Actors and Audience: A Study of Asides and Related Conventions in Greek Drama

The aside is a familiar convention in drama, but surprisingly little has been written about it in connection with Greek theater, where the aside originated and developed. In Actors and Audience, David Bain traces the aside back to its earliest appearance in Greek tragedy, examining its use in Euripides, Aeschylus and Sophocles, before moving on to a consideration of Old Comedy dramatists from Aristophanes to Menander, New Comedy, and Roman Comedy. Throughout the book, Bain offers considerable insight into how conventions mediate between author, actor and audience, helping or hindering the degree to which spectators "participate" in the stage action.