an audience-ism that annoys me.

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 9:47pm

Came back from "Rated P.....for Parenthood" tonight. I enjoyed it for what it was, some good ol' cotton candy fluff, some parts much funnier than others. Wasn't expected Sondheim, and I didn't get it, though I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did, which is testament to the four great actors they have on that stage.

Anyway- There was a woman sitting next to me who did not applause at all during the show, except for after one rousing number where the crowd went wild, she clapped softly twice, and at the curtain call, she applauded for about five seconds. I found myself getting more and more annoyed with her as the show went on. I didn't know what her problem was, if she wasn't enjoying it, or what. She was stone-faced pretty much throughout.

If you're not there to enjoy yourself, what is the point of going to a musical comedy? much less one with this title, where you know pretty much exactly what you're in for. I just think it is disrespectful to the actors who are there to entertain you. For God sakes, throw them a bone, and show them you are particapating in this event by audibly clapping for them. You don't have to go wild, or make a fool of yourself, but to completely disregard the actors and everyone else in the room by acting like you are too good, or whatever to clap along with everyone else is very disconcerting. Be a human being. It's called audience protocal. You are not home alone watching The Bachelor. The actors sing for us, and we thank them. I just don't get it, because clapping is the easiest thing ever invented.

This is also not the first time I sat next to one of these people. It happened to me during the La Cage Revival as well. Not one clap. Not one.


I'm sorry. It's rude.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 9:51pm

people are entitled to their opinions, did you enjoy the show.... great thats what ultimately matters.....

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 9:52pm

But it isn't rude. Have you considered that to her the show was a nightmare? You want to base her response on your experience and that's unfair. I think applause should be spontaneous and never expected.

I respect the performers by giving my full attention, but respect should not have to translate into the reaction they'd like to see.

Updated On: 3/1/12 at 09:52 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 9:54pm

It's not rude. It also doesn't disrupt the show like crinkling wrappers, ringtones or over-the-top reactions either. It'd be dishonest if she were to fake her appreciation for the show.

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 9:57pm

Yes, I'm sure she didn't like it, but I have seen plenty of things I didn't enjoy at all, and I still would applaud, even if I didn't think it was really deserved. Maybe it's just a senseless Pavlovian response, but I think it's the proper thing to do as an audience member.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 10:00pm

I saw a Cirque show in Vegas a couple of weeks ago - I thought it was NOT good. I barely applauded some of the acrobatic efforts.

By your standards, I'd be one of the rudest audience members. I'd never react with the crowd.

This is a perfect example of those posters raving after a show - "You're wrong by saying the show sucked - the audience went wild!" Well, maybe because some people like the OP, feel they are expected to react with the mob, no matter how you felt about the show.

That's also why we get so many head-scratchers here "I can't believe '..'closed! The night I attended everyone in the audience loved it!" No, not everyone in the audience loved it. They just reacted in group - a lot of them had a really awful time.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 10:01pm

it's the proper thing to do as an audience member.

Maybe you should try less proper and more honest.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 10:06pm

Maybe she just had arthritis in her fingers.

And would actors really appreciate fake applause? I'm not sure.

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 10:10pm

I'm not saying she's wrong, if she thought the show was bad, she thought it was bad. I'm coming at it from the actor's standpoint. If they are in a bad show, then it's painful enough for them, but to hear no applause or appreciation after singing or acting your heart out is extremely discouraging. I just like to support the actors, even if I think the piece sucks. That's all I'm trying to get across.

I understand (now) that apparently everyone feels differently here.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 10:11pm

You can have an audience cheering and giving standing ovations every night, and as a performer, you still know if your show sucks.

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 10:16pm

"Maybe she just had arthritis in her fingers."

I was about to ask her if she was a hand model.

[singtopher]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 11:26pm

My Uncle is a non-clapper, even when he enjoys the hell out of the show. I saw Les Mis with him (his favorite show) and he barely clapped throughout. In his case, I think clapping is just to strenuous of an activity for someone of his athletic skill.

[RemlapLBC]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:38am

Personally the fact that every single show now gets a standing ovation would bug me far more than a single person not clapping through at a show I enjoyed.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 12:40am

In contrast, and by no means am I suggesting you are like this - but I cannot stand audience members who feel the need to look at you at the end of a number to give you that "wasn't that great?" look, or every time something funny happens they begin to cackle and turn to look at you to make sure you're laughing as well. I've noticed this a couple of times. Worse is when I've politely refrained from making eye contact and indulging them, and they turn to the audience member on their opposite side or even go as far as throwing their head back to look at the people sitting in the row behind.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 1:29am

I see where you're coming from. I saw a show in London that I gave an immediate standing ovation to (guess which one, ha!).

I was the only one.

I ranted about it afterwards as I felt that was rude. I was wrong. Just because they didn't stand and just because I felt moved enough to doesn't mean they're rude, even if I completely understand how someone could feel offended at being the only one.

Who knows? Maybe some person out there is posting angrily about some dude being the only one who immediately stood at the conclusion of a show they saw, blocking their view of the curtain call. What a nut! And how rude!

They'd be wrong, too.

Well, except the nut part.

[jansalrose2]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 1:38am

It is certainly NOT audience protocol to clap during every number. Applause ought to be earned. If you are suffering through a performance, why clap? Props to the woman for sitting through the whole thing, if you suspect she was having such a horrible time. I much more hate fake standing ovations, which by your standards, apparently are required.

[sondhead]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 1:59am

She supported the actors by purchasing her ticket which goes towards paying their salaries. After that, she can do whatever she likes (as long as it in no way impedes the performance or her fellow audience members' ability to experience the performance without distraction) without being rude.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 2:21am

I don't applaud much, even when I think something is brilliant. In fact, the better something is, the more involved I am in it, and the more it pisses me off that other people deign to interrupt it with their gratuitous noise making!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 3:17am

I went to a very good production of Carmen last month where I ended up sitting, somewhat awkwardly beside a guy who had been flirting with me in line to the bathroom before the show (trust the opera to have a longer line for the men's bathroom than the women's). I did notice that he didn't applaud much at all during the first two acts (Carmen, having so much spoken dialogue for an opera, has a lot of places where people applaud), and sorta did half think that he must not be enjoying it.

At intermission he started talking to me--very excited, about how BRILLIANT he found it (it was good--it wasn't brilliant), and going on about details. So he obviously was enjoying it--and he applauded for maybe 10 seconds at the end--I guess some people just don't feel like applauding the way many do. (I few people did stand up at the end but thankfully not the full theatre--something I, like many on here, find annoying unless the show is a revelation). I guess I would have an issue if people stopped applauding decent-to-very-good productions whatsoever, but I don't think one person barely applauding is really an issue worth worrying about.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 6:31am

I clap in complete accordance to the perfomance (and never stand unless I want to). I barely applauded during Bonnie and Clyde, very often not putting my hands together at all.

My daughter, 15, claps vigorously at every opportunity.

My son, 11, rarely applauds. Use to drive me nuts. I asked him why -- he certainly has role models that do. His answer? "I just want to pay attention." He wishes no one did so it didn't interrupt the show.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 9:51am

A good friend of mine got us front row tickets Next To Normal towards the end of Alice's run- the show was good, Alice's voice was not in top form that day, and her performance was a bit of a mess that day. We were both clapping all throughout the show, but did not give the show the "standing obligation" at the end- she actually gave us a dirty look from the stage which made me laugh... to each their own...

[Taryn]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 10:33am

An audience owes actors a quiet, respectful atmosphere while they're performing. Beyond that, they've already bought a ticket to help keep the show open and the actors employed. They don't "owe" the actors applause just for doing their jobs.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 10:38am

There are many shows I did not clap at. It wasn't rude IMHO, I felt the either the show itself or the performances given didn't warrant it.
If a performer's ego is that fragile that an audience member not applauding would hurt them , then perhaps they need another profession.

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 10:51am

On the whole, I wish clapping wasn't the way that people showed appreciation. I remember reading an article written by someone who had the same opinion (though a stronger opinion at that) who said something about how it was a stupid social norm and perhaps even went so far as to say it was primal or neanderthal-ish. I just find it a little annoying and distracting from the flow.

I usually love numbers that go right into scenes or other numbers and there isn't even a time/place to clap. (I'm thinking specifically about the little shadow dance in BILLY ELLIOT which went right into his scene with Grandma, and then that scene went near-seamlessly into Solidarity. Even when people clapped, the strong drum beats kind of hid it and brought your attention right back to the stage action. I'm sure there are plenty of other examples from other shows.)

Has anyone noticed how critics coming to review often won't applaud? I've been to several shows where reviewers have been present, and quite a few if not most of them will not clap. They aren't necessarily too busy writing something down or anything, either. Is this the protocol for reviewers, so as not to give away their (dis)like prior to their article being published? Or do you think they are just caught up in thinking about what they had just seen?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 11:02am

Yes, I'm sure she didn't like it, but I have seen plenty of things I didn't enjoy at all, and I still would applaud, even if I didn't think it was really deserved. Maybe it's just a senseless Pavlovian response, but I think it's the proper thing to do as an audience member.

I'm sorry, but I don't think your personal choices as an actor being a member of the audience dictate protocol. Applauding out of politeness or obligation is patronizing and insincere, two qualities I generally find offensive and rude. The more "protocol" we have regarding applause and ovations, the less actors, directors and producers will have to gauge their productions. This is why so many smaller local companies end up turning out so many train wrecks. They invite all their friends to final dress and previews and receive wildly enthusiastic responses, then get blasted by the critics, bad word of mouth, and can't sell tickets. Don't applaud if you don't feel inclined to do so. Applause out of pity or duty is about as helpful as letting a friend walk around with a booger hanging out their nose, or their fly unzipped, or stuff stuck in their teeth. NOT applauding allows the cast and creative team know something is not working.