The way in which a play is received by the audience tells just as much about a play as does the content itself. When plays express a certain portrayal of history, the audience usually has some prior knowledge of the actual historical event that the play is based on. When the opinions of the audience are taken into consideration, the political neutrality (or lack of) becomes evident. Therefore, looking at the outcome and reception of plays provides a closer look at the ideologies of the majority of the nation.
Website of the Irish Studies Group at SUNY Geneseo