, the play is a comedy. But not every line is a joke, so save your chuckles for when they're deserved. And if you're laughing during a non-comedy, you'd better have a DAMN good reason.
Can you tell I get angry with noisy audience members? ^_^
#18re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 6:56pmI'm sorry to disagree with the basic premise of this thread, but in my book there is nothing wrong with some light laughter when Brick is limping and chasing Maggie with his crutch. It happens in most productions of "Cat" and relieves a little tension. Now if people are slapping their thighs and screaming with laughter -- THEN you have a problem. Too often people think that a serious play has no place for laughter.
SweetQintheLights
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
#19re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 7:01pm
People find different things funny.
People also laugh for different reasons. Some laugh because something is funny, sad, or because they are nervous. Laughing isn't the same for all people so it's hard to say they are "laughing" because they are amused.
"How bout a little black dress?"~hannahshule
"I have a penis, not a vagina." ~munkustrap178
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#20re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 7:05pmAgreed, a lot of people laugh out of nervousness. If something is very uncomfortable and awkward for an audience member they'll usually laugh. I remember many times during "Grapes of Wrath" when the audience would laugh at the end of the play where Rose of Sharon is breast feeding the dying man.
Craww
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#21re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 7:05pm
I think there are a lot of things that contribute to it, but in the end it honestly falls on the audience. Take Spring Awakening for an example. Certain serious scenes in that show often draw laughs, and there are certain scenes in that show that I find inappropriately hilarious. For example, every time I see The Mirror Blue Night I want to point and cackle. But the thing is? I don't. Because someone somewhere finds it earnestly beautiful, and I can monitor my reactions well enough to stifle them.
Inappropriate laughter is completely normal and valid and understandable, whether it be the person or the production. But it's really not that hard to stifle if you take pains to be a considerate audience member.
#22re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 8:24pmI think most directors and actors would prefer an audience laughing at an inappropriate time rather than an audience not laughing at something that is supposed to be funny.
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thevolleyballer
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#23re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 8:31pmI saw Wicked last night here in Los Angeles, and the understudy playing Glinda (Laura Woyasz) was hamming up certain lines that I've only seen played dramatically in the past. She had the audience chuckling during some of Glinda's heaviest bits, and I could tell that it was clearly her choice to go with a comedic take on it, which i felt was inappropriate. I felt like yelling to the audience, "I apologize for Glinda, she should be able to act."
#24re: When an audience laughs at the wrong moments, whose fault is it?
Posted: 6/21/08 at 10:40pmHillary's.
....but the world goes 'round
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