Social networking the focus of Virtually Me!
Cyber technology ushered in new behavior standards and manners for socializing and interacting with others, standards which may even include crafting an online alter ego.
A new theatrical musical comedy Virtually Me! examines this burgeoning dynamic within a modern, youthful context and the ambiguities present in the journey to self-discovery in a cyber world.
“This show can be an awakening for kids and parents,” actor Greg Laucella said. Laucella plays the lead character, Zeke, when the Virtually Me! production makes its national tour stop in Baton Rouge Sunday, Jan. 29.
Modern communication has gripped the social culture so much so that it seems to redefine — almost daily now — cultural mores previously followed for centuries. Even the process of making friends necessarily no longer involves the same assumptions.
Today’s fluid technology of social interaction, however, poses a darker consequence. And kids are especially susceptible. It is this social caveat that is examined in the upcoming theatrical production of Virtually Me!
Though Virtually Me! contains a serious theme, the production is an upbeat, musical comedy aimed at educators, parents, and of course, kids.
Through a cast of five high school youths, Virtually Me! expresses parallel messages: one that acknowledges the benefits and necessity of technology, yet also of lurking dangers and negative social impacts that would not typically be recognized, or anticipated, by kids.
Laucella’s character, Zeke, is a high school freshman who creates a social website for all his friends. The “Zekebook” website soon becomes wildly successful, which unwittingly begins to shape Zeke’s identity.
The website has positive benefits for everyone involved, Laucella explained. But what starts off as an innocent social diversion then begins to delve into the darker impacts that information can wield. That is, (cyber) bullying, intimidation, misinformation and slander. Who is to blame? Zeke’s “Zekebook”?
“You can see it happen. His (Zeke’s) website grows more and more in notoriety and popularity, and yet you see the deterioration of Zeke as a person,” Laucella said.
The thrust of this portion of Virtually Me!” warns of the negative consequences language and expression contained within the cyber-world. Its impact can be not only hurtful but all consuming as the cyber alter-egos many kids take on for themselves end up containing malicious and degrading traits that youths are not emotionally equipped to manage.
“We see these social trends in my generation,” Laucella said. “This all starts off very innocent, and then within the context of his (Zeke’s) community, his online personality begins to take over his life.”
Laucella described Zeke as a very fun-loving kid. He’s outgoing, friendly and generous, but his creation gets away from him. Zeke, along with the other four high school students who make up the cast, are transformed by the experience of cultivating and maintaining their online personalities. Reality becomes blurry, more ambiguous as the actors wrestle with defining themselves and the personalities they have created online.
Virtually Me! is in its nascent run, premiering last week in New York. The troupe has just embarked on a three-week national tour.
The production expects to conclude with another three-week set of performances in New York following the national tour, Laucella said.