Folks – right off the top, I’ll admit I’ve been debating whether to update at all this month; because, as you can fully appreciate, the COVID scenarios are changing very rapidly these days. By the time we get these notes published, any pithy observations will probably be out-of-date.
And sadly, I am not really sure I have much new and exciting to offer you at this point!
I mean yes, clearly there is some light at the end of the tunnel – what with the high vaccination rates in our Region. But, that has to be weighed against the increasingly darker news. According to Dr. Peter Juni, the scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table “We’re absolutely in the fourth wave, there’s no doubt about that. Thanks to vaccinations, the 4th wave could be dramatically different than earlier surges, but likely not entirely pain-free!”
And, yes, there is good news about venues re-opening, and people getting back to their favourite entertainment. But, the good news always seem to come with caveats. Like the July 30 story out of New York City – “… theatre owners/operators say all 41 Broadway venues will open this Fall, but will require vaccinations for audience members, as well as performers, backstage crew, and theatre staff. Guests must show proof of COVID vaccination at their time of entry into the theatre, and strict distancing requirements will be effected.”
See, these kinds of stories can create false expectations for OLT patrons, or false concerns maybe. Although I don’t have answers, I do have thoughts, so let me just offer some of my personal perspectives on the short and longer term:
Point #1 – theatre capacity – only full capacity works for us
So yes, things are opening: outdoor shows are happening all over the Region, not to mention the BIG guys like Stratford and Shaw, doing outdoor theatre under canvas (bring your own umbrella); and indoor theatres are starting to open to 25% capacity. The NAC is announcing its new in-person season with tickets on sale soon, but, “…. capacity restrictions and social distancing measures, will limit the number of available tickets for sale for all performances.”
You can be fully assured everyone at the OLT is “chomping at the bit” to get back to entertaining. But “here’s the rub,” for us any capacity restrictions are a real issue. Our four postponed shows are already over 60% sold, so social distancing and other protocols just aren’t practical Over 300 people already hold tickets for the opening night of “Burn” (by our good friend and local playwright John Muggleton). We need public health authorities to announce that venues can be at full capacity, before we can even begin to think about taking to the stage again.
Point #2 – “opening” – what does it actually mean
The OLT is volunteer run, and it is a pretty big machine – we aren’t so good at “pivoting” (latest adult jargon) on a moment’s notice.
“Nasty Fall Ahead.” With those 3 words, David Naylor, co-chair of the federal COVID-19 immunity task force, pretty well summarized the disadvantages of looking too far beyond our hopeful summer. People of all ages (not just us old gaffers) are getting out there and getting sicker quicker, especially the unvaccinated.
Also, we are right in the middle of a fractious debate: demands for vaccine mandates, certificates and passports, access restrictions for those choosing not to be vaccinated, people feeling their rights are being undermined … not easy conversations. Organizations like ours probably shouldn’t try to navigate this in the absence of clear guidelines.
Furthermore, our theatre has been shuttered for almost 18 months. And when I say shuttered, I mean closed-up tight. Emergency-only lighting, water off, heat and air conditioning off, gas valves shut at boilers, only the bare minimum expended to keep the building functional (note please the bare minimum is still a significant expense with no revenue coming in). So “opening” means getting the dust covers off, getting the doors open and the fans on, getting the air cleaned and circulating, safety checking all equipment, slowly turning on water valves and watching for leaks, airing-out the props and wardrobe etc, etc.
Then there is the fact that it could take us 2-3 months to fully come up-to-speed with administrative, front of house, and production processes. We have to train-up the box office gang on new operations; we have to get rehearsals underway and maybe re-cast roles where we have lost actors, or stage crew or tech folks; we have to get all volunteers back-in all the harnesses; we have to communicate changes to operations; we have to undertake the next launch of a new season and start getting subscribers reserving seats again; we have to print programs, develop brochures and marketing materials, etc., etc. There is a lot to do to get our little theatre fully functional and welcoming guests again!
Point #3 – should we be rushing to open – just because we can doesn’t mean we should…
Every time I open an email or bump into one of our patrons, the question is always “when will we be coming back to the OLT.” Of course, I never have a concrete answer. I’d have to own a very magical crystal ball to unequivocally state the actual date of our next opening night.
I mean, even if health authorities give us the “green light” and all the precautionary protocols are removed, will people come streaming back? I don’t know about you, but I’m still a little uncomfortable in crowds – even out of doors – let alone mixing it up in closed spaces. I need time to readjust after the 18 months of social behaviour changes we have all gone through. I’m sure some of you do too. We all have to assess our own risk tolerance. Are we “up” for full spaces and extra interactions between strangers without distancing measures?
So, our position has to be: we want folks coming back to the theatre when they can relax and enjoy the entertainment, and not be worrying about the sniffily person they bumped into at the bar. Until you folks are ready for a full lobby, bar line-ups, and settling into your regular seats, tucked in among your fellow theatre-loving community, maybe we don’t need to open.
See, you are the reason we exist. Our critical consideration for un-shuttering has to be your level of comfort with the always delightful live-theatre experience we offer. Maybe we should err on the side of caution. Maybe we should let a few more months and a little more water flow (hopefully not leaking into the lobby) under our bridge. Maybe we should be looking to the new year before fully returning to our operational track again?
Bottom line (finally) let’s be cagey, circumspect even – see what changes come to pass over the next couple of months. Do we really want everyone up to full speed, just to ratchet down again for more bumps along the way to the “new normal.” The destination is certainly in sight, but the road is still far from clear sailing (note – deliberate mixed metaphors).
So, until next time we chat – we will remain ever vigilant and ever hopeful of good news, without all the caveats.
BTW, we welcome your thoughts. You are all much-appreciated members of this community, and we enjoy hearing from you. And, we are sincerely grateful for your thoughtful contributions to the upkeep of our lonely little theatre!
Take good care and social safely; hope to see you in the “house” very soon!
Geoff
Geoff Gruson, President
president@ottawalittletheatre
PS – by the by, while we wait this out, if you are interested in making a tax-receiptable donation to support the theatre – a few ways you can do that:
* send a electronic fund transfer to president@ottawalittletheatre.com
* send us a cheque payable to The Ottawa Little Theatre (Ottawa Little Theatre, 400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1N 7M7
* CLICK HERE to make a donation online via Canada Helps.