Not bowing after a performance?
Tue, 26 Aug 2008, 01:03 amLouisa Fitzhardinge27 posts in thread
Not bowing after a performance?
Tue, 26 Aug 2008, 01:03 amWould you consider leaving the traditional bows out of the end of a piece of theatre?
Have you seen or been involved in a production that has opted to end the show at curtain down?
I've just arrived home from the tech run of SIX (a UDS production; we open on Thursday) where we had a bit of a heated discussion over bows, and whether or not they are necessary/desirable for a play. I think, as an audience member, I'd feel a bit disgruntled if everyone was clapping for minutes on end and the bows just never came. It's expected. Especially in Perth, especially for community theatre, when half the audience is the actors' friends and family. And as an actor, it just seems a bit pretentious and ungrateful not to.
Audience: "You guys were great!"
Actor: "Whatever; shut up. Theatre is an expression of meaning, not an opportunity to bathe in kudos. You clearly don't understand."
Plus it gives an opportunity to thank the SM, lighting crew, sound crew etc...
So what do you reckon? Are curtain calls archaic, pointless and vain? Does it break the tone of the ending of a play if everyone comes on and bows afterwards? Or do they bring the play to a proper end and connect the actors with the audience?
(Of course I don't mean massive Broadway-style choreographed bows... just an ensemble cast taking one bow, applauding to the box and applauding to the wings).
Bouncing curtains
Thu, 28 Aug 2008, 11:38 amI worked in a theatre in the UK that was a converted cinema. House rag was major blue velvet backed with full weight black wool. Weighed a ton and was on a hand winch horizontal not flown. You could bounce the curtains but it was completely knackering. The record was 13 secs for in and out and visiting SM's used to throw their chest out and try to beat it. It was amusing to watch. It was my record and in my prime I was over six feet tall and had great shoulder development. I had of course also had lots of experience playing with the curtain and learning the right way to do it. You had to do it with cans on too because the curtains were OP. The second bounce always took about 4 secs longer and so on. We had a lot of Operas visit. It was a nightmare.
I understand my record was beaten about a year after I left.
Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au
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