Final answer:
The stage direction 'On their ecstatic cries' suggests a high emotional climax in the play, catalyzing a strong audience reaction and guiding actors in their performances to enhance the scene's impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage direction 'On their ecstatic cries' implies that the characters' utterances are no longer just spoken words but intense emotional expressions, indicating a climactic point or turning of events in the play. This form of exclamation often resonates with the audience, eliciting strong reactions that can vary from joy to shock. Stage directions provide a guide for actors to channel the desired emotion and energy into their performance, enhancing the impact of the scene on the audience. As highlighted by playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Charles Mee, stage directions are a form of collaboration between the playwright and the production team, carrying the weight of the play's emotional truth and often affecting changes in tone or the physicality of a scene.