"Many had not heard ballads (or much unaccompanied singing before), and reacted with a wonderful childlike (in a good way) appreciation, even hissing when Annett/Ellender denigrates the 'brown bride' and squealing when her head hit the wall!"

Thanks for reviving this thread, Fair E. I once had a non-folk audience break into a unanimous cheer at the moment Pretty Polly rebuffs the drowning Outlandish Knight's last desperate offer of marriage with "Lie there, lie there, false-hearted young man".

Audiences of folk and non-folk persuasions have been known to raise a cheer at the point where evil Sir Aldingar's diminutive nemesis chops his legs off, and challenges: "Stand up, now you're a match for me!"