James KA Smith compare and interview with Tony Kushner with Augustine’s confession.

That’s exactly what terrifies Augustine about the stage in Book III of the Confessions: the actor so regularly divests the self of a center and identify–so regularly fragments and dissipates the self (the chief effect of sin, for Augustine)–that Augustine worries there’s no return.  This is the great danger for actors.  And Kushner recognizes the danger. He’s not willing to go there himself, but also thinks that actors are those brave souls who have the courage to risk themselves in this way.