I once worked with a theatre producer who told me that most musicals have three acts. The third act is the curtain call. He said that the third act needed as much thought as the other two. He had produced the Sound of Music in the West End with Petula Clark so I think he knew what he was talking about.
I love curtain calls because it’s the moment when you get to see the performers as themselves. You can see whether they enjoyed it or not. Sometimes you can see whether they are generous or not. Some look like you have been privileged to be in their company ( I don’t like them) and some look so pleased at our applause as if it’s important to them (I like them).
Years ago I noticed that National Theatre actors had a particular. way of taking their curtain call. They all walked in briskly with a seemingly gracious look on their faces (“Oh you liked me, how wonderful. You know I’m a National Theatre actor.”) and then stood very still. Then the person in the middle at the front would do a sort of little jump on one foot and everyone rushed off. Sometimes they did the same routine again. I don’t know what they thought they were doing but it made them look so precious and self-important it made me laugh.
There was a time when standing ovations only happened when the performance was extra special. Now it seems that performers almost expect the audience to rise as one at the end of their performance. I think this habit came from America. You can stay in your seat but then you don’t see anything. I really dislike it when the play is ok – not particularly special and then some people down at the front get up quickly and applaud as if to say, “I’ve been at something special here.” Really?
But I know what my producer meant about getting the third act right. When I was a kid the professional pantomime had a pecking order for the walk down. The performers knew the exact moment when to run on and receive the applause and when to step back and join the rest of the company. And of course, the stars would wait that little extra moment before they slowly walked on basking in the applause and often milking it as long as possible. Bless them.
To take it further there are those performances where the curtain finally lowers and the audience demands yet another call as they begin to clap in time with each other. I’m sure this came from rock concerts. Whatever happens, we get a chance to thank them for their efforts and they get a chance to acknowledge our gratitude. You might be surprised how many actors have to be told to cheer up and enjoy their applause.
Anyway, long may this wonderful moment at the end of a show be part of the theatre.
