An underlying anxiety is on display in Abe Koogler’s Staff Meal about the appeal of his absurdist play: exhibit A is a character listed as Audience Member in the program (Stephanie Berry), who interrupts the proceedings about 30 minutes into the show to offer a detailed explanation of why she is not pleased:

      Is this a play about restaurants or the people who work there? I’d happily watch a play about that—if it was different.
     Take a stand! Inspire action! Touch our hearts—or at least you should try!
     We’ve given this gift to you of our evening—one of our precious few nights on this earth—and you’re showing us this?????