The playwright chose to include this exposition in a monologue addressed to the audience rather than in dialogue between characters for the following reasons:
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The playwright wanted to share an opinion about Andrew Burr that the characters in the play were unlikely to share.
This allows the audience to gain insight into Burr's reputation and significance beyond what the characters might express. -
Including this context in a monologue from the narrator allows the characters to have more natural dialogue when they talk to each other.
By providing background information through a narrator, it frees up characters to interact without needing to explain who Burr is, making their dialogue more authentic to their experience.
These choices enhance the audience's understanding of the context and the characters' relationships while maintaining the flow of the dialogue.