In his NY Times column today about the American Idol TV show, John Tierney faintly mocks "foolproof Broadway shows with mandatory standing ovations …." That’s one of my pet peeves: The obligatory standing ovation at every concert, play, etc., no matter how workmanlike or even mediocre the job. It cheapens the gesture; if we stand for every performance, then when we see a truly-moving one, we’re left with nothing to signal our pleasure to the performers.
I call on all Americans to join me in courageously bucking this trend. When all around you rise to their feet, purely out of a sense of duty, half-heartedly applauding an unremarkable performance, don’t follow them like sheep: unless you personally feel an overwhelming urge to stand, STAY SEATED!
[It’s time to take my meds now, you say? :-)]
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