Just sit down. It’s not *that* good

[InformEducateEntertain]

I live in London. I go ‘up West’ fairly often and visit the theatre. All sorts. Musicals, one man shows, classics, whatever looks interesting really.

I love going but what really annoys me is the apparently compulsory standing ovation. Most shows are good. Occasionally they are brilliant (seen Kenrex anyone?). But whyowhyohwhy do audiences now stand up and clap? Always.

They never used to.

I’m middle aged and grumpy I know but in the good old days the standing ovation was reserved for the truly outstanding performance (Kenrex springs to mind). Now you are seen as a weirdo if you don’t partake.

AIBU to think the theatre going folk of today have lost it or am I the one with the problem?

I can only speak for myself, but I quite regularly ovate because the seats are uncomfortable and I'm desperate to stand up.

Different people different opinions

Agree. It devalues the ovation. What are we supposed to do when something genuinely worthy comes along?

I haven’t noticed this, apart from at musicals where, tbh, I think you get a preponderance of people who never/almost never go to the theatre, so if one person stands up at the end, they think it’s a thing.

Im personally fussy about what I stand for.

@DiningtableornotI didn’t realise there was a verb for it … how does it conjugate? I refuse to ovate, you are stiff, he shows bad judgement, they have no understanding of the role of the standing ovation in the canon of approval?

You’ve hit the problem on the head.. perhaps we will all have to bring along vuvuzela’s on the off chance that we have chosen a banger of a show.

Couldn’t agree more OP.

AIBU to think the theatre going folk of today have lost it or am I the one with the problem?

Honestly if a standing ovation bothers you this much you are absolutely the problem and you should lighten up.

I agree with you OP. It happens at every show now.

I was at the west end last weekend and at a show where it s has a "fake end" where you're supposed to think is the end but it turns out it isn't. A couple a few seats in front of us stood immediately and then did the same later for the actual end.

I couldn't help but think that it was far more about them being the ones to start the standing ovation than showing appreciation!

I thought ovate meant egg-like? 🤔

You are correct. I just googled it! Every day is indeed a school day. So far not only have I learned that my grumpy outlook is probably justified but that ovate is an adjective.

thank you Mumsnet.

I don’t live in the UK, but agree that there is a standing ovation at everything nowadays and it devalues the standing ovation. It annoys me mildly. A part of me likes that people are positive and applauding the performers’ combines efforts and talents and showing gratitude that they could experience it (but sitting down applause conveys this too…)

I think the actors are also encouraging it though. I saw a mediocre play and the actors came out 5 times.

Definitely sit through standing ovations where it isn't deserved.

Did two proper ones in recent times though -- incredible performances.

Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things?

I agree OP. Also posting because I saw Kenrex last week and it was extraordinary.

It's like a Paul Hollywood handshake.

I couldn't be bothered to be annoyed about this. Either stand or don't. People won't always agree with you about whether something is worthy of it. That's why people have different opinions.

No.

Equally, the grand schemes of things is a 13-billion-year-old universe, rapidly expanding and cooling after a cataclysmic explosion, ultimately destined for a dark, lonely dispersal 130 billion years from now.

How much anything smaller than that scale actually matters is highly subjective, and so if it’s annoying the OP then she has every right to have a moan.

Also, I agree! I get the feeling that these people are putting on a performance of their own. “Oooh, wasn’t that fabulous? It was so fabulous. Look at me showing how fabulous it was. I’m standing! Gushgushgushgushgush.”

I went this weekend and no standing ovations.

Oh, dear! Was it extremely bad?😮

Ever been to a performance when no-one clapped ?

Many years ago, my school used to provide a chorus for Bach's St. Matthew Passion.

Singing our teenage hearts out in the Royal Festival Hall on Good Friday, & no-one had thought to tell us that clapping was banned because it was a religious work.

Ass clap the national anthem and throw a baby at the stage.

I mean, even Simon Cowell now gives standing ovations on BGT.

I also find at comedy shows there's always several people who belly laugh all way through. I have to wonder if I'm either missing the jokes entirely or if I'm just a grumpy old cow