433 posts
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Post by DuchessConstance on May 22, 2016 14:01:07 GMT
I'm been a W/E performer and I genuinely don't care if everyone claps. I'm not even aware of that until the final curtain call. What does bother me is people not paying attention. You can absolutely feel as a performer when the audience is not with you. An audience that watches quietly but isn't demonstrative is worth far more than an audience who aren't really paying attention but clap loudly at the end of every song.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2016 14:25:09 GMT
Could someone kindly correct the typo in the title. I'm currently having an episode *shakes one hand uncontrollably up and down torso*
EDIT: Ta Muchly
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on May 22, 2016 15:37:44 GMT
If your sing a really powerful song (e.g. Everything's coming up roses or And I'm telling you) and put your whole effort into it but then only half the theater claps... Your gonna feel just a tad disappointed aren't you? Not as disappointed as the punter who paid 70 quid to see you and didn't think you were worth it. Oh it's generally a lot more than that on Broadway.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2016 15:38:01 GMT
Ooh she's taken it down...
Carrie among the first to reply I see...
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19,787 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 22, 2016 15:41:39 GMT
And now we're all supposed to feel bad for misunderstanding her.
This woman is good.
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on May 22, 2016 15:42:47 GMT
I'm been a W/E performer and I genuinely don't care if everyone claps. I'm not even aware of that until the final curtain call. What does bother me is people not paying attention. You can absolutely feel as a performer when the audience is not with you. An audience that watches quietly but isn't demonstrative is worth far more than an audience who aren't really paying attention but clap loudly at the end of every song. I've noticed that with Broadway audiences. They're so busy waiting for their cue to applaud a diva doing an 11 o'clock number that they don't seem to notice when an actress is deliberately not giving that sort of performance and is trying to produce a different kind of effect.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on May 22, 2016 15:44:51 GMT
Ooh she's taken it down... Carrie among the first to reply I see... Hm. As I said before, when something back fires, it's so easy to say "Oh, it was a joke. Shame none of you got it". And you can tell from her hashtags and the end (even though that's her usual sense of humour, I suppose), that she really just doesn't care.
I know my comments make it seem like I'm making it so she can't win either way, but I thought the damage had already been done really, with her going out of her way to make such a big hoo-ha out of what is now a "joke" - and I hugely echo BB's sentiments above!!
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181 posts
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Post by eatbigsea on May 23, 2016 10:30:47 GMT
I'm been a W/E performer and I genuinely don't care if everyone claps. I'm not even aware of that until the final curtain call. What does bother me is people not paying attention. You can absolutely feel as a performer when the audience is not with you. An audience that watches quietly but isn't demonstrative is worth far more than an audience who aren't really paying attention but clap loudly at the end of every song. I've noticed that with Broadway audiences. They're so busy waiting for their cue to applaud a diva doing an 11 o'clock number that they don't seem to notice when an actress is deliberately not giving that sort of performance and is trying to produce a different kind of effect. Yes, this, exactly. Also, they have to put more and more effort into getting the stars on stage unobtrusively in order to avoid the entrance applause, which is fine (if annoying) in a musical but doesn't work in, say, Death of a Salesman. I don't care if people clap or not up to a point, but I do feel a bit embarrassed when half the audience rushes off at the end without any appreciation at all. This happens at the Royal Opera House a lot. It makes me feel like I have to be more enthusiastic than I normally would be to make up for them.
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on May 23, 2016 10:46:12 GMT
Yes, yes, Broadway audiences are so stupid and uncouth and they just don't know how to control themselves in public places, always showing so much dreadful enthusiasm and stuff. And entrance applause? Don't get me started. Standing ovations for everything no matter how lame it might be? It should be criminalized. Frankly, I'm embarrassed for those people every time I'm in a Broadway theatre. I really should stop flying over there and spending a fortune on hotels and tickets just to experience such awfulness. Maybe some day I will.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2016 12:25:43 GMT
Yes, yes, Broadway audiences are so stupid and uncouth and they just don't know how to control themselves in public places, always showing so much dreadful enthusiasm and stuff. And entrance applause? Don't get me started. Standing ovations for everything no matter how lame it might be? It should be criminalized. Frankly, I'm embarrassed for those people every time I'm in a Broadway theatre. I really should stop flying over there and spending a fortune on hotels and tickets just to experience such awfulness. Maybe some day I will. Some of us never started.
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2,041 posts
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Post by 49thand8th on May 23, 2016 18:13:40 GMT
Yes, yes, Broadway audiences are so stupid and uncouth and they just don't know how to control themselves in public places, always showing so much dreadful enthusiasm and stuff. And entrance applause? Don't get me started. Standing ovations for everything no matter how lame it might be? It should be criminalized. Frankly, I'm embarrassed for those people every time I'm in a Broadway theatre. I really should stop flying over there and spending a fortune on hotels and tickets just to experience such awfulness. Maybe some day I will. First I thought this was a parody post, and then... Although to be fair, this does happen a lot. But I was at Fun Home yesterday (for the fourth time) and yes, you will find pockets of consistently quieter, respectful audiences who can reign it in. Even on the big ol' Broad Way. Or maybe you should just restrict yourself to off-Broadway and Fringe shows?
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on May 23, 2016 19:17:49 GMT
Stick with your first thought.
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448 posts
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Post by ShoesForRent on May 23, 2016 19:27:57 GMT
So it was parody? I couldn't tell either
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on May 23, 2016 19:28:06 GMT
Hey, sometimes it can really add to the show when an audience is noisy - The Colour Purple worked brilliantly with audience reactions punctuating the show. There are times when it is definitely counter-productive, though.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2016 7:18:19 GMT
Clearly Mallardo and I were having the same problem-severe Monday sarcasm!
In all seriousness I bitch and moan about Broadway audiences equally with how much I bitch and moan about West End ones. I love both, but for Brits there is a difference in how audiences react, and that's fine as long as we all remember we don't have to go along with the majority.
Unless you're in the front row of a Laura Benanti show.
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19,787 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 24, 2016 7:40:42 GMT
Clearly Mallardo and I were having the same problem-severe Monday sarcasm! In all seriousness I bitch and moan about Broadway audiences equally with how much I bitch and moan about West End ones. I love both, but for Brits there is a difference in how audiences react, and that's fine as long as we all remember we don't have to go along with the majority. Unless you're in the front row of a Laura Benanti show. You do you, emi
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751 posts
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Post by horton on May 24, 2016 8:33:51 GMT
I was not impressed with the original "clapgate" post but I think Laura's message about taking down the message was sincere, considered and classy. So much more appropriate than the whole Patti Murrin debacle!
On the unwelcoming Broadwayworld forum, there is an on-going thread about why they hate tourists- it's got about 50 pages worth of complaints. It strikes me as being the most xenophobic and patronising demonstration of complacent racism on the whole site, and completely manages to overlook the fact that bad behaviour, poor manners and selfishness can come from anywhere. I really dislike sweeping generalities about "American audiences" or "British audiences". Those audiences are full of individuals, some of whom are thoughtful, some brash, some over-demonstrative, some generous etc etc.
My morning hippy moment: (Sherie Renee Scott in 'Bright Lights, Big City)
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2016 8:35:34 GMT
A-plus use of Bright Lights big city horton, it's been an age since I listened to that show. (ah memories of my Patrick Wilson obsession)
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on May 24, 2016 8:35:37 GMT
Clearly Mallardo and I were having the same problem-severe Monday sarcasm! In all seriousness I bitch and moan about Broadway audiences equally with how much I bitch and moan about West End ones. I love both, but for Brits there is a difference in how audiences react, and that's fine as long as we all remember we don't have to go along with the majority. Unless you're in the front row of a Laura Benanti show.
Indeed. I didn't realize SMS was so contagious.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2016 8:37:14 GMT
Its an insidious and vile disease...
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on May 24, 2016 8:38:54 GMT
A-plus use of Bright Lights big city horton, it's been an age since I listened to that show. (ah memories of my Patrick Wilson obsession)
Emi, did you happen to see him in The Full Monty? And when I say see him...
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2016 8:39:44 GMT
haha alas I did not...and I feel it would have been a memorable experience.
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751 posts
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Post by horton on May 24, 2016 15:28:52 GMT
Didn't he have the biggest part in the show?
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 7:54:39 GMT
Didn't he have the biggest part in the show? Oh I BET he had the biggest part!! Weirdly having discussed the Full Monty here yesterday the music 'You sexy thing' was in the background of something I was watching...couldn't help think of Mr Wilson's part again
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423 posts
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Post by dlevi on May 29, 2016 7:40:28 GMT
I love Laura Benanti. I think her frustration has more to do with the subscription audience who go to the Roundabout Theatre than anything else. Much like attending anything at The Manhattan Theatre Club, these audience subscribe year after year after year to see 5 or 6 shows and there are usually only one or two they really want to see. So most of the time she's playing to an audience of people who are only there because they already have tickets, not because they specifically want to see that show. So she's up agianst and audience that basically wants the show over before it begins. And also, she's great in She Loves Me. Great. And I think she knows when she's great and when she's not so great, so if you know you're doing a great job and the audience doesn't get it, it's gotta be frustrating.
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