by Caroline Thompson

Created on: October 08, 2007

I find it interesting that there is a debate on audience appreciation. Audience response is a subjective emotion, not to mention a personal one. In a sense it seems that some on the yes side wish to dictate or delineate rules on how an audience is supposed to respond. Who would determine the actual meter scale used to rate a show? Would a show have to make you cry to merit an ovation? Would comedy's be excluded unless they were comedy/dramas? How would you rate what moves you to an ovation? Audience reaction is just that, a reaction. If a show moves people to jump out of their seats and start hooting, then that show has done its job of entertaining.

I agree with the lady who wrote "can there be too much appreciation." It is like wine, you can taste a hundred wines and love them all. Mostly, if a show is doing well and has an audience, that means that it is a good show. If people don't like a show, then more than likely they won't go. If a lot of people don't like the show, then the show will close eliminating the whole concept of audience response. Therefore, you could take this argument further and say that most shows that stay around are good shows (butts in the seats mean something) and should have a positive audience response.

It is wonderful to think that people are more and more moved to appreciate the art and craft of the field of entertainment. Perhaps people are more enthusiastic in today's world. Maybe the general public have a greater appreciation for the craft and skill involved in putting on a production. Whatever the reason, people have the right to respond joyously and express what they feel. After all, this is entertainment that we are talking about here.

As a final note, I shoot theater productions (that would be in the film sense) and don't see standing ovations all that much. I participate in theater more than your average patron as I do this in my work and therefore I choose to stand on the "no" side.

Learn more about this author, Caroline Thompson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.