First Read Feelings

how do you want to walk away?

“How do you want the audience to feel?”

I had forgotten that central lesson from the head of design at Yale.

“How do you want, when the show ends, how do you want the audience to feel?”

The ‘meaning’ of the play often comes the next morning. And then reveals itself in waves as you think about it throughout the day. But an audience member thinking about the meaning of the play while they are watching it, “I think this is a very boring evening.”

“Do you want them laughing on the floor? That is a valid thing. Do you want them so stunned they are quiet for five seconds before they stand up? That’s valid. Do you want them on their feet cheering? That is valid.”