If you are looking for a thought-provoking, sci fi mystery, slightly uncomfortable experience, you do not want to miss The Weekend Theater's production of THE NETHER, running through February 6th, at 1001 W 7th Street, in Little Rock. Winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, THE NETHER, written by Jennifer Haley, is set in the very-near future (Metaverse is being created as we speak) where virtual reality is a full-sensory environment and can be used to fulfill the user's deepest desires.
"I was interested in morality in virtual reality and whether forms of morality should be governed, especially [when] virtual reality became closer to feeling real; and then as I wrote the play it really became an exploration of intimacy in virtual reality," Haley said in an interview on indiegamereview.com.
Before proceeding, I want to warn you that this show is for mature audiences only.
Directed by Chris Klinger, THE NETHER opens with Sims/Papa (Paul Bowling), the creator of The Hideaway, being questioned by Investigator Morris (Virginia Hirsch) about where the server that runs The Hideaway is located, with intentions of shutting it down due to the nature of the world Sims created. What kind of world is it you ask? One where you can act out pedophilia and then become an axe murderer. According to Sims, everyone is consenting adults and says that it is better to act out these desires in The Nether instead of the real world. Morris is, of course, concerned that acting out these desires in The Nether has some serious consequences in the real world. Morris also interviews Mr. Doyle (Byron Taylor) and tries to get him to give up information on Sims.
At The Hideaway, most people are interested in Iris (Heather Hooten), a nine-year-old girl who is an employee of The Hideaway and encourages people to perform their darkest inclinations. Undercover, Mr. Woodnut (Alan Malcolm) befriends Iris while proceeding with the program. Throughout the play, the interlocking relationships become more complicated and feelings are examined.
THE NETHER is designed to leave you asking questions about what is right and wrong. Is it right or wrong to govern and prosecute on the internet if the immoral acts are only virtual with consenting adults? What about privacy? Is it right or wrong to hunt these immoral people down in real life when they were under the impression that their activities were private? How far should the government snoop into the privacy of others on the internet? On a more personal level, how do you navigate feelings online? Can your intimacy needs be met in The Nether? Should you act out immoral acts in The Nether just because you can?
Performance wise, after getting past the feeling that I really should not like this play, I applaud The Weekend Theater players. They did a fantastic job of storytelling. I was shocked, I was intrigued, and I had real feelings for these characters. I will remember this experience for a long time.
For tickets to see THE NETHER, check out their website at https://www.weekendtheater.org or visit https://centralarkansastickets.com/organizations/the-weekend-theater. For the Playbill, go to https://www.playbillder.com/show/vip/The_Weekend_Theater/2022/The_Nether_107496.
Original post:
- Fans still waiting for a virtual reality view of the Buffalo Bills' new ... - Buffalo News - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- Immerse yourself in new, augmented worlds - University of Miami: News@theU - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- Who are the leading innovators in vehicle digital twins for the ... - just-auto.com - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- How Virtual and Augmented Reality Are Redefining Construction - TimesTech - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- Virtualware Appoints VRARA's John A Cunningham to Advisory Board - XR Today - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- University Project Aims to Dissolve Borders Between Virtual and ... - XR Today - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- Are real cadavers better than virtual ones? - Slate - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- Samsung Glasses could be the name of a new pair of Samsung ... - TechRadar - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- The Best Augmented Reality Accessories for AR Immersion - XR Today - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- The best VR apps for 2022 | Digital Trends - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- What is virtual reality? - TechTarget - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Forget the metaverse, Sony's PlayStation VR2 will make you a virtual reality believer again - British GQ - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Time to play! New virtual reality gaming coming to Northern Virginia - WUSA9.com - January 31st, 2023 [January 31st, 2023]
- Virtual reality training content launched for footwear and leather sector - The Hindu - January 31st, 2023 [January 31st, 2023]
- Texas A&M researchers are using multisensory virtual reality to help NASA astronauts - KAGSTV.com - January 31st, 2023 [January 31st, 2023]
- Hollywoods Virtual Reality Guru and American Millionaire Expanded His Soccer Portfolio to Europe With a Deal Worth $940 Million - EssentiallySports - January 8th, 2023 [January 8th, 2023]
- TikTok owner ByteDance takes first step into virtual reality with ... - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Virtual Reality inspires students to think about long-term careers - Turn to 10 - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Virtual Reality Arcade with Best VR Game Experiences - Main Event - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Virtual Reality - reddit - November 16th, 2022 [November 16th, 2022]
- The Future Of Virtual Reality (VR) - Forbes - November 16th, 2022 [November 16th, 2022]
- Virtual Reality (VR) For Professional Workflows | NVIDIA - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- Virtual reality in fiction - Wikipedia - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- Meta will release a new consumer-grade VR headset next year - TechCrunch - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- Virtual Reality [VR] Market Size & Share | Forecast Report, 2029 - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- Virtual Reality in the Healthcare Industry - VISUALISE - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- Virtual Reality vs. Augmented Reality vs. Mixed Reality - Intel - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- Applications Of Virtual Reality - Virtual Reality Society - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- The Global Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality In Manufacturing Market size is expected to reach $27.9 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth... - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- We Met in Virtual Reality Explores the Potential of the Metaverse - Seven Days - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- What If the Metaverse Is Better Without Virtual Reality? - WIRED - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- XRHealth and HTC Introduce The First Distraction Therapy Virtual Reality Platform to Improve Patient Experience During Painful or Anxiety Provoking... - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Department of Corrections Introduces Virtual Reality Technology to Augment Programming for Incarcerated Parents and Their Children - Pennsylvania... - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Arden Bendler Browning conquers virtual reality, Luve More LC + Thinkers Makers Society, and opportunity - theartblog.org - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- How Virtual or Augmented Reality Can Help Your Packaging Line - Packaging Digest - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- A marriage of virtual reality and physical therapy: Immergo Labs emerges from its UCSC roots - Lookout Santa Cruz - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Senior living residents explore the world through virtual reality - Rocky Mountain PBS - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Orthopedic Residency Program and PrecisionOS Team up For Exclusive 3-Year Collaboration: Virtual Reality Development and Curriculum Integration - PR... - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- 6 Insightful Construction XR Cases to Read in 2022 - XR Today - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Video footage emerges from an MMA event that put virtual reality users into the thick of the fighting action - Yahoo News - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Carmack: Theres a bunch that Im grumpy about in virtual reality - Ars Technica - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- The Peripheral Co-Creator on the Shows Line Between Reality & Virtual Reality - TV Insider - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Clarkson's Dr. Dana Barry Gave a Presentation at International Conference in Italy - Clarkson University News - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Apple VR glove with finger- and hand-tracking patent hints at companion accessories for the "Reality Pro" headset - Notebookcheck.net - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Virtual reality spectacle of 2010 sockeye run returns to Shuswap Salmon Arm Observer - Salmon Arm Observer - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- The virtual reality push brings together Microsoft, Meta and the art of war - Stuff - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- What Is Virtual Reality All About? - Oculus VR - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- What Is Virtual Reality? | Tech & Learning - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- 10 Advantages And Disadvantages Of Virtual Reality (2022) - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Insights on the Tactile Virtual Reality Global Market Research Report to 2027 - Growing Advancements in Virtual Reality Products & Rising... - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Each guest experience will be different: VR and the future of theme parks - The Guardian - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Get your own personal holodeck with the HP Reverb G2 VR headset, now over $100 off at Amazon - Space.com - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Highway workers got a dose of virtual reality to help keep them safe - WVXU - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- IDC Tracker Sees a Long Road Ahead for Augmented Reality Headsets - Business Wire - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Anti-virtual reality note included with Northeastern explosive package - GBH News - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Virtual Reality (VR) Headset Market Projected to Hit USD 57.65 Billion at a 28.50% CAGR by 2030 - Report by Market Research Future (MRFR) -... - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Perspectus and The University of Charleston Offer Next Generation Virtual Reality Education Lab - Business Wire - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Virtual reality: Veteran on virtual trips around the world - VA News - Veterans Affairs (.gov) - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Malden Dancer Part Of Upcoming Augmented Reality Dance Project - Patch - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Cognitive load, fatigue and aversive simulator symptoms but not manipulated zeitgebers affect duration perception in virtual reality | Scientific... - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- The Joys and Horrors of Virtual Reality in Anime - Otaku USA Magazine - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Robot skull measures VR and AR headsets from any angle - MIXED Reality News - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Why VR could be the new dawn of pain, anxiety management - MedCity News - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Disney Releases First AR Short Film; Is Virtual Reality the Future of Streaming at Disney+? - The Streamable - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- virtual reality gaming (VR gaming) - WhatIs.com - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Worlds Most Immersive Virtual Reality Experience, Sandbox VR, is Coming Soon to Park Meadows - Yahoo Finance - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Virtual Reality Becomes Actual Reality for Title I Schools Across the Nation - PR Newswire - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Why is VR so important to the metaverse? - Verdict - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Worldwide Virtual Reality in Gaming Industry to 2027 - Rising Research Activities in the Field of VR is Driving Growth - Yahoo Finance - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Clocking In at the Virtual Reality Kmart - WIRED - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Virtual Reality Market to Register Impressive Expansion of - GlobeNewswire - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Welcome to the iDome: Concept offers virtual-reality riding therapy without a headset - Horsetalk - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Virtual Reality for Diversity and Inclusion - ATD - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Meta's 'Project Cambria' Virtual Reality Product to Launch This Fall - The National Interest Online - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Could virtual reality be the future of poultry health? - Food Safety News - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Virtual Reality: Taking the Online Dating Game to New Heights - TechSpective - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- POSITIVE VIBES: The positive vibes of virtual reality - Finger Lakes Times - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Planning Commission to hear request for virtual reality arcade in downtown Carson City - Carson Now - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- The Impact of Augmented Reality on the Gaming Industry in India - GLYFE Nation - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Oshkosh PD: Virtual reality simulator is proving to be a useful tool - WGBA NBC 26 in Green Bay - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]