We have finished the first weekend of "South Pacific" at MTS's Highland Theater.
My sense is that we players did well opening night, lacked energy Saturday and killed (as they say) at the Sunday matinee.
But theater is a two-way medium. Audiences send vibrations back to the players, changing what we do.
For example, supportive friends and family filled the theater Friday, urging us on. No surprise that we complied.
The next night the audience was lethargic. Perhaps they'd dined out first. Maybe enjoyed a drink, too. Whatever the reason, cast and audience were listless.
Yesterday's matinee audience included so many older folks that I felt downright adolescent by comparison. And boy, were they giving!
In one of my scenes, they laughed before I launched into a funny tirade. Somehow they knew - or felt - what was coming.
"South Pacific" is, of course, all about World War II, the era that shaped them and left residue in their bones.
I'm not sure about size, but yesterday's audience reminded me - age matters.