According to the William Ridgeway theory, what was the actual worship in plays?

The correct answer reflects William Ridgeway's theory regarding the origins of Greek theatre. According to this perspective, plays were deeply intertwined with rituals that honored the dead. This suggests that the performances served as a medium to connect with and commemorate those who had passed away, rather than focusing solely on the gods or deities associated with theater or other elements of life. Ridgeway posited that the theatrical form evolved from funerary practices, where storytelling and dramatic representation arose as a means to venerate ancestors and celebrate their memory.

In contrast, worship of Dionysus is typically associated with the other festivals and rituals that celebrated the fertility and agricultural aspects tied to this deity, reflecting the communal joy of life rather than funerary rites. The worship of the living would imply a focus on contemporary figures rather than on ancestral or spiritual connections, which does not align with Ridgeway's emphasis on honoring the dead. While worship of the gods of theater encompasses a broader idea, it does not specifically correlate with the focus on ancestral veneration that Ridgeway emphasized in his theory.