I've noticed that standing ovations are now almost the default reaction in many London theatres, no matter how mediocre the production. I'm not exactly sure when this happened. It's very annoying
By the way, is it possible to access any of your previous lectures/book club sessions (both on your substack and the ones recorded with interintellect)? I'm a newcomer to your Substack and would love to be able to access past talks/lectures!
I'm an American journalist and a great admirer of your work--and with what you've said in your podcasts about Stoppard and his work. I'd like to talk your response to this production for a piece I'm writing. I find myself disagreeing with you, which is unsettling to me because I generally don't --so I fear I'm wrong!
I very much enjoyed the talk, and the venue was wonderful. Hugely stimulating, although the weather was against you (I was the English teacher who asked the second question)
Can understand the use of microphones in musical theatre, where regular performances for a long run must strain the voice, but not otherwise. Actors used to be taught to project at drama school; has this gone out of fashion?
I wholeheartedly agree with you about standing ovations for poor or even average plays, and it's both a disservice and disrespectful to the excellent drama that really is worth this accolade. Yes, the cast have performed live for an audience, but that's their job, and there is nothing wrong with seated applause.
I've noticed that standing ovations are now almost the default reaction in many London theatres, no matter how mediocre the production. I'm not exactly sure when this happened. It's very annoying
By the way, is it possible to access any of your previous lectures/book club sessions (both on your substack and the ones recorded with interintellect)? I'm a newcomer to your Substack and would love to be able to access past talks/lectures!
yes everything is available on the website
Same in live classical music. I think it’s just appreciation for real people performing for us. It’s humbling sometimes.
That's a nice way of thinking about it!
I'm an American journalist and a great admirer of your work--and with what you've said in your podcasts about Stoppard and his work. I'd like to talk your response to this production for a piece I'm writing. I find myself disagreeing with you, which is unsettling to me because I generally don't --so I fear I'm wrong!
tell me more about your thoughts of the production
Good grief - microphones - is voice projection not taught at drama school any longer?
Come be an American permanently, it's complicated but great.
I very much enjoyed the talk, and the venue was wonderful. Hugely stimulating, although the weather was against you (I was the English teacher who asked the second question)
Yes! I could never read popular history after working an office and comparing the paperwork we created with what really happened. :)
Can understand the use of microphones in musical theatre, where regular performances for a long run must strain the voice, but not otherwise. Actors used to be taught to project at drama school; has this gone out of fashion?
I wholeheartedly agree with you about standing ovations for poor or even average plays, and it's both a disservice and disrespectful to the excellent drama that really is worth this accolade. Yes, the cast have performed live for an audience, but that's their job, and there is nothing wrong with seated applause.
Maggie Smith, Penelope Keith, Felicity Kendall - ah, you are singing the right songs.