Final answer:
The willing suspension of disbelief is the audience's ability to temporarily believe in the truthfulness of what they witness in a theatrical performance. It allows them to fully engage with the story and characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The willing suspension of disbelief is the audience's ability to temporarily believe in the truthfulness of what they witness in a theatrical performance. It is an agreement between the audience and the actors, where the audience sets aside their knowledge that it is all fictional and engages with the story and characters. This allows the audience to fully immerse themselves in the world of the play and experience emotions and connections with the characters. For example, when watching a play, the audience knows that the actors are not really in a castle, but they willingly suspend their disbelief and accept the pretend setting for the duration of the performance.