Which Wall?

[dukealien]

Which Wall?

When a character who acts
in a play within a play
addresses audience directly
does he break the fourth wall
or the eighth?

Which audience?

Very astute question.  Taking the Hamlet play-within-a-play, if the Player King addresses the Danish royal family assembled, it would be the PK's fourth wall, but to the audience watching Hamlet, simply part of the play's action.  If the PK addresses Hamlet's audience directly ("Look at me, Shakespeare gave Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern names, but for me, just 'Player King.'  Sucks to be me - but even more to be Hamlet") something else would be going on.  Probably not too far out of whack unless Hamlet responds, Who you talkin' to, dog?