The purpose of Theatre

Theatre has many different purposes, purposes which have been around for many centuries.  A long time ago, I believe the main purpose of theater was for religious reasons - particularly shown through special religious ceremonies.  And even still, a lot of countries (mainly in asia)  use this as a specific ritual to praise gods; much like the play we saw that took place in Bali.  Now and especially in the United states, theatre is mainly used as a form of entertainment but it can also be educational or discouraging.  In my opinion, the best stories are told on stage because the movement and emotions of the characters helps get the main message across to the audience.  If we were to look at theatre from the audience's point of view, it is sometimes used as an escape from reality and take a break from their daily lives; it can help them feel the and experience many different emotions.  This includes that special happily ever after that almost every female (and sometimes males) long for and even the dramatic stories of overcoming odds.