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
Mon, 12 Mar 2001, 10:55 amAs a lighting designer working mainly in amateur theatre the worst curtain calls I have seen have been the laclustre attempt to "put something on" and do not help the show as the audience goes away with a bad last scene. The best have been blocked and at times choreographed to music as in Lend Me A Tenor and compliment the show. From a technical aspect they need to be planned and rehearsed, even if as I have just learnt that superstition places this job on the last dress rehearsal, so that lighting, sound and stage crew know what is happening so that we do not spoil the efforts of the quality of the rest of the production. The audience is the cue for a curtain call, a responsive audience on a good night will ask for and should get several curtain calls but if they don't ask for it in their clapping then it is the stage managers call to keep it short or even not at all.