Return to Theater?

 This past Saturday, I participated in my first theater production since February. Two friends, Jess Stinson and Natalie Lythgoe, organized a small group to present a staged reading of a one-act play on the front-yard patio of Jess's home. A small audience of invited friends watched from the lawn, socially distanced and masked.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a staged reading means the cast went on with scripts in hand, limited props and set and virtually no technical effects such as lights and sound. We in the cast did not wear masks (except in rehearsal) and obviously could not socially distance, but we all reported as asymptomatic and had our temps taken before the show.

The performance seemed to be appreciated by the audience, who were probably as starved for entertainment as we who performed were starved for the opportunity to show our craft.

This weekend, another local group held their "Parking Lot Theater," performing a series of skits outdoors   as well. October is probably the last month this kind of thing will be possible, as weather conditions and diminishing daylight make outside rehearsals and performances increasingly difficult.

Some local community theaters have announced plans to resume their schedules in January. Though I think that's optimistic, I hold out hope.