privacy

I meet Susan after work. We are seeing a new play — Privacy,  downtown at The Public.

I would describe Privacy as a clever lecture more than a theatrical production, despite a charming and deft performance by its star, Daniel Radcliffe. Among other things, the play discusses our digital footprint, and how much we leave behind every time we use our smartphones and other electronic devices. But it's interactive and fun, with a few twisty surprises.

The play relies heavily on audience participation. But things aren't always as they seem.

This downtown audience differs significantly from the ones uptown and in Times Square. First, they are mostly young. No one talks during the performance. And the crowd seems  more local than not.

Early in act one the audience is asked to take and then send selfies to The Public Theater website. Some selfies (including mine) are later uploaded to a big onstage screen. Given the pervasive and permissive use of phone and cameras, Susan and I feel comfortable taking pictures of the people sitting in front of us. 

So now these people are on a stranger's blog. But as the play suggests, what you see isn't always what is.