Why did early audiences for Naturalist plays such as Miss Julie tend to be small?

Early audiences for Naturalist plays such as August Strindberg's Miss Julie tended to be small in part because these works frequently focused on the gloomier aspects of life.1

By aiming for a faithful, unselective representation of reality—often described as a "slice of life"—Naturalist drama sought to analyze human behavior through the lens of scientific determinism. This approach often led playwrights to depict sordid environments and characters driven by instinctual, elemental passions, which contrasted with the more traditional theatrical expectations of the time. Despite this lack of initial commercial success and small audience sizes, these plays were supported by the emergence of independent theatres across Europe, which provided a platform for the movement's innovative staging and realistic dialogue.231