If an audience laughs immediately, they are relaxed.

Although the audience laughs indulgently, a hint of unease hangs in the air.

The audience laughs at her self-delusion, her flirtatious fecklessness, though a true friend would not have done so.

As the audience laughs he sweats and wipes the napkin on his head by accident, blurring the picture.

But he again forgets the words, and when the audience laughs at him, he opens fire.