Natalia Naman Temesgen: The future of theater is online
On Dec. 4, NBC aired “Peter Pan Live!” starring Allison Williams (of HBO’s “Girls” and daughter to NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams). While watching, I was interested to see if this format might be more than a gimmick, but in some way the future of theater.
Since the rise of cable TV, theater has been especially endangered. Cable costs, but not as much as your average Broadway ticket. You don't have to get dressed up for TV. You don't have to leave your house or even your bed. It is the most convenient way to consume performed stories. So, if theater expects to not merely survive but thrive in the modern age, it should seriously investigate the merits of integrating with television.
How did "Peter Pan Live!" go over? Viewership was at 9.1 million, down less than half from last year's "The Sound of Music Live!" starring Carrie Underwood. Critics weren't too pleased, but they saw improvement from last year's show. In short, it bombed but definitely could have been worse.
I watched alone, but thousands of us were in the audience together on Twitter. It was a similar feeling to being in a real audience, but more interactive. And like theater, it was live. I knew that something awful could happen at any moment, and when it didn't, I was that much more impressed with the production.
But the drawbacks were two-fold. One, those endless Wal-Mart commercials spliced throughout the show. I get it. NBC needs that money. But it disrupts the momentum of the show for both performer and audience member. We get distracted and have to jump back in, which takes effort. Performers have to maintain their own dramatic energy as they wait, with no reviving applause, for their cue again.
Two, there is no true interaction through a screen. A play that doesn't break the "fourth wall" between stage and audience might do fine on live TV, but one of the most critical moments of this show involved Peter Pan begging audience members to "clap if you believe!" in order to revive a dead Tinkerbell.
Why would we clap at a TV screen, knowing nobody can hear us? It's like those kids' shows my daughter watches that ask questions of the viewers. Half the time, she's just staring at the screen, but she hears "That's right!" after a brief pause. What the heck is that? Peter Pan must be able to hear the applause (or lack thereof so he can even more passionately beg for it) in order to move the show forward.
All in all, I learned that a simulcast of a theatrical performance is worth the effort. It should be ad-free and encourage digital engagement between audience members. Basically, it's better off on the Internet. A web platform called New Play TV is on the case, but they would do well to encourage their participants to work with professional cinematographers that can do justice to these livestreams in both design and quality. Those are two elements that NBC's show had in spades.
-- Natalia Naman Temesgen is an independent correspondent. Contact her at nataliadian1 or on Twitter@cafeaulazy.
This story was originally published December 13, 2014 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Natalia Naman Temesgen: The future of theater is online."