History Main / Tableau

* The characters in ''Theatre/SundayInTheParkWithGeorge'' are based on figures who appear in the paintings of Georges Seurat. At the end of the first act, they assume their respective positions in Seurat's "Sunday on the Grande Jatte."

-->'''Mr. Stone''': I must be having hallucinations! What is the meaning of this -->'''grotesque tableau!'''

'''Mr. Stone''': I must be having hallucinations! What is the meaning of this '''grotesque tableau!'''

* ''Manga/CromartieHighSchool'' used tableaus with RunningGag frequency, both in the manga version, but also in the anime adaption -- where it was completely lampshaded.
--> "I'm getting sick of this. If you have any complaints, [[TakeThat then watch the anime a thousand times over.]] ''[gets suddenly shocked]'' WHAT ANIME?! It's not even moving!!! ''[[[StockFootage his pencil falls to the ground]]]'' Ah! It moved!!"

* The film musical ''[[Film/SeventeenSeventySix 1776]]'' ends with a tableau that reproduces the famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

** ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]'' and ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' both end with the main characters standing on a raised platform in front of an audience, during a victory celebration;

** ''Film/ANewHope'' and ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' both end with the main characters standing on a raised platform in front of an audience, during a victory celebration;

A static scene. That is, the actors do not move around or speak. They are blocked (positioned) in ways meant to communicate the relationships between the characters at that moment. The entire scene need not necessarily be a tableau; scenes can open or close with one, often held as the curtain rises or falls. Although usually scripted, a tableau might appear due to a director's decision. The original French word "tableau" is usually used to mean "painting", which the trope is partially about especially when it's ArtImitateArt.

See also TimeStandsStill. LastSupperSteal is a subtrope.

A static scene. That is, the actors do not move around or speak. They are blocked (positioned) in ways meant to communicate the relationships between the characters at that moment. The entire scene need not necessarily be a tableau; scenes can open or close with one, often held as the curtain rises or falls. Although usually scripted, a tableau might appear due to a director's decision.

--> "I'm getting sick of this. [[YouSuck If you have any complaints]], [[TakeThat then watch the anime a thousand times over.]] ''[gets suddenly shocked]'' WHAT ANIME?! It's not even moving!!! ''[[[StockFootage his pencil falls to the ground]]]'' Ah! It moved!!"

* The film musical ''[[SeventeenSeventySix 1776]]'' ends with a tableau that reproduces the famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

* A few episodes of ''StarWars'': ''TheCloneWars'' end with the characters dramatically posed, usually watching ships take off or land.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comedy ]]

* Steve Martin's "Death of Socrates" sketch opens with the characters posed to resemble the painting of the same name(also an example of ArtImitatesArt).

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Theatre ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* The ''StarWars'' films all end with a dialogue-free tableau:
** ''ANewHope'' and ''ThePhantomMenace'' both end with the main characters standing on a raised platform in front of an audience, during a victory celebration;
** ''TheEmpireStrikesBack'' ends with the main characters gathered around a large window, looking out into space;
** ''ReturnOfTheJedi'' features the main cast gathered around an Ewok campfire;
** ''AttackOfTheClones'' closes with Padme and Anakin (along with [=R2D2 and C3PO=]) on a Naboo balcony being married;
** ''RevengeOfTheSith'' closes with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, with baby Luke in their arms, [[WatchingTheSunset Watching The Twin Sunset]] in a direct ShoutOut to an iconic tableau from the original film.

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC:Comedy]]
* Steve Martin's "Death of Socrates" sketch opens with the characters posed to resemble the painting of the same name(also an example of ArtImitatesArt).

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:{{Theatre}}]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* A few episodes of ''StarWars'': ''TheCloneWars'' end with the characters dramatically posed, usually watching ships take off or land.

* ''Film/TheIronMask'' (1929) opens with Douglas Fairbanks (D'Artagnan) and Literature/TheThreeMusketeers posed in a tableau. Then Fairbanks steps down, whips his sword around, and delivers a little speech inviting the audience to join him on an adventure. Except for one similar scene halfway through, the rest of the film is silent.

* A unique use of this trope in early silent film ''Film/ACornerInWheat'' (1909), to establish mood. Twice--once when the poor people are lining up for bread, and once when the financier's body is discovered--the actors remain motionless while the camera rows. The poor people in the breadline are presented frozen at the beginning, while the actors in the latter scene freeze upon discovering the body.

* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' used tableaus almost to excess, in part because it saved money and effort not to have the characters move around. They seem to pop up a lot in HideakiAnno's work.

[[AC:{{Live-Action TV}}]]
* ''{{Stella}}'': The first episode had the three principal characters form a tableau to greet the landlord.

See also TimeStandsStill.

* ''{{Stella}}'': The first episode had the three principal characters form a tableau to greet the landlord.
* Many shows and films have parodied ''The Last Supper" and its tableau:
** ''{{That 70s Show}}''
** ''TheSimpsons''
** ''[[{{MASH}} M*A*S*H]]'' (film)
** ''Mel Brooks' History of the World: Part I''
** The Cree playwright Tomson Highway does it towards the end of his first play, ''The Rez Sisters''.

* The stage directions in OscarWilde's ''TheImportanceOfBeingEarnest'' call for tableaus at the end of many scenes.
* TomStoppard's play ''After Magritte'' opens with a surreal tableau, the meaning of which is explained in the opening dialogue, and ends on another.

* ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'' used tableaus almost to excess, in part because it saved money and effort not to have the characters move around. They seem to pop up a lot in HideakiAnno's work.

* A few episodes of ''StarWars'': ''TheCloneWars'' end with the characters dramatically posed, usually watching ships take off or land.