This book investigates how the scientific principles of evolutionary theory permeated and influenced the performing arts during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Jane Goodall, a scholar of performance studies, examines the intersection of biological discourse and theatrical practice. By analyzing plays, dance, and variety performances, she demonstrates how Darwinian concepts of struggle, adaptation, and human nature were translated into cultural spectacles. The work provides a framework for understanding how scientific shifts alter the aesthetic and thematic priorities of public entertainment.

Scholars in the field of performance studies and history of science frequently cite this work for its interdisciplinary approach to cultural history. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of both evolutionary theory and Victorian theatrical conventions.