The Moment After

I am always curious by the moment after the show is done.

How does the audience feel?
What is the audience talking about?
How did everyone interpret the show?
What is everyone walking away with?
Did the audience like it? hate it? why?
What did the audience learn?
Etc...

I watched Tartuffe last night at Schaubühne Theater.

The lights bumped out.
Silence.
The lights turned on.
Applause.

After watching a disturbing, chilling, mind-blowing, thought-provoking, and emotional work of art, I didn't know what to do.
I sat in the chair and clapped because it was the "right" thing to do.

So I sit on my bed now and realize how abrupt German theater can be.
I say abrupt because no matter how powerful/hilarious/ridiculous any piece of work they transform becomes, the audience always has something to sit with at the end.
I have to wonder if this is because the audience here is fully engaged and open or because the shows are roughly 2+ hours long without an intermission.
Either way, theater here continues to surprise me.