You have to let them see you think 

During a production of “The Robber Bridegroom” I had the line “Stand and Deliver” which was delivered as part of a “church revival number” in the show, but caused the Rosumund to go into labor.  I never “heard” the joke in the line, but the first time I delivered it, it got a chuckle from a few people at the rehearsal, and then rest of the cast burst out laughing.  That was the only time that line got any response.  I tried all different ways of delivering the line or changing the timing, but could never get that laugh again.  After watching me struggle with it, the director gave me a bit of advice that I’ve used ever since.  He said that what go the big laugh the first time was not really the line, but my reaction to actually “figuring out the joke” right there on stage; the realization that what I had said had caused here to give birth.  He said that “You have to let the audience see you think.”  I got the laugh every time after that.  Best directorial advice ever.   “You have to let them see you think”