As the digital age continues to shape our lives in increasingly strange ways, one artist decided to dive headfirst into the chaotic world of the internet, exploring its influence on how we live and connect.
Connor Morel, a Geelong/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter and the self-professed internet addict behind A Lovely Day to be Online brings to life an original theatre-gig show that examines our relationship with the digital world. With a live band, a hilarious narrative, and original songs, this captivating show awaits its final performance in Geelong this Friday.
“I had the idea to do something about the internet because there were all these conversations around the online world and AI happening pre-pandemic. Then, during the pandemic, conversations about isolation were at the forefront of everybody’s minds. I decided to develop this idea and write about the experience of isolation but through the lens of somebody who is addicted to the internet,” Morel reflects.
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Morel’s show casts a revealing spotlight on the at times toxic and alienating spaces within the digital world, like the villainous “toxic Facebook comment section”. He delves into how our interactions online can transform us into someone unrecognisable.
“The main inspiration for the show was exploring an obsession with the internet and what it does to people. I was inspired by what my friends and I had been seeing on the internet, and we all felt the same way about it,” said Morel.
A Lovely Day to be Online transcends the boundaries of a traditional performance; it’s a gig-theatre experience that seamlessly merges music, comedy and storytelling. Collaboration played a significant role in bringing this unique vision to life.
“After I wrote it, I worked with Casey Gould and Sarah Frencham on the dramaturgy of the show and they helped me put all of the puzzle pieces together. Then, I worked with Kat Ades to arrange the music and assemble the band. And then we have Jake Pickering, our drummer, who was like the missing piece,” Morel explains.
Since its inception in 2019, A Lovely Day to be Online has taken audiences on a remarkable journey. However, every artist knows that not every show is a packed house. Morel fondly remembers one particular performance.
“Touring was amazing. We did the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Melbourne Fringe Festival, the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and the New Zealand Fringe too. It was amazing to see these new places. There was this one night where we played to only three people – which was an experience and a half. Three Polish ladies. One of them even offered to translate the whole thing into Polish. That was really great – quite funny. We learned a lot about how not to get people to your show in places you’ve never been before,” Morel teased.
As A Lovely Day to be Online approaches its final performance returning to its home in Geelong, Morel reflects on this chapter coming to a close and emphasizes the support received from the Geelong Arts Centre.
“It’s bittersweet to do the last performance. Geelong Arts Centre is really getting behind it, and I’ll take any opportunity to share my love for Geelong Arts Centre. It’s exciting to move on, but it’s the end of a big chapter. It’s the first show I’ve written and toured with. It was pretty scary, but it’s been a massive learning experience,” Morel reflects.
Join Morel and his live band for the final performance of A Lovely Day to be Online this Friday, September 22, at The Open House theatre. Don’t miss your chance to experience this unique blend of music, storytelling and comedy that has left audiences captivated and questioning the role of the internet in our lives.
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This article was made in partnership with Geelong Arts Centre.
