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26-Jan / 1 COMMENTS
Some weeks ago while watching the musical Jersey boys in the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht, I felt again, what I feel from time to time, that sitting down takes away part of the pleasure of seeing a performance. Don’t get me wrong, as a performer, I do understand the idea of putting your audience in chairs. We want a well behaved audience that sits down quietly and doesn’t ruin the show for everyone else. We think in the line of: “People that came all this way to be entertained and paid good money for their tickets should be able to enjoy the whole experience and not be bothered by some crazy lady that can’t manage to sit down”.
We didn’t always think like this though. Theaters in the 18th century had the best places close to the stage for the cheapest prices. If you got those, you would see a whole opera while standing! People could go away and come back for the better bits (yes, I just wrote that!) dance to the lovely tune that was playing and/or get into fights, all while the performance was happening. The show was definitely disturbed by this privilege, I’ll give you that, but it allowed the audience to react to the show. Something’s boring? You don’t have to focus on it pretending to understand. Something striking is happening on stage? The audience would shut up and tune in.
Some hundreds of years later, in a show like Jersey Boys, where all the songs are Rock n’ Roll #1 hits, sitting is like being forced into a cultural straight jacket. After the show I got the chance to speak to a few of the musicians. They all told me they saw me dancing (in my seat) and how cool it is when someone in the audience actually reacts to what happens on stage. I can relate to that very much. There’s nothing worse for me than giving a concert where the audience is dead. On stage I want to communicate, to reach someone with the music I’m making. Getting something spontaneous back from the people you are giving your heart to, is perhaps what we are here to do.
Take a look at this video from the London show. Would you be able to sit still?
‘Jersey Boys Musical’ – London- Medley 08
Beatrix Theater Jersey Boys Musical Utrecht
Having paid to see tribute act in the past, and not able to see a thing , due to people standing in front of us, I agree an audience should be seated. It spoils it for those who have paid to be entertained. If you wish people to be up dancing then maybe you need two different sessions. P.s due to the fact we couldn’t see the tribute act ,we left, a very dissatisfied customer.