"I'm manipulating the audience. I'm making sure people sympathize"

In this quote, Melinda Clarke is discussing her approach to carrying out and engaging with an audience. By saying she is "controling" the audience, she is acknowledging that she is deliberately influencing their feelings and reactions. This might be through her performing, storytelling, or other methods of interaction. However, she clarifies that her objective is not to trick or manipulate in a negative sense, but rather to create a connection and understanding between herself and the audience. By making them have compassion, she is aiming to stimulate compassion and understanding from the audience, enabling them to get in touch with her performance on a much deeper level. Overall, this quote highlights the power and responsibility that performers have in forming the feelings and perspectives of their audience.