Pretense and Display Theories of Theatrical Performance

In this paper I present two competing theories of acting, the “pretense theory” and the “display theory.” I aim to show we should not have as much confidence in the pretense theory as we may be tempted to have. And I hope show why the display theory of acting may be more attractive than the pretense theory of acting, whatever merits examining pretense may independently have for understanding the mental mechanisms underlying many of our interactions with the world and with each other.