Folks – a funny thing happened on the way to the theatre last week.  But, before I get into that, may I extend my sincerest wishes that everyone, and all your extended “bubbles,” are healthy and coping well with this newest strangeness.  I’m still having trouble figuring out who is in what bubble and when.  But mostly, I just continue to have trouble with life without theatre. Which brings me back to my story.

Those of you who have been with the theatre for many years, are aware that every Spring we celebrate the winners of the annual National One-Act Playwriting Competition. This was the 79th year of the competition, and the winners were recently announced:

  • 1st prize – Ron Davies, Kissing a Stranger
  • 2nd prize $750 – Andrew Lee, When the River Floods
  • 3rd prize $500 – Becky McKercher ($250) and Sarah Thuswaldner ($250), Skirts in the Forest , (sponsored Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women)
  • Youth prize ($500) – Caitlin Oleson, Goodbye George, Love Sam

Which brings me to the funny thing. A number of us performance-starved actors, under the Direction of John Muggleton, took a flying header into a “staged ZOOM reading” of the first-place winner – Ron Davies’ play Kissing a Stranger.  It was advertised to our community, and 57 hardy souls tuned in on-line.  Well… aside from some wonderful talking-head performances of a very interesting play, it was an absolute disaster – actors frozen in space, black-outs during critical scenes, batteries dying on personal devices, people muted when they should be un-muted, and vice-versa – every technical issue imaginable.  A 55 minute 1-act play that took 90 minutes to ‘stage read’.  And the funny thing was, people still seem to enjoy the train wreck – talk about starved for live entertainment!

But, a clear lesson learned by all.  There is a reason why theatre is live – we want to see full-bodied actors, not floating heads, we want to see interaction between actors, we want to see costumes, and sets, and props and lighting, and most importantly we want to see audiences.  Theatre is only theatre when live audiences are taking part, reacting to what they see on stage and responding to the entertainment – in fact, they might be the most important part of the entertainment!  Playwrights write to reach out to audiences not to give actors and tech people work!

So, we will leave television and cinema to the experts in those entertainment vehicles, and the OLT will continue to provide our audiences a unique interactive experience every night, for nine plays, every year.  You can depend on that; and even maybe enjoy taking part in the disasters that occasionally happen!

So that brings me to the critical question – when are we going to see live performances again in our little theatre?

Unfortunately, although the Board of Directors are meeting to discuss this very question early next week, the answer is probably pretty obvious to all – not anytime in the near future!

Why? Because live theatre, as we now clearly understand, works best with lots of living breathing people in a dark place for a couple of hours, suspending their disbelief, and losing themselves in a good story, well-told, and sharing a truly unique experience.  Unfortunately, nobody can achieve that if they are worried about temperatures, and sanitizing hands and surfaces, and social distancing, and the coughs and sneezes that are a normal part of every evening at the theatre.

So, until we can guarantee a safe secure, comfortable venue, free from COVID worries, it is probably not a good idea to even try.  But, please be assured theatre will return, it is a remarkable form of entertainment and has been for over 2000 years (well 107 at the OLT) and will be for another couple of years yet.  Those of you holding tickets will get to see the shows we promised you, just as soon as we can ensure your safety and comfort, and a special night out.

We all hope that happens is as soon as possible, and we are all very anxious to get back to live theatre (sigh)!  Here’s hoping we see you soon (ish) at your little theatre.  Take care of each other and stay safe and healthy!

-Geoff