--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have noticed that in plays where the…" description: "\"I have noticed that in plays where the characters on stage laugh a great deal, the people out front laugh very little.\" — Jean Kerr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/jean-kerr-9802_character_i-have-noticed-that-in-plays-where-the-c_633120.png" --- # I have noticed that in plays where the characters on stage… ![“I have noticed that in plays where the characters on stage laugh a great deal, the people out front laugh very little.” quote by Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/jean-kerr-9802_character_i-have-noticed-that-in-plays-where-the-c_633120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/jean-kerr-9802_character_i-have-noticed-that-in-plays-where-the-c_633120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/jean-kerr-9802_character_i-have-noticed-that-in-plays-where-the-c_633120.png) > “I have noticed that in plays where the characters on stage laugh a great deal, the people out front laugh very little.” [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes that audience laughter often doesn't match the actors' onstage laughter, suggesting a disconnect between performance and reception. **In simple terms:** Stage laughter doesn't guarantee audience laughter. Key Takeaway Consider audience engagement strategies. Themes performance audience communication Mood analytical observational Type insightful reflective When to use this quote - theater - stand‑up comedy - broadcast media Key Concepts humor perception feedback Questions to Reflect On - Why do some jokes fall flat despite onstage laughter? - How can performers gauge real audience response? A Different Perspective Audience reactions are influenced by many factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-stage-1449493/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [Laugh Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh-great-661841/) [Laugh Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh-little-1510075/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-laugh-255084/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-laugh-5099074/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Of course, people will laugh at you, but people laugh at a great many things so there is no need to take it personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/of-course-people-will-laugh-at-you-but-people-laugh-at-a-great-many/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“Being able to make people laugh is great, but it takes on a different meaning if they are laughing at you, not with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadahiko-nagao/being-able-to-make-people-laugh-is-great-but-it-takes-on-a-different/) [Tadahiko Nagao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadahiko-nagao/) > [More and more, I find that I love doing comedies; that instant gratification that you get on stage when they laugh at you feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-louderman/more-and-more-i-find-that-i-love-doing-comedies-that-instant/) [Taylor Louderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-louderman/) > [I think that my fascination with clothes generally was motivated by trying to create the characters for the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-think-that-my-fascination-with-clothes-generally-was-motivated-by/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [Characters on stage, like people in what we refer to as "real life," do not speak to reveal themselves. They do not speak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/characters-on-stage-like-people-in-what-we-refer-to-as-real-life-do/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [My favorite films left the camera rest, and the actors and characters have a stage to act. Move the camera when it's motivating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-asbury/my-favorite-films-left-the-camera-rest-and-the-actors-and-characters/) [Kelly Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-asbury/) > [I want the audience, when they leave, to think of the characters on the stage in three dimensions. I want them to have empathy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/i-want-the-audience-when-they-leave-to-think-of-the-characters-on-the/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [In my family, humor is the healer. We laugh at everything, sometimes at great expense to me because I'm the youngest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/in-my-family-humor-is-the-healer-we-laugh-at-everything-sometimes-at/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) > [So if you can make someone laugh, if you can make a lot of people laugh, it's a great thing. It's a powerful tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asim-chaudhry/so-if-you-can-make-someone-laugh-if-you-can-make-a-lot-of-people/) [Asim Chaudhry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asim-chaudhry/) > [“A good book can make you laugh but only a great book can make you cry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockerlulu/a-good-book-can-make-you-laugh-but-only-a-great-book-can-make-you-cry/) [Rockerlulu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockerlulu/) > [Watching movies in the U.S. is great fun because they get every joke, they smile, they laugh so much; it's a great feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/watching-movies-in-the-u-s-is-great-fun-because-they-get-every-joke/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [No one will laugh at how great things are for somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/no-one-will-laugh-at-how-great-things-are-for-somebody/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [When I'm depressed and I feel low thinking that good movies are not made any more, then I put on his movies and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-chaplin/when-i-m-depressed-and-i-feel-low-thinking-that-good-movies-are-not/) [Geraldine Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-chaplin/) > [If you can laugh at yourself, you are going to be fine. If you allow others to laugh with you, you will be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-niemoller/if-you-can-laugh-at-yourself-you-are-going-to-be-fine-if-you-allow/) [Martin Niemoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-niemoller/) > [The whole thing about working in front of the camera is to make people laugh when they're not supposed to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-of-the-camera-is-to-make/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) ## More by Jean Kerr > [It has been explained to me that toys are packaged in shards, to be assembled by the middle-aged and butter-fingered, because this makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/it-has-been-explained-to-me-that-toys-are-packaged-in-shards-to-be/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [The average, healthy, well-adjusted adult gets up at seven-thirty in the morning feeling just plain terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/the-average-healthy-well-adjusted-adult-gets-up-at-seven-thirty-in/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Being divorced is like being hit by a Mack truck. If you live through it, you start looking very carefully to the right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/being-divorced-is-like-being-hit-by-a-mack-truck-if-you-live-through/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [To me having a party is something like having a baby. The fact that you got through the last one alive is not somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/to-me-having-a-party-is-something-like-having-a-baby-the-fact-that/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [I make mistakes; I'll be the second to admit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/i-make-mistakes-i-ll-be-the-second-to-admit-it/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Man is the only animal that learns by being hypocritical. He pretends to be polite and then, eventually, he becomes polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/man-is-the-only-animal-that-learns-by-being-hypocritical-he-pretends/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if some manufacturer would make a toy as tough, as staunch, as hard to crack open as the carton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/oh-wouldn-t-it-be-wonderful-if-some-manufacturer-would-make-a-toy-as/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [“Oftentimes, in the evening after they have finished spreading the fertiliser, the writer and his wife sit on the fence - with a wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/oftentimes-in-the-evening-after-they-have-finished-spreading-the/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Being on a ship is something like being pregnant. You can sit there and do absolutely nothing but stare at the water and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/being-on-a-ship-is-something-like-being-pregnant-you-can-sit-there/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Dearer to me than the evening star A Packard car A Hershey bar Or a bride in her rich adorning Dearer than any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/dearer-to-me-than-the-evening-star-a-packard-car-a-hershey-bar-or-a/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Don't be silly. I'm a mature, intelligent woman. Of course I'm afraid of my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/don-t-be-silly-i-m-a-mature-intelligent-woman-of-course-i-m-afraid-of/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Even though a number of people have tried, no one has ever found a way to drink for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/even-though-a-number-of-people-have-tried-no-one-has-ever-found-a-way/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [People only call you 'my dear' when they are irritated with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/people-only-call-you-my-dear-when-they-are-irritated-with-you/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > ['Lunch Hour' is suitable for a teenager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/lunch-hour-is-suitable-for-a-teenager/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Children are different - mentally, physically, spiritually, quantitatively, qualitatively; and furthermore, they're all a little bit nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/children-are-different-mentally-physically-spiritually-quantitatively/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) [Explore all 69 Jean Kerr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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