playception

plural playceptions · alternative play-ception

1. slangA play that portrays actors staging a play or features an internal play; a play-within-a-play.

   Playception: Each actor must portray a character playing another character.

   2012, Maura Breen, "Latest play presents challenge for actors", Tan & Cardinal (Otterbein University), Volume 94, Issue 5, 26 September 2012, page 4 (image caption)

   2 more examples

   "[title of show]" tells the story about two guys writing a play about two guys who are writing a play. You get a play-ception sort of feel watching this performance.

   2016, Katherine Bauer, "[title of show] plays off of reality in playwrights' struggles toward success", The Times-Delphic (Drake University), 2 March 2016, page 8

   “It's playception,” junior Isabel Leiva described, explaining the premise of the play. With an endless list of costumes, props, and characters, and a play-within-a-play, the complexity of the show has proven to be a big challenge for the cast and crew.

   2016, Taylor Balfour & Isabella Levine, "Noises Off: audience laughs on", The Tide (Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville, Maryland), May 2016, page 1