Meet Nikolai Evreinov, the 19th century Nathan Fielder
mssv.netFascinating story. Can we say this is tangentially connected with ideas of virtual reality and simulation? Ignoring the role of technology of course.
OP here: I think so! I didn't cover it in the essay but Evreinov had an essay about "The Theatre of the Future" where he imagines something very similar to VR.