4,970 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 17, 2017 0:26:48 GMT
For me when the cast take their final bows and the audience recipicate with an ovation, the show is done, so just stop singing a bit more after you have taken your bows, it is unnecessary and pointless*, if you cannot convey in the 2:30 hours a great show, then it is fruitless bludgeoning the audience with an extra 2 minutes. It is a bit like you have had a decent meal and then at the end the waiter comes round with those ersatz free liqueur, that I equally pointless.
*Except when you croon - 'you have maggots in your scrotum.'
So give the audience a break and take your bows, accept the ovation and everyone is happy.
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Post by wickedgrin on Mar 17, 2017 1:17:33 GMT
Yes, I concur - leave the audience wanting more not "oh god there's more!"
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Mar 17, 2017 1:57:16 GMT
See I generally don't mind this, however what I can't deal with is the "everybody on your feet!" craze of let's play some fun upbeat music, get everyone to stand, and then bosh we've got ourselves a standing ovation!
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2,051 posts
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Post by infofreako on Mar 17, 2017 2:28:11 GMT
I think the music after the bows thing works with certain kinds of shows better than others. Generally jukebox musicals or shows of a similar ilk.
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 17, 2017 7:25:28 GMT
People have buses to catch!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 7:44:26 GMT
I look forward to your Thread Starters, Phantom- always entertaining in content and style- and this one is no exception!
I actually quite like a reprise of something really catchy we've heard earlier in the show but it has to be very short, and very sweet. And I agree with daniel- don't do it as a ploy to get a standing ovation.
(I'm fascinated by the "maggots song" although it's not one I've come across!
And I've never been offered a free liqueur after a decent meal, only a really crappy tourist meal. Perhaps this is why some shows offer an encore free of charge???)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 7:51:11 GMT
I hate musical curtain calls. I'd rather be able to applaud as I see fit than get lost in a sea of people trying (and inevitably failing!) to clap in time with the music. Just do the finale, let us applaud, then we can all go home.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 8:46:00 GMT
If you want to leave, then leave (and if you think it makes you look rude then that's your problem). Curtain calls are never going to be loved by everyone, but I've never seen one that didn't go down well with a large part of the audience.
I like musical curtain calls, they generally wrap up a show nicely and I usually enjoy them. In certain shows such as Mamma Mia they're essential.
Then again, as a musician I find anyone who leaves before the orchestra finishes playing rude - no harm in getting close to the door, but unless you've got a train to catch that you're definitely going to miss, then give them the respect they deserve by listening right to the end.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 9:30:22 GMT
I have a weird fascination with curtain calls and the "politics" of it...but I also have an aversion for enforced 'joining in' and people unable to clap in time...
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2,676 posts
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Post by viserys on Mar 17, 2017 9:44:14 GMT
I find it often depends on my mood, how tired I am and how much I liked the show. Generally I also prefer a short and sweet non-musical curtain call to applaud the cast and orchestra and be gone.
It gets extra-cringeworthy when a musical curtain call first gets people to their feet for a half-baked clap-along standing ovation, then moves on to the reprise of a slower number, so half the audience sits down again pronto, leaving others to look around in confusion before slowly sinking back into their seats (and up again a minute later).
Though generally I think London is great with curtain calls, it's worse in Germany. The worst I've ever sat through was an atrocious pile of dreck that masqueraded as a retelling of the Nibelungen Saga (think Wagner's Ring), which was topped off by an endless self-congratulatory "mega-mix" that reprised said dreck. I have so successfully banished it from my mind that I can't remember if we bolted before the mega-mix ended or if I just sat in utter frustration.
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Mar 17, 2017 9:45:32 GMT
Speaking of clapping in time...it's said that there is a special place in hell reserved for those who clap on 1 and 3...
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Post by schuttep on Mar 17, 2017 9:59:27 GMT
I agree, if I've just seen the musical I don't need a megamix review of the whole show again.
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Post by bellboard27 on Mar 17, 2017 10:20:14 GMT
I'm all for a bit of added extra at the end. Especially if it's something additional rather than a rehash of what has gone before, like in WWRY and Mamma Mia. However, sometimes a revisit is definitely called for, such as everyone doing the time warp again for Rocky Horror. It's not serious. It's a bit of fun. And I'm all for a bit of fun!
It's also not limited to musicals. Christopher does his explanation after the curtain call in Curious Incident.
As for clapping out of time - I'll have you know my clapping is syncopation (well that's what I tell those around me!).
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2,051 posts
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Post by infofreako on Mar 17, 2017 10:44:44 GMT
I agree, if I've just seen the musical I don't need a megamix review of the whole show again. Though Mamma Mia would benefit from skipping straight to the megamix |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 13:04:32 GMT
I can't lie, I don't mind a musical curtain call hoever, I can't stand it if there is music over the cast bowing. Because people start clapping along and you don't get true appreciation for the performers. I'd rather it be just the audience response, then once the bows end, outro music or the megamix begins haha.
But, is it a big issue for everyone really. If you don't like them, you can just leave. No one is obliged to stay, most people are already on their feet so tou won't be disturbing anybody.
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Mar 17, 2017 13:12:18 GMT
Silent bows for a musical? Please, it's just wrong. Unless it's the Sam Mendes version of Cabaret where the ending precluded music and nearly precluded applause.
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Post by aksis on Mar 17, 2017 13:33:06 GMT
I feel they should tell the people in advance if there is a musical curtain call and people are free to sing along at that moment and should shut up the rest of the time. Will make a lot of people happy.
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Post by notmymuse on Mar 17, 2017 19:59:02 GMT
I'm guessing the reason they do it is very cynical and driven by marketing. People tend to over-remember endings and feelings, so if you can make your audience walk out feeling happy and upbeat, they'll remember the show that way (even if it wasn't very good). Word of mouth and reviews will then be better. Of course, backfires horribly if it annoys people, but we on this board are hardly representative of the average theatre attendee.
That said, I'd love to see a Sondheim Megamix at the end of each of his musicals.
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4,020 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 17, 2017 20:09:14 GMT
I have a weird fascination with curtain calls and the "politics" of it...but I also have an aversion for enforced 'joining in' and people unable to clap in time... I'm not very good at clapping in time. I like to sit front stalls when possible. I therefore spend a lot of extended curtain calls with the dilemma of do I try to clap in time & risk being horribly out or do I sit not clapping & have the rest of the audience & the cast think I'm not being appreciative? |
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Post by distantcousin on Mar 17, 2017 20:29:02 GMT
I have a weird fascination with curtain calls and the "politics" of it...but I also have an aversion for enforced 'joining in' and people unable to clap in time... And having done lots of amateur theatre, I can confirm there's a LOT of politics involved! At the same time, i can't bear the "communistic" all bowing at once (regardless of role) you get in plays and at the Nash. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 20:29:55 GMT
I have a weird fascination with curtain calls and the "politics" of it...but I also have an aversion for enforced 'joining in' and people unable to clap in time... I'm not very good at clapping in time. I like to sit front stalls when possible. I therefore spend a lot of extended curtain calls with the dilemma of do I try to clap in time & risk being horribly out or do I sit not clapping & have the rest of the audience & the cast think I'm not being appreciative? Honestly I was only messing around...I've spent most of my life in choirs that involve both clapping and stepping in time to the music and STILL I bugger it up... I draw the line at loud out of key singing in my ear though  |
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Post by distantcousin on Mar 17, 2017 20:30:17 GMT
I felt The Bodyguard didn't need that silly "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" singalong at the end. The final number was quite beautiful and poignant and then it was back to fake jollity. Ugh.
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Post by garetha on Mar 18, 2017 21:09:51 GMT
Having nightmares about Joseph at this time!
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