Word: Performance

Performance:

1. a musical, dramatic, or other entertainment presented before an audience.
2. the act of performing a ceremony, play, piece of music, etc.
3. the execution or accomplishment of work, acts, feats, etc.
4. a particular action, deed, or proceeding.
5. an action or proceeding of an unusual or spectacular kind: His temper tantrum was quite a performance.
6. the act of performing.
7. the manner in which or the efficiency with which something reacts or fulfills its intended purpose.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/performance

Performance is such an important word in Schechner's article. How much of life is real and how much is actually a performance? Do we take part in a performance unknowingly? Schechner details the idea of how most of what we see or do could be considered as a performance.