by Timothy Aines

Created on: January 02, 2009   Last Updated: November 21, 2011

Few things in life have become as cheap and as commoditized as the standing ovation. Like you, I haven't been to a theater event in the past 25 years where, due to the overall national decline, dare we say ignorance, this hasn't been expected, obligatory or required. It's the theater equivalent of Slouching towards Gomorrah.

In the faded past of global cultural standards there seems to still be a dim collective memory of rewarding only the exceptional, but as in all things American, making people feel good and rewarding the mundane seems to trump actual talent and performance standards in every venue nowadays.  If I was an actor, I would be really steamed.

They say you can't ever criticize motherhood or apple pie, but let's be honest.  This phenomenon starts with Moms in grade schools with the vibrant effusive celebration of mediocrity for every child, in every event, in every grade, just to make sure no one feels bad. Teachers then encourage it and reinforce it under every performance scenario, again so no one feels bad.  It then carries over to organized sports, and from there to the workplace.  Fortune 500 employers right now are struggling mightily with the problems of an entire generation - Generation Y employees - the current crop of 16 to 29 year olds who are the most praise-addicted group of Americans to ever walk the earth. They automatically assume everyone else should get and expect praise all the time too.  Clearly, our theater audiences are increasingly cut from this same cloth.  Unfortunately, this has now migrated to every live performing art event everywhere, regardless of merit.

Yet the truly educated and well traveled still know the real standard for the standing ovation. The standing ovation is special. It is specifically reserved for special occasions and meritorious performances only. It is always supposed to be the exception, never the rule.

On many occasions, standing ovations in the theater are well earned of course. These types of standing ovations are heartfelt and genuine, and also easy to recognize. Folks leap to their feet quickly, with sincere earnestness and more or less in unison. There is a crackling tension and energy to the applause. The actors know it too, and very much appreciate it.  Outside of America, an even higher standard is used. The genuine international standing ovation begins only when a ranking leader in the audience, typically a prominent member of royalty,

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