Making A Murderer, the true-crime documentary series that premiered on Netflix in 2015, became an instant sensation, with its gripping and often infuriating tale of injustice and corruption in the American criminal justice system. The show has since become a cultural phenomenon, inspiring countless conversations, debates, and even podcasts. However, as audiences continue to grapple with the complexities of the case, some have explored how Making A Murderer could be translated to other mediums, including theater.
There are several reasons why Making A Murderer would make for a compelling theatrical production. For one, the story has all the essential dramatic elements: a protagonist fighting against powerful forces, emotional highs and lows, suspenseful twists and turns, and moral dilemmas aplenty. Additionally, the show’s episodic format and cliffhangers create natural breaks that could easily translate into intermissions or act breaks, allowing for moments of reflection and anticipation.
Perhaps most importantly, Making A Murderer touches on several universal themes that resonate deeply with audiences, including justice, truth, prejudice, and power. These issues are not unique to this particular case, but rather speak to broader societal issues that many people are eager to explore and discuss.
However, translating a complex and nuanced documentary series into a stage production poses some significant challenges. First and foremost is the issue of adaptation – how does one take a multi-episode TV show and condense it into a two-hour play without sacrificing important details or losing the audience’s attention? There is also the question of how to portray such a visually rich story on a limited budget, particularly when it comes to recreating key scenes from the case.
Despite these challenges, there have been attempts to adapt Making A Murderer for the stage. In 2019, a theater company in London staged a production called The Conviction of Harvey Weinstein, which drew inspiration from the infamous producer’s downfall and subsequent trial, as well as the broader #MeToo movement. The play sought to explore the themes of power, gender, and abuse of the legal system in a way that echoed elements of Making A Murderer.
Another approach could be to use Making A Murderer as source material rather than adapting it directly. For example, a playwright could take the broader themes and issues raised by the show and create an entirely original story that explores these topics in creative ways. This approach would allow for more artistic freedom while still paying homage to the inspiration provided by the series.
Ultimately, the question of whether Making A Murderer is suited for theater is difficult to answer. The show’s popularity suggests that audiences are hungry for stories that challenge their assumptions about justice and truth, and that delve into the gray areas of the human experience. However, translating such a complex and multilayered case to the stage will require creativity, ingenuity, and careful consideration. Whether we will see a successful theatrical adaptation of Making A Murderer remains to be seen – but the fact that the conversation is happening at all is a testament to the impact this groundbreaking series has had on our cultural consciousness.