Last week I wrote here about the sometimes-disruptive behaviour of fellow audience members, and someone replied, “Can any audience response ever be inappropriate?”
Obviously they’ve never sat in front of Christopher Biggins at a comedy show. At last night’s first night for Little Britain Live, I had to watch the entire show filtered through the near-hysterical, hyena-like braying gurgling of his reactions booming from behind me. The low rumble of recognition as each character presented themselves would quickly erupt into a high-pitched squeal of apparent comic delight. And there’s nothing that can kill one’s own laughter as quickly as someone else over-reacting. Of course, Biggins – as he is universally known – is a fixture at such openings; no envelope has ever been opened without him being present. The same is true of Su Pollard, and she, too, is a whole show in herself whenever she’s at one (since she’s rarely these days actually in one).
Of course, people in the ‘business’, or its periphery, often feel they need to be ‘on’ all the time. But actually the desperate attention-seeking displays like this, whether conscious or not, are not much of a performance; and do nothing for the performance we’re actually there to watch.
Of course, actors are far from the only ones to do this. And maybe I’m just far too sensitive to those around me. I’m sure I’ve been guilty, too, and have been known to irritate other audience members myself – it’s the ebb and flow of being a member of the collective mass of an audience. The truth is, too, that going to the theatre as often as I do, I’m bound run into such irritations more often. But next time I see Biggins in the vicinity, I’m moving seats…..
I had a similar experience last night, at the Short Cuts festival at Southwark's Union Theatre. Of the three short plays we saw, the last one, "Dogfight", was certainly the most challenging and engaging. And while there was a great deal of light comedy in it, the woman in the row behind us was hooting and hollering as if every actor on stage were Frankie Howerd brought back to life.
It was incredibly distracting, especially in such a small theatre space. The play certainly didn't warrant it, but it got to the stage where I just couldn't laugh at any of the inherent humour in the piece at all because I was constantly trying to block out the braying donkey behind me.
re‧sponse [ri-spons]
–noun 1. an answer or reply, as in words or in some action.
By very definition an audience "response" requires an answer or action. It is not an audience response at all to sit stoic and silent save the odd tutt in the direction of anyone who makes a sound.
Back in Shakespeare's time the groundlings bayed and hollered and threw tomatoes at the actors. Is theatre better or worse off now that etiquette requires audiences to sit stock still in stuffy silence for long periods in agonisingly uncomfortable seats for which they've paid a king's ransom? Is theatre more alive and exciting? Is it more likely to attract young people?
I always feel these kind of irritations are made worse by knowing the person causing the irritation. When you know them you have a 'back story' of previous encounters that makes the current annoyance seem worse. With a complete stranger you have the relief of knowing you will probably never see them again.
Biggins is so irritating. This is a man who has carved out an excellent career for himself by going to first night premieres all over the West End and drawing attention to himself. I can vividly rember being at the first night performance of Neil Simons excellent play THE 23th FLOOR years ago at the Queens THeatre and seeing him throw an absolute fit at some poor young usher who had made the obviously unforgivable crime of charging him just two pounds for a play bill. Not content with his free ticket, free food and free champagne Biggins was outraged to be charged for his show programme.
Cheap, stupid and egotistical! Who Biggins... I rest my case.
Biggins does an incredible amount of work for charity. If he chooses to accept invitations to first nights, why shouldn’t he? He achieved his personality status in the first place, let’s not forget, because he was a rather good and successful actor and as such should not be subjected to a bashing in what is a trade paper.
Good and successful? The only thing I ever liked him in was RENTA GHOST, now that was a classic. As for a bashing well that comes with the territory especially if you are a big mouth with a tight wallet! Take a chill pill Robert and wipe your nose.
To be fair to all sides, Christopher Biggins may have the odd slight fault, but he does do an enormous amount of work for charity.
I understand that this isn't without any intention of self promotion, but I've met him several times now through various charity events and he has always been a very pleasant and funny man, who has entertained not only me, but the whole audience.
It begs the question "Why has Christopher Biggins never been knighted?"
And this is a matter I took up with my local MP, and indeed Mr Blair in the form of a letter.
The world would be a much much poorer and less colourful place without the likes of Christopher Biggins, whom I would gladly share my Quality Street if I ever had the pleasure of sitting next to him during a production.
You still a fan of Rentaghost then Lincoln?
Christopher Biggins being knighted? Now that's a novel idea. I suppose one more crazy, eccentric, out of touch, tax scrounging leech wont make any difference. However Biggins does have one redeeming quality he starred in the very best childrens TV show ever. Yes, I am still very much a fan of Rentaghost! It ran from 1976 to 1986 and I never missed an episode.
Nothing on TV today will ever measure up to this excellent programme. God bless the old school. All the new school has ever given us is the dirge of reality television.
I think that if Jimmy Savile has been knighted then it seems only fair that Christopher Biggins should enjoy the same honour.
I met both Savile and Biggins at a benefit for boys addicted to heroin in Liverpool, and they both couldn't do enough to help.
Christopher Biggins also entertained the attendees with some ribald stories, and Savile spoke solemnly and sincerely on a one to one basis.
Such a shame they didn't get together for a pantomime.
I thought Christopher Biggins was a character out of Charles Dickens, a Christmas Carol. What the hell are you lot on about!!
Charles Dickens? Christopher Biggins?
Christopher Biggins, alongside Su Pollard is one of the UK's finest character actors, and appearing in pantomime this year in Nottingham.