by Mark Morris

Created on: April 19, 2010

From academics to sports Americans, in particular, seem afraid these days to rate anyone's performance as less than exemplary. We would rather graduate students who can't read, give trophies to teams who don't try and most egregious of all, we give standing ovations to mediocre performances.

Over the past thirty years I have had the pleasure of entertaining hundreds of audiences as a performer, director and even playwright. While there is nothing quite so sweet to a thespians ears than the applause of an appreciative audience it has become rather like asking your mother to critique your second grade art project, she always loves it.

Perhaps we have become deadened to the finer nuances of live performance seeing as we glut ourselves on all manner of media. Most modern audiences spend little time inside the hallowed halls of the theatre and may not even be capable of discerning a quality performance when it is presented to them. Like diners who are used to cheeseburgers and greasy pizza, when faced with decent food cooked with fresh ingredients it is all too easy for them to believe that they are witnessing the work of a great chef.

While it is true that many in the theatre have fragile egos that require a good deal of stroking. I will speak for my company of actors when I request that you stop standing to applaud every live performance that you see. Stand only when it moves you. Stand only when you truly feel it. Do not bow to peer pressure. The audience around may not respect you for your choice, but we will.

You see, as actors we are told to strive for “truth” in out performances, to find the common links between ourselves and our characters and to exploit them in unveiling the inner workings of the human heart and mind. We need that from you to. We need our gauge back. We need our compass. In order to know when we have hit the mark, this traditional homage to greatness needs to be restored. Actors will appreciate your congratulations and there is certainly no need to be unkind.

It is perfectly acceptable to reward effort with hearty applause, but please reserve the standing ovation for the moments that truly move you. Give us that laurel back. Let us work for it, and long for it and know that when it comes we have at last reached the goal we have sought for so long, a truly genuinely , incredible experience .

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