They cared about how they look rather
than what they look at.

Here is the inside of a Kabuki theatre in the Edo era.

The stage is an 'apron stage' which sticks out toward the seats. The centre seats on the first floor are called 'Hira Doma' where 4 or 5 people are seated in one place. The Sajiki, or box seats, at the left and the right surround the Hira Doma and face the stage. It is interesting that the audience in the Hira Doma seats see the audience in the Sajiki seats. In those days there were some audiences who changed their dresses during each interval. Actors greeted 'Go-Hiiki'(patrons) in this Sajiki with their eyes as they appeared along the 'flower way'.