University of Virginia Library

Establish Opinions

Here, however, is where Broadway
audiences establish their generally
negative opinions of this play
and others like it. It scares them.
They see in this reflection of a
minority viewpoint a threat to their
concept of society. Therefore, they
reject the theatrical experience.
With only a few exceptions (which
usually occur when the power of
the playwright's rhetoric is greater
than the power of the distasteful
subject matter), Broadway audiences
will accept a different concept
of society from their own only
if that society is an improvement
over their own.

But is anger not as valid a
theatrical emotion as laughter and
tears? According to Broadway
audiences, it isn't (I should mention
that transparent shows such as
"Hair" do not really frighten or
anger them, only bore them, which
is understandable and justifiable).