Standing Ovations

Posted: 9/27/03 at 11:24pm

When did you first notice that standing ovations on Broadway were no longer reserved for the truly special?

Yours for a better Broadway!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/27/03 at 11:29pm

when the bitter aging queens started complaining about people standing for a performer that they enjoy.


If a person wants to stand, let them. An actor knows the difference between a "true' standing ovation and a 'lesser' one. I know when I have been on stage I have seen both and you can tell the difference. I am just happy that teh audience appreciated the show.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/27/03 at 11:47pm

Not to offend anyone, but I saw POTO on Bway a few years ago--the entire cast was on autopilot--it was dreadful. A curtain didn't come in just right--so a techie in BRIGHT blue jeans came out and fixed it.

Nonetheless, this production got a standing o--while me and my friend sat--and did not even clap we were so disgusted. (We stayed as the main impetus was her seeing the flawless costume design).

Then again, I came from Houston--a city that thrives on standing o's.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 3:09pm

Again, sorry to repeat your thread, Bulldog. I did not see it until I posted mine. No offense meant.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 3:18pm

It just goes to pove that great minds think alike, Sulleen!

And I agree. Standing ovations are by now almost obligatory at every performance of every show. You get funny looks from your fellow theatregoers if you choose to sit and applaud!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 3:27pm

I realized standing O's weren't being reserved for something special when people actualyl stood for RENT. Broadwayguy is right though, you can tell the difference between a real standing O and a "fake" one.

[DofB5]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 4:15pm

I know I said this very same thing on the old Broadway.com board but here is another thought regarding Standing O’s.

Think of it this way. When you do a standing O–is it just for the performers? What about the people behind them? The dressers, the make up artists, the stage hands, the guys down in the pit that play the music, the lighting crew to name but a few. Don’t they deserve a standing O as as much as the stars? Without them, there would BE no show. So when you stand, shouldn’t it be for them as well? Aren't they "something special"?

D

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 5:27pm

Good point--the crew deserves credit. But, the applause and standing o's are mostly only noticed (and thought of as for) the cast. The crew usually could give a s***. =)

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:17pm

And (except for opening nights) the crew doesn't come onstage for bows.

Updated On: 9/28/03 at 06:17 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:24pm

I saw "The Vagina Monologues" three times, once with a decent cast, once with a very good cast, and once with an extraordinary cast. I would assume that most of the audience members were not like me and had not seen it before, so there was no way for them to do an informed comparative analysis.

Still, the show got a standing ovulation each time.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:29pm

LOL!...That was clever Namo, very clever.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:30pm

You came three times!

I'm impressed, Namo! :)

I'm good for two at most.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:32pm

Thank you, thank you both, I'll be here all week!

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:36pm

Even though I haven't been to a show where a standing ovation was needed, I do agree with what you guys are saying. I saw TMM in January, and Sutton got a well-deserved standing o, and when I say GYPSY in June, Bernadette got a standing o for Rose's Turn (from a few people), and then at the curtain call.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:43pm

When I saw Gypsy in August, bernadette got a standing O for a good 2 or 3 minutes from the entire house after Rose's Turn, and of course she got one at the end. I've only seen TMM once when Sutton didn't get a standing o, I was very disappointed by that, haha.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:46pm

I at least THINK Sutton got a Standing O when I saw her.....lol can't remember

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:48pm

HAHA, I'm sure she did, it's a rare ocassion when she doesn't.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:54pm

Hahaha I know...when did you see TMM?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:55pm

I don't remember if I've told this story here...

I flew to London to see Angela Lansbury in GYPSY. Her "Rose's Turn" was beyond magnificent. Quite frankly, I didn't think such emoting to music was possible. Of course, I jumped out of my seat to cheer at the end of the number. What I didn't realize, though, is that London audiences are very staid and extremely reserved. Needless to say, I was the only one standing and cheering so vociferously. When I visited Angela in her dressing room she commented that she couldn't help but notice my presence in the theater that night!

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:58pm

Wow that's an amazing story Dolly!! Haha funny stuff

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 6:58pm

Cheeky American monkey.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 7:04pm

That's MISTER cheeky American monkey to u!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 7:10pm

Hello Gorgeous, I've seen TMM 8 times, I don't know if you'd want me to list all those dates here, haha. When did you see it?

[CJR]

Posted: 9/28/03 at 11:39pm

When did you first notice that standing ovations on Broadway were no longer reserved for the truly special?

When the whole theatre stood for Melanie Griffith as Roxie.

Yes, yes I'm still slightly bitter

~Heather

[alterego]

Posted: 9/29/03 at 12:22am

Far too often standing ovations are common place, it's almost as though an ovation is given to the cast just for getting through the show. Standing ovations should be saved for performances truly out of the ordinary.

Something that really bugs me are the ovations that happen when the audience is tricked to rising by way of a mega mix tacked on to the ending like Mamma Mia or Joseph.You know the type, you get caught up clapping and swaying before the curtain call, and it seems churlish to sit at that point so they get a standing ovation. Be warned I believe that Taboo has one of these possibly Boy from Oz too.