Act 1, Scene 1, Part 1 Summary

The foibles and pretensions of people who think they know more than they do are the driving forces of both the comedy and dramatic action of this short play. Its simple plot, built around the desire of one theater critic to view the latest attempt at playwriting by another, is less important to the play's thematic point than its tart and perceptive commentary on the foolishness of affectation, self-importance and hypocrisy.

The play's prologue refers to how the purity of the Muses (ancient Greek goddesses of the arts and sciences) has been corrupted by the desire and need to please artistic critics. It also says the author created the play to chide the Muses for giving in to the critics, wondering whether even he, as experienced as he is, can withstand critical influence. The speaker of the prologue begs...