Theory

An American academic resident in Mel-born

Argued the plays were for reading not acting.

He sounded convincing, he sounded convinced

That Harvard expatriate in Melbn.

He strutted his stuff an hour or two in seminar

Then was heard no more.

The play within the play must be seen

To be believed. It does not live on theory alone,

But is like the words it comprises

Plays within plays needing present laughter,

A common audience of acquired idioms,

Those with an eye and ear and nose

For the comic possibilities of an armchair thespian

On a one-way return flight to LAX.