Possible Clues:

• Actors' remarks in an undertone
• Spoken in play
• Because about the Edge, they're spoken in play
• Words spoken so that some people will not hear
• Stage whisper
• Is 'e sad, in a manner of speaking?
• Said that the ass is about to die
• As it's about the edge, they get spoken in play
• At some stage they get delivered, in manner of speaking
• Stage whispers.