One of the best parts of attending live theater is experiencing the tension inherent to preserving the veneer that separates the performers from reality.
Excellent essay! I have always been fascinated by the whole notion of the theatrical "fourth wall", especially in light of the bard's often quoted line from As You Like It, "All the world's a stage." If true - the fourth wall is an interesting concept amid our day-to-day happenings.
Thanks, Sam! I find the notion fascinating as well. Augustus Caesar on his deathbed supposedly said: "Have I played the part well?" The line between performance and reality, or performer and audience, is truly paper-thin.
Excellent essay! I have always been fascinated by the whole notion of the theatrical "fourth wall", especially in light of the bard's often quoted line from As You Like It, "All the world's a stage." If true - the fourth wall is an interesting concept amid our day-to-day happenings.
Thanks, Sam! I find the notion fascinating as well. Augustus Caesar on his deathbed supposedly said: "Have I played the part well?" The line between performance and reality, or performer and audience, is truly paper-thin.