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?

But they are incredibly popular musicals with almost cult followings (especially Wicked) of dedicated fans who adore the production and the casts and are swept up in the emotions and feeling.

If you came up to us at the end of a show and complained that the people around them were being disruptive because they stood to applaud then you'd get a reply of "that's what some people do when they've enjoyed the show. I'm sorry if you found it disruptive" and then we'd have laughed about it in the staff room and you'd become something of a legend we'd tell new starters about

There's also a definite snobbery on display here as its mostly Musicals people are deriding for this, because they're not bloody Kernex

I mostly don’t go to musicals. Not because they aren’t fun but because they tend to cost £££.
In my experience of West End theatre the standing ovation is pretty omnipresent.

I blame the BGT / X-Factor effect. The audience sits there throughout those auditions, and when someone who can actually carry a tune performs, it is such an overwhelming relief they are on their feet screaming and cheering and carrying on something chronic. They are, no doubt, thoroughly encouraged by the production team to behave that way because it makes good telly.

It is tiresome, honestly. A round of applause is fine, a round of applause plus appreciative cheering is fine for a great performance, but a standing ovation should be reserved for the occasional, rare and genuinely exceptional.

A standing ovation every single time debases the whole thing.

Actually that's a good point.
We went to see Billy Connelly who produced and starred in a musical version of 'A Christmas Carol' the day before London went into one of those zones at Xmas 2020 and the play was closed down.

I've never felt quite so emotional about a play. We were all seated apart, masks on, Billy Connelly did a big speech about theatre and lockdown etc and my daughter who was a teenager was in floods of tears.

That was a well deserved standing ovation.

You sound absolutely ridiculous.

May I PM you? The name will give away my location, which I'm not keen on.

Yup. Like everyone always going on about how they cried. Crying used to be private, and when I was growing up, it's not something adults admitted to or talked about with all and sundry. But on the internet, at least, people are always going on about how much they cried because of this or that minor thing or news item. Performative crying. Notably, those who are going through serious troubles rarely mention crying, although I'm sure they've done plenty of it.

Yes of course. 🙂

Take her to see Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty. 😎

That's what it's saying for YOU.

I stand up every time. For me, it's showing appreciation for everyone involved in the production, especially those on stage, because I imagine it's bloody hard work pulling that off twice a day for weeks at a time.

Yes! I hate standing ovations. For people with mobility issues it's awful as everyone around you stands up and you can't see the curtain calls and feel pressured to join in.

I went to a big concert at Wembley last year, and we paid to have seats rather than standing tickets because of my medical issues. As soon as the singer started on a big famous number, everyone in front of me got to their feet so they could clap and sway along, and I couldn't see a thing. I actually burst into tears - I felt so crap and disabled, and I'd struggled so hard to get there.

The curtain calls aren't quite so bad as at least you aren't missing the show, but it still makes me feel shit when everyone leaps to their feet and I'm left either staring at their bums or forcing myself up to stand in pain so I can see something.

Agree with this. It's just performative and it's become the norm.

As for what's next? There will surely be a 'mexican wave', or fireworks! Or stage-rushing... or something even more 'spectacular' for the audience to do.

Good lord, don’t give them any ideas!

Done! Hope you receive it.

OK, I give in. I've Googled it. 😂

I got to "the appeal of Kenrex is not deep" and gave up reading.

you are on the mark -its more often West End musicals , and anything with a big star. I suspect its cos those shows attract people who don't do a lot of live theatre.

What snobbery
"Those people don't go to proper theatre"

Plenty of people go to exclusively musicals, ir doesn't mean they don't go to a lot of live theatre...

sorry I didnt elaborate- I meant people who only go to Musicals. And you can name call all you like- loads of us don't like being forced to stand to view any part of the show including the ever lengthening applause routine. Show some discrimination.

Rigby and Peller should be reserved for the Royal 👑 Opera House, obviously.

I am with you OP, the person who said the BGT effect is probably right. I think it also goes alongside general exaggeration and inflation of language.

It is snobbery to imply musicals aren't "proper" theatre
It's not a "routine" it's showing appreciation and is part of the experience

Unoriginal “jukebox musicals” are not, in my opinion, proper theatre.

It’s like comparing Harry Potter to Macbeth.