The playwright Shih Juo-fang feels that while o-pei-la is intentionally provocative in its costume, sets, and emphasis on sensory stimulation, what's most important is the dramatic talent of the players. Actors need to have enough talent and skill to begin with, to be able to leap out of theatrical conventions and perform in the dynamic, spontaneous style of o-pei-la.
劇作家施如芳表示，胡撇仔戲固然可在服裝、佈景方面賣弄噱頭，強化感官刺激，但最重要的仍是演員的表現能力。演員必須夠紮實，從戲劇程式鬆脫出來之後，才有本錢揮灑自如，「活」演胡撇仔戲。