The Drama

"The Drama" by Sir Henry Irving is a set of speeches that show his great love for theater and how important it is to society and acting. Irving expresses his deep feelings for drama and the performing arts; as a famous actor, he thought theater was more than just fun. He felt it taught people and boosted their sense of what's good and right. In the beginning, Irving talks about how people used to see theater and actors. He disagrees with those who think theater is less important than books. He points out how good actors can show deep feelings and thoughts better than words on a page ever could; thus, calling for it to be respected as a significant art form. Irving says that live shows give people feelings and understandings they can't get from just reading, proving that theater is essential to culture.