The audience from Hell

Interesting to note Freddie, that "The Merchant of Venice" is another Grads production mounted in UWA's awesome reproduction of Shakespeare's own personal stage IE; "The New Fortune", the same place and company that gave me the experience I mentioned earlier.

I am wondering if perhaps the actual venue and production company may somehow affect the audience behaviour?

Maybe the knowledge that they are at University watching "Graduate" Actors rather than "at the theatre" may have a "calming" (perhaps "sobering" might be a better word) influence. What I am getting at is, in a manner of speaking, they are still at school and not out at an entertainment venue and as such the teachers control has been extended while they are there?

Whereas, if they were at any other "Community Theatre" NOT attached or associated with an educational structure, the "out-of-school" venue promotes the feeling that they are there to have a good time and that is precisely what they do.

Or maybe the peacocks scare them witless.......

Footnote: Before I get pulled up on a technicality. Yes I know that Grads often use "imported" performers, but what I am saying is that 1) the student audience may not know that and 2) Whoever the actor is, they are under the "GRADS" banner and are therefore part of a scholarly institution by association.

"If you think you are small and insignificant and cannot make a difference - try sleeping with a mosquito." - Dalai Lama (from a recently observed T-shirt)