Final answer:
An aside is when a character in a play speaks to the audience without the other characters on stage hearing what is said. This device enables sharing thoughts or information directly with the audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a character says something on stage that is meant to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters in the play, it is known as an aside. This dramatic device allows the character to share thoughts, feelings, or important information directly with the audience, often for the purpose of comical effect or to reveal a character's true intentions. An aside is distinct from a soliloquy, which is a longer speech where the character is often alone onstage, disclosing their inner thoughts. In contrast, an aside can occur in the presence of other characters who are ostensibly unaware of what is being said.