Pajama Games

During the musical Pajama Games, I thought it was a lot different than seeing a film.  When we arrived we found our seats with the help of a lady checking tickets.  Once we were seated, I noticed how everyone was talking about how they heard the show was very well performed.  Usually in a film people are talking about the previews from other movie clips being shown.  Once the music started the entire audience got quiet.  This is what would also be expected in a movie theater.  Once the movie starts everyone is drawn in by the opening music.   During the play the audience responded in laugher and as part of the audience I really felt connected with the people performing in the musical.  Live theatre has a way of trying to draw your eyes to a certain spot on stage with lighting effects and people talking and singing, yet they do not have full control over what part of the stage you look at so they have many things going on.  In many parts of the play they had the main actors in the middle of the stage and then the “background” people still having conversations and doing their own thing.  I feel this does not happen a lot in a film.  In a film the director is sure to have the audience only watch what is meant to be seen.  This happens when the camera may zoom in on certain people of the film, or not have someone in the background doing something else when something important is going on in the movie.  I thought it was really interesting how I was so captured by the actors and actresses and often caught myself moving along with the beat of a the music.  During the intermission I heard people talking about how fast they transformed the stage into another scene and how great the songs were.  During films you do not have a chance to take a break and talk about what you have seen so far.  Many people were chatting about what songs they liked to most and which songs they liked the least. 

                After the intermission was over the music started again and everyone got quiet and settled into their seats.  The musical continued and the audience became one with the actors.  As everyone laughed along with each other and it showed they were following the play, and having a great time watching it.  The audience also clapped for the performers after every song.  This is something that would not happen in a film.  Once a film starts, the audience usually does not clap.  I have been in a theater watching a film and at the end no one claps.  At the end of this musical the performers came out and bowed as the audience remained clapping for each of them.  I thought it was neat because the audience showed great appreciation to the performers because we had been connected with their story the whole play.  As they were performing, I felt as if I was part of the factory and their each individual story.  I went into the theatre not knowing what to expect, or if I would like it.  But, I really enjoyed this musical and had a great experience with it.