A little while ago I went to a play. It was an interesting and entertaining play, beautifully produced, with lots of colour, dance and music. I was entertained by it and my thoughts were provoked.
But I was one of the few who wasn't standing at the end.
It's pretty common to give standing ovations at plays now. But I prefer to save my standing ovations for plays that are core shakers.
Plays where the directors and actors have taken great risks and those risks have paid off. Plays that I know I'll be thinking about for days after the applause has died down.
Standing Ovations For My Play
Bit ironic that, given that four out of my five summer shows for People Wipe Me scored standing ovations.
For two of the ovations, the crowd stood up in one fluid movement. But for the other two, some of the audience didn't get up straight away. I looked over at them, trying to telegraph to them: You don't have to get up. Honestly. I won't be offended.
But I reckon they must have thought I was looking over at them to say: 'Come on. Get up. Give me some love.' Because they did eventually stand up.
Why You Dont Need To Give Standing Ovations
Just because I don't stand up after a play doesn't mean I don't appreciate the effort that has been poured into it. I'll clap and cheer.
I'll share it on social media beforehand and write glowing words about it afterwards.
If I know the people involved, I'll message them to say well done. It's a pity that this kind of support is no longer perceived as enough. That if you don't leap out of your chair, it must mean you didn't like it.
I didn't expect standing ovations for People Wipe Me. If I hadn't received any, I wouldn’t have felt the lack.
Standing Ovations for 2023 Shows
Will I receive standing ovations in my post-Christmas shows? That'll be up to the audience. But as long as I'm not greeted by total silence at the end, I'll leave the theatres happy.
Whether you want to give a standing ovation or not, you can buy tickets for my show at Source in Thurles on 2 February, and I'll have news soon about tickets for my show at Wexford Arts Centre on Thursday 19 January.
Photo Description: Here's a pic that backs up what I'm saying. I'm at a performance; I'm one of very few people not standing – and I'm on the front row to the right.
It's pretty common to give standing ovations at plays now. But I prefer to save my standing ovations for plays that are core shakers.
Plays where the directors and actors have taken great risks and those risks have paid off. Plays that I know I'll be thinking about for days after the applause has died down.
Standing Ovations For My Play
Bit ironic that, given that four out of my five summer shows for People Wipe Me scored standing ovations.
For two of the ovations, the crowd stood up in one fluid movement. But for the other two, some of the audience didn't get up straight away. I looked over at them, trying to telegraph to them: You don't have to get up. Honestly. I won't be offended.
But I reckon they must have thought I was looking over at them to say: 'Come on. Get up. Give me some love.' Because they did eventually stand up.
Why We Dont Have To Give Standing Ovations
Just because I don't stand up after a play doesn't mean I don't appreciate the effort that has been poured into it. I'll clap and cheer. I'll share it on social media beforehand and write glowing words about it afterwards.
If I know the people involved, I'll message them to say well done. It's a pity that this kind of support is no longer perceived as enough. That if you don't leap out of your chair, it must mean you didn't like it.
I didn't expect standing ovations for People Wipe Me. If I hadn't received any, I wouldn’t have felt the lack.
Standing Ovations At Future Shows
Will I receive standing ovations in my post-Christmas shows? That'll be up to the audience. But as long as I'm not greeted by total silence at the end, I'll leave the theatres happy.
Whether you want to give a standing ovation or not, you can buy tickets for my show at Source in Thurles on 2 February, and I'll have news soon about tickets for my show at Wexford Arts Centre on Thursday 19 January.