Lisha Cassibo has been writing for the Uxbridge Cosmos for two years, both as a freelancer and as a columnist. She has also written for several parenting magazines both here in Canada and for English publications in Switzerland. She graduated from Carleton University with an honours degree in Journalism and English Literature. She lives with her family in Sunderland.
Applaud now
This weekend will be the fourth weekend out of ten that I shall perform in a wacky British farce at the Herongate Barn and Dinner Theatre (shameless self-promotion, you should all come see it). And each night we perform, my cast mates and I always take a moment and comment on the type of audience we have sitting on the other side of the curtain. An audience is an audience, you think? Oh no. Each audience has its own distinct personality, and its personality is vital to the action that occurs onstage. We actors feed off the energy that the audience provides, no matter what type of show is going on. But some nights we're left starving!
Allow me to explain.
Sometimes we have an audience that we may call a “Shakespeare Audience.” This is the audience that seems to have wanted to go see a thrilling production of Julius Caesar or King Lear, but instead found itself in a comedy that falls short of being great drama. They, in Queen Victoria's fictitious words, “are not amused.” They don't enjoy the slapstick, the potty jokes, the sexual innuendo, and sometimes take great offense at things that, outside the theatre, may be contentious issues, but onstage, are just being made fun of. This is the audience that takes itself way too seriously. And they're a little tough to play to when all you want to do is make 'em laugh!
Another type of audience that is interesting to play to is the Television Audience. This is an audience that gets most of its entertainment off the box at home, or in a cinema. They chuckle to themselves quietly, but don't laugh aloud, or get really involved with the action. They like to patronize the arts, so they come see a live show, but they bring their at-home manners with them. How do we know it's a Television Audience? If we sneak a peek into the first few rows of the audience and see everyone grinning wildly, hands clasped in delight, but no sound coming out, then we know that they like it, they just have forgotten how to express it. These are often the audiences that rave about a show afterward, but give little clue as to how they felt while they were actually watching it.
The Nervous Audience is one that only exists when a production of highly-charged material is being presented. Like, say, The Vagina Monologues. I've done this show twice now, and was always amused at the nervous titters, the uncomfortable shifts in the seats, the coughs meant to disguise a laugh. Really people, you must have known the subject matter when you bought the ticket! An audience that isn't sure of who it's sitting with, whether to laugh or not, cry or not, cheer or not. Going in a large group usually bumps the audience up to the next level, the one that we actors live for.
The audience that is Totally Into It. They're the best. And they usually get the best performances. Because they're charged, the actors get charged, and the energy just takes the show away. This is the audience that hollers out “Behind you!” This is the audience that contains the woman in the third row house left that just can't stop gasping that split second before everyone else, as yet another twist presents itself. This is the audience that laughs. Aloud. Hard. Long. And we like that. We don't like it when our funniest line is delivered and the squeak of crickets is the only response.
I fully realize that some productions just don't warrant a Totally Into It audience. And if you're going to see Romeo and Juliet, then you better hope you're with the right crowd. It does depend on what you're seeing, where, even when. Friday night audiences tend to be a little tough - everyone's tired from the work week and they just want to be entertained, not give anything back. Thursday nights can be terrific because everyone's pumped that the next day is Friday! Saturday nights are generally pretty good because that group chooses to devote a weekend evening to this activity, and they're gonna make the most of it! Matinees are dicey - they can be full of kids, depending on the production (and kids are an audience type all on their own) or full of people who know they just can't stay awake for an evening production.
What's most interesting, however, is that the types don't mix. You never get a Shakespeare/Totally Into It audience at the same time, for example. Brawls would break out. There is an unspoken vibe that seems to settle on the audience once it's seated, and it decides before the curtain even rises what the timbre will be for that evening. It takes us actors only a few minutes to figure out what we're dealing with, and we adjust our performances accordingly. We'll work our butts off for that laugh, that cheer. Ultimate goal - a standing ovation.
Really though, we just want to know that we are giving you a good time. Life is busy, and you took time out to come see us perform for you. If you just want to be quiet, that's okay. If you want to let loose, that's great too. We can only promise to do our best with what we're given, and only hope that you applaud when we take our bows.
