This anthology investigates the function of eighteenth-century burlesque as a critical tool designed to dismantle the artistic pretensions and rigid conventions of heroic tragedy. Simon Trussler, an established scholar of theater history, curates a selection of works by prominent playwrights such as Buckingham, Gay, Carey, and Fielding to demonstrate how these parodies challenged the artificiality of rhymed verse and the naive moral assumptions inherent in the period's dominant dramatic forms. The collection argues that these plays served as a vital, subversive counter-narrative to the mainstream theatrical establishment of the time.

Scholars and theater historians frequently cite this anthology as a useful primary source for understanding the satirical landscape of the eighteenth-century stage. Readers often note that the inclusion of original texts alongside critical context makes it a valuable resource for students of dramatic literature.