Answer:I think Miranda pretended to be sick so Via's family could see Via. Miranda said that nobody was watching her in the play and when Miranda looked through the curtain she saw August excited and maybe though that it would be more exciting to him if Via performed.
Explanation:
It might have been a bad idea because they weren't yet fully tested, so no one was sure if they were safe or reliable. It's like how today, many people are reluctant to buy virtual reality machines: because it a new technology that hasn't been dully developed yet.<span />