Posted: 8/2/20 at 11:35am
Which of these nine plays has taken best advantage of the Zoom platform?
Which play has used Zoom best?
Take the poll or answer here.
Posted: 8/2/20 at 4:09pm
None of them, imho. If someone wants to do a play over Zoom now, good for them (although I think Zoom is one of the worst platforms for these things) but I'd rather read a play than watch it over video conference.
Posted: 8/2/20 at 4:20pm
I think "Buyer and Cellar" was perfect
Posted: 8/2/20 at 4:51pm
Urie’s BUYER & CELLAR was presented in a semi-staged presentation with camerawork whereas everyone else just did readings. His stands alone. 
Posted: 8/2/20 at 6:14pm
Brody
I certainly liked "Buyer & Cellar" but other productions on the list were also "semi-staged," as you put it -- that was true of "Mad Forest." And, like Michael Urie in "Buyer & Cellar," the cast of "Heroes of the Fourth Turning" had performed the play onstage previously, and that did not feel like a reading. Indeed, none of the ones on the list felt like readings (even if they were), which is why they're on the list.
Posted: 8/3/20 at 1:17am
I've heard everyone raving about Buyer and Cellar and I'm sad to have missed it. I was pretty impressed with Heroes of the Fourth Turning in how much they were able to create an environment (even just have a matching black background was pretty cool, since each person's background blended into another's (low bar, I know). I liked it a lot more than when I had seen it on stage, and I'm almost convinced they made changes to the script, but I think this form of delivery helps you really focus on the writing itself and who the characters are.
Posted: 8/3/20 at 1:41am
I think five plays, four of which were featured in Stars/Plays in the House, stand out for excellence in a Zoom "production.": LIPS TOGETHER TEETH APART, THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE, THE CONFESSION OF LILY DARE, THE DIVINE SISTER and THE WEIR.
Posted: 8/3/20 at 7:20am
I propose Significant Other. I thought it was extremely well executed and proves that the play would work terrifically as a movie. I see it as an indie or Netflix/Hulu original type.
Posted: 8/3/20 at 7:41pm
Posted: 8/4/20 at 3:10pm
Agree 100%. Would be an excellent movie; hope it gets picked up by someone.
Posted: 8/4/20 at 3:15pm
Posted: 8/7/20 at 1:42am
Pashacar said: "ahhrealmonsters said: "I propose Significant Other. I thought it was extremely well executed and proves that the play would work terrifically as a movie. I see it as an indie or Netflix/Hulu original type."
Agree 100%. Would be an excellent movie; hope it gets picked up by someone."
It is in development.
Posted: 9/14/20 at 2:50pm
Posted: 9/14/20 at 3:42pm
I'll admit that I've only seen bits and pieces of Zoom plays, and not even very many of them. So my opinion on this subject really isn't worth anything.
However, based on what I've seen/heard about the various projects happening digitally, I have a hard time imagining any of them doing a better job than the Apple Family plays. To my knowledge, this was the only project that took place diegetically (as in, the actual characters were supposed to be talking on Zoom within the world of the play). And that's the only approach to the "Zoom play" that was of any interest to me. I'm not saying other people didn't do a good job overcoming the hurdles, especially since I haven't seen most of them. But for me, the ultimate achievement in any form is to embrace the obstacles in such a way that they're no longer obstacles. And incorporating Zoom into the work itself is one of - if not THE - only way to do that properly in this case.
Posted: 9/14/20 at 4:25pm
