NY Daily News: Spending several hours a week in the dark with actors and hundreds of strangers is what theater critics do.
No news flash in that — or that it’s my job to review what’s on stage.
But is it also my task to assess what’s happening around me in other seats? In other words, to make the crowd response part of a review.
Maybe. Or not.
13 comments:
So often I feel like theater performances are self-indulgent because they are forgetting about the audience. A great deal of how I experience performances relies on the energy of those experiencing the piece with me. Interactive theater pieces tend to be gimmicky, but they can also be very powerful. Audiences appreciate the nod.
in a world of 3D movies and interactive games, it makes sense that theatres are more interactive with the audience as well. Granted, some audience members may not want to be on stage but they aren't forced to go up there either. Furthermore, the person who won't get off the phone might be more likely to stay off if their friend is onstage or they themselves are on stage. it's ok to be interactive with the audience! Just not too much.
I saw the most brilliant production of Hamlet in The Cameri theater in Israel. The production is extremely "Audience Involving", quite brilliant. The stage is set as a runway with swivel chairs on both side of the runway. In addition, there are little stages in the different corner of the black box theater. During the performance, the audience swivels in the chairs to face the actors on the different stages. In addition, the actors engage with the audience asking them to stand up at certain times in the show, taking things from the audience and so forth.
The production was extremely successful and went on to many Shakespeare festivals around the world.
I thought the concept of Audience Interaction was cool but I defiantly wouldn't want it for each show.
I really enjoyed this article and agreed with most of the things he had to say. As an audience member you should be focusing on the performance, and not on other audience members. Everyone has different reactions (and there is no right reaction to have) to any given show, and that is one of reason why you should focus on the performance. Focusing only on what is happening on stage will allow you to fully be part in the journey that is happening on stage. By not shutting down your phone, and having it vibrate in your pocket for 2 hours, one can't tag along on the character's story. More importantly this will disconnect you from the world that is on stage. You will not die if you can't check your email, texts, facebook, twitter for 2 hours. I promise.
As an audience member, I'm a terrible fidget; not because I'm bored, because stage energy gets to me very easily. But because of that, I usually am put off by blatant audience participation. The theatre I enjoy is a glimpse into another world; usually, I don't like to be reminded where I am.
I do agree, however, that audience interaction done discretely could be an extremely powerful tool. Personally, I've never experienced it.
Hanna Berggren:
I definitely agree with the author of this article when he says that audiences are getting more involved in the productions themselves. Sleep No More, is based purely on audience participation. Although I have not seen the show, I've heard only great things. You can follow around different characters on different floors in different stages of the show!
I believe that audience participation is a critical aspect to theatre. The audience is this unpredictable mass that the actors need to work with and please. There are many things that audience members can do to piss off one another, including, standing, texting, screaming, talking, and many other distractions, but this makes the show interesting and a challenge for everyone. I love how shows are incorporating more audience participation. Audience interaction keeps the members on their feet at all times because you wont know what is coming. It also changes the experience for the viewers, where people can see a show multiple times, but each time is a totally different experience.
The interactive theatre he was talking about sounded pretty interesting. I would love to investigate just to see what it was all about. First to bring the audience on stage I think could be important for some theatre but not all theatre in these new times. The impression I have been given from the media today is that interactive is good and traditional sitting there is not as good as it once was. So I am glad to see theatre adapting and succeeding at that.
Also this is a constant argument of our dependence on that peice of metal,glass, and plastic in each of our pockets. People survived for thousand of years prior to this moment, believe it or not. So I agree turn that thing off.
I'm opposed to audience interaction within shows and hate it when it happens without the audience knowing about it. One of my favorite articles was from The Onion entitled: Oh No, Performers Coming Into Audience.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/oh-no-performers-coming-into-audience,2685/
As an SM I'm nervous when there is audience interaction because you don't know how the secondary party is going to react. They could and probably will respond positively but there is always a chance of worse things happening. You can only plan for so much. I'd be interested in talking with the Management of the shows that have these events and seeing what they have by way of contingencies.
My opinion is I'm there to see a show, not be in the show. If I wanted to be in a show I would be an actor. Please keep me offstage where I'm comfortable.
The audience is very important to the show as a whole. The reactions of the audience can really make or break the success of the show. However, audience participation during the performance seems to be taking it a little too far. When I go to the theater, I'm there to see the professionals do what they do best, not cringe as an audience member is dragged up on stage to make a fool of himself. I will clap and cheer and sing along with the music, but when it comes to audience participation, that is the extent of my involvement.
I think that audience involvement can really make a show connect with an audience in the way that it wouldn't have otherwise. Things like teaching patrons a dance or tailoring certain dialogues to reflect the who is there on any given night, puts people in the mind set of the characters and makes them feel as though they are apart of the story. This can make a sudden change in the tone or tragedy in the story hit that much harder in the minds of the audience. It creates a sort of empathy that I think is hard to achieve in any other way.
I think in some cases, interaction with the performers can be fun and exciting, definitely! It always adds something to the show when you see them dancing down the aisles. I mentioned in another post how shows can mesmerize people and they "become" the show, this only makes the experience more real. And I agree, bringing someone on stage might be uncomfortable for them.
I also agree about the rude audience members. I hate when they come in late and they're talking and sometimes you can tell that they went for drinks before the show. I understand, that people might want to get a drink before a show, I have no problem with that, but if you're going to come in late to a show, there aren't any coming attractions! You're just ruining the experience for everyone else! Just stay in the bar or come in for the second act (honestly, it's you're loss since you weren't responsible) They have also been selling wine at shows now too. During the intermission of "Once" they actually have a bar on stage that audience members can go to and get drinks. At some theaters they even have people going around selling drinks like we're at a baseball game or something! I think it's nice that they serve wine, it's classy. But some people drink way too much of it and end up drunk by the end of the show (I have witnessed this quite a few times now). Why would you spend hundreds of dollars to go see shows if you just plan on getting drunk and ruining the experience for everyone else? I think it's rude and just sad that such a thing would even happen.
It's just me sidetracking, but I remember when I was really little and I would go to the Opera with my parents. We never dressed up, but I would see all these women in gorgeous dresses and men in tuxes. I used to tell my mother every time, "when I'm older, I'm going to wear a gown when I go to the opera". It was so luxurious! The last time I went to the opera, I wore a nice summer dress with a small black jacket and a pair of black heels... Not a gown, but it was closer to a gown than what everyone else was wearing. I haven't seen someone dress for the opera in a long time, and I really don't want that tradition of dressing up for the opera to die.
Being apart of the audience is a unique experience and is special to each and every show. Some shows pull the audience up on stage and have them be a part of the show. Others are just so enthralling that the audience is so engrossed in the show its like they are in it. I believe the audience is very important in performances and would not have much of a show without an audience.
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