My friend asked for honest feedback on her play and is furious that I gave it

A close friend wrote a play for a community theater festival and invited me to the second performance. Before the show, she said, “Please be honest. I am surrounded by people telling me everything is great.” I believed her.

The play had a strong central idea and one scene I genuinely loved. It also had a character who explained the theme so directly that the audience seemed to arrive at the meaning several minutes before the dialogue did. Afterward, I congratulated her, mentioned the scene I loved and waited until we were alone before asking whether she still wanted notes.

She said yes. I told her the explanatory character made the ending feel less powerful because the play had already trusted us to understand the conflict. I expected a conversation. She went quiet and said, “So you hated it.”

I said the opposite. She asked why I could not simply let her enjoy opening weekend. I reminded her that she had requested honesty twice. She replied that a real friend would know “honest” meant supportive honesty, not acting like a reviewer.

We have barely spoken since. Another person in the production told me the script is still being revised, which makes the request sound even more literal. But my friend may have been exhausted and reaching for reassurance after months of work. I gave her analysis when she wanted someone safe to celebrate with.

I am willing to apologize for getting the timing wrong. I do not want to apologize for the note itself or pretend I disliked the play. I also do not want future invitations to become emotional traps where “tell me the truth” has a hidden correct answer.

How would you repair this? Should feedback requests include a choice—celebration tonight or notes when you are ready—or does that put too much responsibility on the person who has just performed something vulnerable?