One of the most fascinating aspects of Six Characters in Search of an Author is its setting. Most of the play takes place in a theater-within-a-theater. This device is called "metatheater" (which also appears in Shakespeare's Hamlet when the titular character stages his own play). That being said, many aspects of Pirandello's play defy theatrical traditions. For example, the curtain remains up throughout the play and only gets lowered accidentally. The non-traditional use of the curtain blurs the line between actors and audience and reinforces the play's theme of illusion versus reality.
Act 3 takes place in a slightly different set—the family garden. Much to the Step-Daughter's chagrin, the Manager wants to stage the entire play in the garden. Beyond the theater and the oft-contested garden set, Six Characters in Search of an Author conspicuously lacks any further specification of time and place. Pirandello alluded to commedia dell'arte, a tradition in 16th century Rome, in his second version of the play (by suggesting the Characters wear masks that reflect their emotions), but he never explicitly confirms an exact time period. This creates a sense of confusion and makes the viewer feel lost, which is exactly the sort of effect an absurdist playwright would strive for.
