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’d just as soon everyone expressed their appreciation seated too. Most shows I’ve been to (some excellent) that’s what’s happened. Standing up doesn’t seem to add anything worth making other people uncomfortable for.

But a standing ovation isn’t meant to indicate “guess I got my money’s worth for that ticket and hotel stay!” or “yeah it was worth the three-hour train journey.”

it’s supposed to award the rare noteworthy, landmark performance.

If the show is over what is everyone standing up doing? What would they miss by seated applause?

it’s supposed to award the rare noteworthy, landmark performance

You are missing the point. If someone has only been to the theatre once it is likely to be a noteworthy, landmark performance. They don't have 30 other performances to benchmark it against.

But whether something is a landmark performance (or not) is entirely down to the individual

If you’ve never been to the West End and have only ever seen your local AmDram group, any performance is going to be pretty spectacular, whereas someone like OP who is fortunate enough to go regularly is going to have more experience and more shows to compare.

I don’t know, I do think there’s something quite fun about a big stand-up ovation at a theatre. No, it’s not strictly necessary but for me it is quite a fun part of the evening.

AmDram's get ovations because it's their friends and family there cheering on the hard work of their "star", usually someone working a "proper job" and giving up several evenings to prepare. Sure, they aren't Dame Judi (and are often tedious shows) but it's their loved ones celebrating them

I used to be a keen theatre-goer but not so much now. It's almost as if some of the audience have forgotten that their role is to be entertained by the performers. They now very much see themselves in the role of 'Simon Cowell' or any of the other witless judges and model their own behaviour on performative and loud 'appreciation'.

I don't think we'll get the days back where standing ovations were for something really quite special? I imagine people who feel like I do will stop going so often and people who like to 'perform' at such events will do; such is life.

I guess a trained chimpanzee would get a standing ovation from some people. That doesn’t make excessive ones in the West End less ludicrous. Audiences should be more discerning.

I always thought the aim of a standing ovation was to indicate a more exceptional performance, that the show and the performers had excelled. Giving every performance a standing ovation because you think it's the done thing or you don't get out much defeats the point of differentiating. All performances merit applause, that's the audience showing their appreciation of the performers' skills as well as the hard work behind the scenes, the direction, etc. The standing ovation is to show you feel the show went above and beyond, surpassed others, was incredible, amazing, five stars, A*...

If you were appraising an Olympic sporting event and gave all participants a gold medal, the gold medal would lose its status as "one of the best". Plus any show's efforts that didn't get a standing ovation would feel like the audience might as well just have filed out without applauding. It's missing the point to do it every time!

I dragged my now 15 year old to the ballet to see The Nutcracker 2years ago. She KNEW she'd hate it. Then as soon as the first scene started she was enthralled. Afterwards she said "it was alright".

Last year she saw A Christmas Carol ballet advertised. She said that she thought I might like it and if she really must and if I insist, she'll be OK with coming with me but only under duty and duress obviously. 🤣

Once again she was enthralled but if asked she'll tell you that she doesn't like ballet.

I know - but my point was if you’ve only ever seen AmDram productions at the local secondary school, anything you see on the West End is going to be exceptional in comparison.

Whereas someone like OP who is fortunate enough to just be able to pop to the theatre several times a year, the benchmark will be much higher.

I agree OP, how dare the unwashed masses not confirm to your standards of what is deemed standing up clappy worthy rather than mere sitting down clappy worthy.

This is just snobbery.

Try staying sitting down next time and experience it for yourself?

I don't like missing all the bows, I want to see them as much as everyone else.

Hahaha I'm with you on this OP! And then you basically have to stand up too, because if you're sitting down and everyone else is standing you can't see anything.

How about the whistling and the whoops?

Not sure if I'm enough of a 'theatre goer' for my opinion to matter amongst the Real Theatre Goers (where do I send my CV ?) But I've always seen the final curtain as the opportunity for the audience to show their personal appreciation of the performance. So you clap with the level of enthusiasm you deem fit, standing if you are sufficiently moved to do so. We're not a flock of sheep and our seats don't propel us into a standing position against our will. If you don't feel its worth a standing ovation, stay seated. Never mind what other people are doing. Experience the performance yourself and let others do the same.

I've not RTFT, but you are unreasonable as now Kenrex has finished and I didn't know about it!! ;-)

I know what you mean OP. I don't stand unless the performance warrants it, but I do see at least some people standing at every show (and I go to a lot of Westend shows).

I kept noticing this at the Criterian Theatre in Piccadilly. Over-enthusiastic standing ovations and crowds that laughed way too loud/vigorously during the show. I call it a - friends and family audience - as in you'd only laugh that loud at a joke that is at best, mildly funny, if you knew the performer. I commented on this in a Westend Facebook group I'm in and was eviscerated. shrug

Oh God yeah it's so ridiculous. And sometimes it's ear-splitting. I mean why? They need to settle down and stop acting stupid.

I went to the ABBA show and hated the standing ovation/dancing at the end... but that's just me.

Perhaps theatres should have a screening process to weed out the great unwashed from the proper, worthy theatre attendees, who are au fait with the etiquettes? We most certainly do not want to let those who are not regulars get above their station!

That was for the people complaining about AmDram's getting an ovation

I get what you meant

Gosh now people are laughing too hard!
Comedy is subjective and some people will indeed find things funnier than you

Or you could just reframe your thinking so you no longer see yourself as self appointed gatekeeper of other people's responses to theatre. Their experience and how they choose to show appreciation is nothing to do with you. You are just another paying customer exactly the same as they are, with no more rights or responsibility to set standards than anyone else. Free yourself from the self imposed compulsion to police others, and concentrate on the performance. It will likely be more enriching for you than rubber necking to see who is standing up at the end.