The Washington Post: Slowly, painstakingly, theatergoing is making its way back to three live dimensions — and we're all learning the rules of engagement. On Friday night, the process began for me outside the Kraine Theater on East Fourth Street, where I was about to attend a solo performance by Mike Daisey. And one unhappy couple who thought they were attending, too — couldn't.
8 comments:
I thought it was really interesting to read this article as it was the first one I have read that actually described going to see a live production. It was interesting how the writer said that he felt fully comfortable in the theater, although not so much using the bathroom at Starbucks as the theater bathrooms were closed. I don't know if I will be able to reach this level of comfort as quickly as he has. I think after over a year of isolation at home with minimal human contact it is going to take a lot for me to feel fully comfortable in an environment with strangers even if everyone is vaccinated. I think that it is thrilling things like this are starting again, even if it is just small numbers of vaccinated people distanced and wearing masks. I am glad that the particular theater mentioned in the article had decided on the strict criteria they did because it is the only safe way to proceed forward.
This article was not written in a very mild tone, but I do agree with the point that the writer is trying to say. To be honest, I have been to so many musicals during the COVID in Korea. I do think the requirements and guidelines are very different for performances in Korea and the United States; it is not required to be fully vaccinated for us to watch the musical, and the audience member sat in every other seats. There were still no big cases spread in the theater, and I think that despite the regional difference, audience and theater staffs wanting to protect our own space from the social risks remains the same. I also liked how he shared his experience with being more comfortable with the masks as that’s exactly how I felt, and I honestly expect the theaters (and the other places) to require the audience to wear masks for a bit even after they wouldn’t need to anymore.
This was a great read; I have spent a good amount of time pondering what the return to theater will look like as more and more people become vaccinated. I, myself, become eligible for a vaccine in just a little over a week. Even with that, I think it will be a good amount of time longer until I personally feel comfortable enough to attend live theater again. But, I am so happy to see people starting the process of creating post-COVID live theater. It will be a process– how long will we need proof of vaccination to enter a theater, or other venues? When will we be able to safely fill every available seat, all the way to the very last row? This is an article of optimism, showing that we can indeed move forward and past the pandemic someday soon. I look forward to that day, and I hope it comes soon!
There has been a lot of talk about how theatres, cinemas, theme parks, nightclubs, etc are all going to open up as more and more people get vaccinated. I commented on an article not too long ago about this same topic. While it would add some extra paperwork, it wouldn’t be too difficult to simply require patrons to show a vaccination card upon entry the same way they show an entrance ticket. Since then, I’ve had more discussions with people about this issue, and it’s true that some people simply are unable to receive any of the vaccines. Some religions prohibit blood products, and some people are unable to receive the vaccine due to a variety of different health risks it may pose to them. At the same time, there are many “anti-vaxers” who simply refuse to receive any vaccine for their own selfish reasons. That being said, I think that some way of requiring everyone to get a vaccine if they are able in order to participate in the arts or any other event is a smart way to safely reopen places as the pandemic appears to calm down.
Good for this guy, I guess! The process he describes to go to the theatre is interesting but not super surprising. Honestly, I was more interested in the kinds of shows he was seeing. It is so interesting that, in a medium that is meant to transform and help people “escape” reality, the only shows that are open are ones centered around the pandemic. I would actually rather not see another piece of live theatre for another six months than watch a one man show about quarantine. I’m sure many people disagree and are happy to see their experiences echoed in a play, but it is just a little too soon for me. When I can experience live theatre again I want to escape, not be forced to relive all that I have been trying to forget. At least, not a first. I’m sure some COVID musical will come along in like 5 years that sweeps the Tonys and runs for 30 years.
I wish he spent more time talking about the shows and less time talking about himself. I really didn't appreciate his tone throughout the article. I understand people are at their wits end right about now, but he seemed so arrogant throughout the whole article. With that aside, the show he described "Daisy" doesn't seem like the best choice for a first live performance after the pandemic. After sitting inside, alone, for over a year, the last thing I'd want to do is sit alone in a black box and watch one person talk about the pandemic. It will be so worth it to just wait it out until larger performances are safe to return. I honestly hope we can leave covid out of new plays and performances. I understand it is a huge part of history now, but let's not produce a million plays about it. Maybe that's just my opinion though.
This article is interesting because it made me wonder about how long it will take social norms to ever truly return to normal, or if they ever will. I know it is soon to make any calls about this, because being cautious is the best measure one can take at the moment, but technically if everyone in the venue was vaccinated, was there a pressing need to wear masks or dramatically reduce capacity? It definitely would be jarring to return to a full bustling theater, and it is understandable that venues want to wean back in to normalcy so we can truly observe the full effects of the vaccine, it just caused me to wonder how long this weaning process will be—for me there is no way to tell. It also makes me wonder about my own life, because I think about going to parties or getting back together with friends, but I wonder how long it will be until I feel truly comfortable in those situations, even with being vaccinated.
It has been awhile since I have thought about what my first experience back seeing a live performance in an actual theater might be like. I think a part of me does not want to think about it because I really do miss the experience and it’s hard to picture how different it might be. I’m already anxious about watching movies with large groups on screen without masks even though they were filmed pre pandemic. How will I be sitting indoors with a bunch of people? The one thing that makes me feel better is how the author of this article felt completely safe. I would want to stay present in the moment rather than my mind wandering off and imagining what could go wrong with a bunch of people gathering. The increase of vaccinations and requirements for proof of vaccination to get into shows is helping me feel more optimistic about getting back in the audience seat.
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