hybrid performance, from then to now

Recently I read the introduction to Theatre, Performance and Technology by Christopher Baugh which gave me an insight into the hybrid performances we see in theatre today. These performances have not been only recent. Theatre of 'Greek antiquity' used a mechane, that is a mechanical arm or crane, that would suspend the Gods over the action of the play. This, albeit a rather large jump, then takes us to moving scenery in later years in 'mystery and miracle plays of the middle ages'. Then, to the nineteenth century and moving towards plays of the Renaissance. All through this time technologies were developing and being used further in productions whether this be behind the scenes or, indeed, on stage. Baugh writes that the link between 'scientific discoveries, technical developments, and their presentation and use within the theatre' is 'inevitable' (p.2). This, I think, is an important observation. We are well aware that theatre represents life, and one of the reasons I believe that it is almost impossible to cut technology out of theatre, is that technology is a huge part of our lives. It would be like saying, 'let's revert to using pen and paper and get rid of computers', it simply wouldn't work. Furthering this, Baugh writes that theatre in the nineteenth century 'served as...a showground for new industrial technologies'. This shows how developments in the technological world could aid directors and scenographers in achieving a more 'realistic' background and set. This, naturally being the main aim of the scenographer, gives designers far more options in their execution of the set, thus widening the possibilities for the performance as a whole.
One of the other aspects Baugh wrote of that I found interesting was the 'laments of critics, actors and playwrights that the theatre and...audience [began to] consider scenes and special effects as more important than the dramatic literature and..work of the actor'. However, as Baugh goes on to say, scenery and special effects can be removed and the action remains, whereas if the actors were removed, there would be little to watch but moving pieces of set and elaborate effects; there would be no substance.
Thus, whilst technology aids our ability to put on stage what we wish in the most realistic form, without it there is still action. Technology only enhances our understanding of what is being presented onstage, it can never take the place of the action.