Modern motion capture tools can be used to animate sophisticated digital characters in real time. Through these virtual avatars human performers can communicate with live audience, creating a promising new area of application for public engagement. This study describes a social experiment where a real-time multimedia setup was used to facilitate an interaction between a digital character and visitors at a public venue. The technical implementation featured some innovative elements, such as using iPhone TrueDepth Camera as part of the performance capture pipeline. The study examined public reactions during the experiment in order to explore the empathic potential of virtual avatars and assess their ability to engage live audience.