Last night we performed for about 10 people including the co-producers. And our performances were exacting and exciting. Do we perform better if we know more people are watching? I don't think so. Last Saturday we had a nice house, but the audience was discreet in demonstrating its appreciation. Our show was worth the price of admission, absolutely. And it was definitely better than what the critics'll have you believe. But did the audience get the goose-bump experience? Maybe not. I didn't get it from them.

I'm not saying that I don't put my all into every performance. I'm suggesting that it helps to have an appreciative audience. It's not a question of giving your all; it's more like giving more than your all. Opening yourself up, as an actor, to receiving from the audience and receiving, or not. Experiencing the give and take that draws us to the stage. I'll take a half-dozen warm and demonstrative people enjoying themselves over a full-house of folk waiting for me to prove myself. Anynight.

When Sam sweeps the carpet he wants me to notice and tell him what a good job he's done. When I do the laundry every weekend I want a thank you. We'll still perform our chores, but we crave that which sets us apart from the other animals.

Corporate America, nota bene: You'll get a cleaner document, faster if you thank me and let me know how much you appreciate my work. You'll always get a good job from me, but it'll lack the love, baby.