Focusing on the role of the actor in premodern popular theatre, the book explores how performers embody and challenge their characters, emphasizing the celebrative rituals that define their craft. It argues that actors affirm the communal power of performance over the written text's authority. Detailed analyses of Aristophanes' "Frogs," medieval mystery plays, and Shakespeare's "As You Like It" illustrate this dynamic, showcasing the tension between performance and textual ideology in theatrical traditions.
