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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2017 8:09:38 GMT
But then i dont need a drink to be able to enjoy a show. Same. I understand that not everyone can sit comfortably through a 2+ hour show due to the way all our bodies are different and just because I can keep a full bladder under control for four hours doesn't mean everyone else does, but people... need drinks to enjoy a show? Have they considered seeing shows they actually like, or if they need a drink for every show, maybe finding a hobby that isn't theatre? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2017 8:38:23 GMT
But then i dont need a drink to be able to enjoy a show. Same. I understand that not everyone can sit comfortably through a 2+ hour show due to the way all our bodies are different and just because I can keep a full bladder under control for four hours doesn't mean everyone else does, but people... need drinks to enjoy a show? Have they considered seeing shows they actually like, or if they need a drink for every show, maybe finding a hobby that isn't theatre? This constantly confuses me too...if you want to spend an evening drinking go to the pub? I genuinely don't understand why people need drinks during a show? Of course if you're inclined go to the pub for a drink and chat after that makes sense but the 'I physically need a G&T to get through this' sort of implies you won't enjoy it without...skip the theatre and just get a G&T. On that note I have a friend who goes to the theatre often with me, and I spend most of the interval loitering by the bar waiting for her because she NEEDS to get a drink every time. I'm fine loitering on my own but it also defeats the object of a theatre companion too. |
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Post by danb on Sept 8, 2017 9:20:00 GMT
Whilst I tend to only go and see things that I know I'm going to enjoy, we often go because a family member or friend wants to see something and would like company. There have been times that I have NEEDED a drink by the interval. Having it on standby has probably saved lives...
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Post by theatreian on Sept 8, 2017 10:19:06 GMT
Has anyone seen any photos of opening night of any stars who attended? Usually there is a photo feature on whatsonstage which gives us nosey parkers a look at who went on opening night.
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Follies
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 8, 2017 10:50:15 GMT
Uhm I only saw a pic of Imelda and Elaine Paige at the party
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 8, 2017 11:02:51 GMT
Uhm I only saw a pic of Imelda and Elaine Paige at the party Is that the same Elaine Paige who claimed on her radio show to not know what a day seat is. That's probably because you're given a free ticket to every opening night!!! |
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Post by alece10 on Sept 8, 2017 11:05:40 GMT
Uhm I only saw a pic of Imelda and Elaine Paige at the party Is that the same Elaine Paige who claimed on her radio show to not know what a day seat is. That's probably because you're given a free ticket to every opening night!!! I heard that too this morning when listening on catch up. I was amazed she didn't know about them. They have been around for years. |
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Post by alece10 on Sept 8, 2017 11:07:14 GMT
Has anyone seen any photos of opening night of any stars who attended? Usually there is a photo feature on whatsonstage which gives us nosey parkers a look at who went on opening night. Does the NT have after show parties? I can't remember seeing pics for any of theirs |
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Post by gra on Sept 8, 2017 11:56:05 GMT
Re the interval. 'Follies' was written by Sondheim. Sondheim wanted his show to be performed in one act. The National Theatre is respecting the composer's intentions. 'Follies' was written by Sondheim and James Goldman. As author of the book, and therefore architect of the show's narrative arc, the choice to perform it in one act would have been as much Goldman's as anybody else's. True. But James Goldman died nearly 20 years ago....... |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2017 15:19:24 GMT
'Follies' was written by Sondheim and James Goldman. As author of the book, and therefore architect of the show's narrative arc, the choice to perform it in one act would have been as much Goldman's as anybody else's. True. But James Goldman died nearly 20 years ago....... Well he wrote it a long time before he died! |
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Post by sf on Sept 8, 2017 15:23:19 GMT
'Follies' was written by Sondheim and James Goldman. As author of the book, and therefore architect of the show's narrative arc, the choice to perform it in one act would have been as much Goldman's as anybody else's. True. But James Goldman died nearly 20 years ago....... Completely irrelevant. Goldman was very much alive when the show was written to be performed in a single act forty-six years ago. It is not simply Sondheim's 'Follies' - and in this production, which (more or less) restores the original book rather than using the very, very sanitised revised version that has since become the standard edition, arguably places even more emphasis on Goldman's contribution. |
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Post by junet on Sept 8, 2017 15:32:08 GMT
Saw this last night. Sondheim falls into two categories for me, some I like and some I don't care for. This I liked. I have never seen this before so didn't know what to expect. I try not to read too much about shows I have never seen before going to see them.
I thought all the big numbers were great. The whole cast worked for me. I was seated right at the end of a row at the side but didn't miss a thing. The 2 hours and 15 minutes flew by for me so didn't miss not having an interval.
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Post by lou105 on Sept 9, 2017 10:38:22 GMT
Quite a few tickets just gone on for next week, if anyone is watching out.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2017 10:42:06 GMT
But then i dont need a drink to be able to enjoy a show. Same. I understand that not everyone can sit comfortably through a 2+ hour show due to the way all our bodies are different and just because I can keep a full bladder under control for four hours doesn't mean everyone else does, but people... need drinks to enjoy a show? Have they considered seeing shows they actually like, or if they need a drink for every show, maybe finding a hobby that isn't theatre? Alcohol is wonderful. It makes everything better. You either get that or you don't. |
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Post by lonlad on Sept 9, 2017 11:11:17 GMT
Hmmm ...... interesting.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Sept 9, 2017 12:12:32 GMT
Very rarely (never) go to see musicals but took a punt on his last night as it was at the National and starred Imelda Staunton.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, found the theme, lyrics, and being haunted physically by your younger self truly fascinating.
The only question I have before dabbling in some other classics, is it normal to clap at the end of every song, found it distracting and disrupted the flow.
As predominantly someone who sees plays and used to the hesitancy to clap even at the interval / end of the play,
Feel free to say I just need to lighten up and go with the flow as on reflection if the performances were done as a concert I would have been clapping at the end of each song.
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Post by theatremadness on Sept 9, 2017 12:24:32 GMT
Very rarely (never) go to see musicals but took a punt on his last night as it was at the National and starred Imelda Staunton. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, found the theme, lyrics, and being haunted physically by your younger self truly fascinating. The only question I have before dabbling in some other classics, is it normal to clap at the end of every song, found it distracting and disrupted the flow. As predominantly someone who sees plays and used to the hesitancy to clap even at the interval / end of the play, Feel free to say I just need to lighten up and go with the flow as on reflection if the performances were done as a concert I would have been clapping at the end of each song. Welcome to the board, neilvh!! I'm sure to some, this may seem a weird question, so apologies in advance if you receive some sarky replies, but as you clearly pointed out that you practically never go to musicals, then you deserve a proper answer! The answer is indeed a resounding yes. Applauding at the end of a musical number is pretty much standard, unless the production is staged in such a way which doesn't allow for it. But those are more rare occasions, so if you do decide to dabble more in musicals, then applause should be very much expected throughout! |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 9, 2017 12:33:39 GMT
When they stage the musical numbers so that they finish and go straight to dialogue, thereby preventing applause, you can almost feel a frisson of annoyance go round the theatre. And then of course there's the uncertain, should we/shouldn't we half-applause. Very uncomfortable!  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2017 12:36:51 GMT
In addition, the music gives the audience a cue to applaud most of the time, with what is referred to as a 'button', a note or series of notes and the end of a song or piece of music that suggests finality. On the other hand a show like Girl From the North Country deliberately takes these away or obscures them, by fading into dialogue, so that applause doesn't happen. It doesn't always quite work, of course, and some audience members applaud while the cast are trying to plough on or there is a yawning silence when they don't!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2017 12:41:09 GMT
When they stage the musical numbers so that they finish and go straight to dialogue, thereby preventing applause, you can almost feel a frisson of annoyance go round the theatre. And then of course there's the uncertain, should we/shouldn't we half-applause. Very uncomfortable! Not to mention the "That was a sh*te song, wasn't it? Surely I'm not expected to clap that" moment we often feel as members of an audience, which is met with an embarrassed silence and which is probably quite uncomfortable for the person up on the stage who's just sung it. |
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Post by tonyloco on Sept 9, 2017 12:47:40 GMT
Good point BurlyBeaR. It seems to me that most musicals are structured so that applause is expected at the end of each song or number and I think 'Follies' is no exception, in fact most of the numbers in 'Follies' are surely written with grand-stand endings to collect applause, including the dramatic ones. Even shows with through-written musical scores generally make allowance for applause after the main numbers. But I hope that neilvh continues to experiment with musicals as there is much to enjoy in that genre and, who knows, he might even like '42nd Street' which is the ultimate example of a feast of singing and dancing with almost no story but hey, what fun!
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Post by tonyloco on Sept 9, 2017 13:02:01 GMT
In addition, the music gives the audience a cue to applaud most of the time, with what is referred to as a 'button', a note or series of notes and the end of a song or piece of music that suggests finality. On the other hand a show like Girl From the North Country deliberately takes these away or obscures them, by fading into dialogue, so that applause doesn't happen. It doesn't always quite work, of course, and some audience members applaud while the cast are trying to plough on or there is a yawning silence when they don't! I had a strange experience recently at 'The Wedding Singer' at Bromley when two consecutive numbers in the first act received no applause from the rather elderly and semi-somnolent audience. I was in the front row and ready to applaud both songs but as I quickly realised I would have been applauding on my own I refrained from doing so. Both numbers were rather gentle and low key but it still felt very odd that they ended in silence. The characters on stage were left rather stranded as they picked up the dialogue and I certainly felt a bit uncomfortable as well. Things improved in the second act when both the show and the audience livened up and it all ended with an enthusiastic reception at the end, thank heavens. |
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Post by ctas on Sept 9, 2017 13:12:06 GMT
RE: applause, I tend to think of musical theatre in similar terms to the ballet for when to applaud or not. So if there's some kind of pause for acknowledgment, applaud. If there isn't, keep quiet.
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Post by tonyloco on Sept 9, 2017 13:38:32 GMT
RE: applause, I tend to think of musical theatre in similar terms to the ballet for when to applaud or not. So if there's some kind of pause for acknowledgment, applaud. If there isn't, keep quiet. Ah, ctas, apart from serious ballets, there is nothing more wonderful and exciting at the ballet than for an audience to enthusiastically applaud some spectacular feat of dancing during the performance! This livens up the performers as well as the audience and in no time at all the dancers are excelling themselves and leaping higher, spinning faster and doing double fouettées instead of singles! Yes, I know this can feel a bit like the circus but that's really why we go to Don Quixote or Le Corsair or La Bayadere anyway to see these feats of physical accomplishment so why not applaud them as they actually happen? The dancers love it! |
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Post by orchestrator on Sept 9, 2017 14:27:52 GMT
What has been said about “buttons” above is correct. The audience need only a very delicate short bass note from the double bass or piano to know that that is a cue to applaud. Directors like to mess around with buttons; taking them out where the composer clearly wrote them and, more rarely, putting them in. No one would dream of applauding a song in the cinema so movies tend to rush on to the next camera angle. Theatre directors often get confused and think they’re directing a movie, hence the confusion!
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