Curtain Calls
Fri, 9 Mar 2001, 01:43 pmWalter Plinge12 posts in thread
Curtain Calls
Fri, 9 Mar 2001, 01:43 pmI'd like a bit of discussion about curtain calls.What are the protocols?They seem to vary & this may be a good thing.But,should they be judged as part of the show?I have at times seena very tight and well directed show,followed by a sloppy CC.Sometimes the CC seems to be a "free for all"with waves to family & friends,thumbs up signs,indespersed with random bows.
During some CCs (and I think this only applies to non professional theatre),cast members applaud EACH OTHER,a practice which makes me cringe.I think members of the audience should be the sole judges of who's worth a clap.But what about applause for the Bio Box mob & the backstage crew??Is this a good idea?
And finally CCs frequently look like an after thought,which the director afterall the hard& creative work on the production says (or thinks)Oh ,now what about the bloody CC.Maybe this could be a job for the stage manager;the Director having completed the actual production!!Whatdoyareckon?
PS There's also the question of wether we need CCs at all.Some productions don't have them,usually because of the negative impact they may have on the show.
So to have or not to have,or how to have & what to do!!! Any comments???
During some CCs (and I think this only applies to non professional theatre),cast members applaud EACH OTHER,a practice which makes me cringe.I think members of the audience should be the sole judges of who's worth a clap.But what about applause for the Bio Box mob & the backstage crew??Is this a good idea?
And finally CCs frequently look like an after thought,which the director afterall the hard& creative work on the production says (or thinks)Oh ,now what about the bloody CC.Maybe this could be a job for the stage manager;the Director having completed the actual production!!Whatdoyareckon?
PS There's also the question of wether we need CCs at all.Some productions don't have them,usually because of the negative impact they may have on the show.
So to have or not to have,or how to have & what to do!!! Any comments???
RE: Curtain Calls
Fri, 9 Mar 2001, 02:06 pmWell for my two cents, I recently saw a curtain call at a certain song and dance show at a certain pub in Northbridge and it was effectively done but somewhat lacking due to the lack on consistency in the cast. The play-with-songs had ended on a very somber and affecting tableu, which I think reached every member of the audience with it's power and passion. But what to do for a CC after a moment like that? The be-specticled director had chosen to have his cast come on with serious faces and for the bows to be somber in keeping with the note the show had ended on. Which was well though out and effective......
EXCEPT, it was opening night, the show had been truely a rip snorter and everyone, particularly the young people on stage, attempted to hold their serious expressions while at the same time fighting not to scream and hug each other and beam at the appreciative audience which was going bananas. A few smiles and one lovely big grin showed through, rather ruining the effect of the CC, but at the same time being completely understandable.
I think they'd all done an amazing job in very trying conditions and they deserved to show their releif anf pleasure at an appreciative audience; this was their big reward after all that work. But at the same time, that would have completely dissipated the tension of the dying moments of the show.
Solution? Wouldn't have a clue.
EXCEPT, it was opening night, the show had been truely a rip snorter and everyone, particularly the young people on stage, attempted to hold their serious expressions while at the same time fighting not to scream and hug each other and beam at the appreciative audience which was going bananas. A few smiles and one lovely big grin showed through, rather ruining the effect of the CC, but at the same time being completely understandable.
I think they'd all done an amazing job in very trying conditions and they deserved to show their releif anf pleasure at an appreciative audience; this was their big reward after all that work. But at the same time, that would have completely dissipated the tension of the dying moments of the show.
Solution? Wouldn't have a clue.