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).
Performing Arts, Within theatre, Without Theatre...
Fri, 29 Aug 2008, 08:03 pmI guess it all depends, I mean things have changed. It depends what type of performance it is. If the piece is like a major production like Sunset Blvd. or something I guess it is customary to bow, as that is what would be expected.
But if the production was really saying something, or was intended to make some sort of impact then the director might not want a bow to occur. I think it is entirely up to the director, wether she or he wants it in thier show or not.
There are no rules in art, well at least the art I am often involved with. I seen Civil at Pica recently, and the solo actor was stark naked and covered in red wine by the end and he still bowed, so it really depends on what the director wants.
Maybe even some theatre may not traditionally include a bow, for instance, theatre now is very different from the theatre that was here before this civilisation came about.
Street theatre, War renactments for example, they often dont end with bows. Performance is everywhere, and its nothing new either, it has been like that for years now, It doesnt have to occur in a theatre or in a traditional way. Thats my view anyway.
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