If you thought the process of memorizing lines for an entire play is a testament to the mental acuity of actors, get ready to experience the ultimate test of on-stage stamina with TKD’s production of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. A blend of game-show antics, meta-theatrical madness, and theatre experimentation, this production is a whirlwind experience that is guaranteed to be different each night. To misquote Forrest Gump: Too Much Light is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get!
In this production, audiences play a huge role in the events of the evening. Upon entering the venue, director Shelby Frye, wearing a pair of over ear headphones turned up way too loud, asks you for your name. They write down the best approximation of what they hear on a name tag, and you’ll wear that for the show. (My name was Blaisley Billson—not too far off the mark.) Audience members are served a “menu” of 30 mini-plays from which to choose from, with each play running roughly two minutes. Via cacophonous shouting of any random number one chooses, audience members select a mini-play from the menu, and the ensemble actors begin that selection as soon as possible. When each mini-play is done, cast members shout “Curtain!” to signal to the audience to select the next mini-play. However, the pressure is on both the cast and the audience to get through all 30 mini-plays in under 60 minutes; if the show progresses too slowly, you might miss out on one of the two-minute skits. With this gamified setup, the actors are at our beck and call, but at the same time, we as the audience are asked to participate as well. Frye notes that “this show thrives only with the help of its tenth cast member—the audience watching.” Levels of participation are variable, with ample opportunities for bolder audience members to demonstrate their own acting chops, while other mini-plays have you participate in your seat. And as the audience has control over the order of the mini-plays, no two productions of Too Much Light will be the same; this is a show that warrants multiple viewings.
While you may have seen TKD familiars playing well-known roles in more traditional stage productions, this time, these folks are on stage as themselves. An ensemble of TKD’s most familiar faces return for a meta-theatrical rush of performances. Liz Burling, Casey Cain, Kelby Cox, Noah McBrayer Jones, Ty Shrum, and Randy Thompson return to the stage for some hilarious chaos. The entire cast seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, even when they weren’t actively participating in one of the mini-plays. Each member demonstrated a hilarious dexterity in shifting from skit to skit, many of which varied greatly in tone; while most of the skits could be considered comedies, some were darker and rather heavy. It takes skill to shift rapidly and unexpectedly in the roulette sketch style this play demands of its cast. Props to this ensemble as well as to the actors debuting with this wild ride of a show!
TKD’s production of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind is also a celebration of many “firsts” for several members of the production team. Alum Shelby Frye makes their solo directorial debut with this production after a ten-year hiatus from an acting role in this play. From the confined, grid-like set design and minimalist but powerful prop use, Frye’s leadership and vision brought out the best of what TKD is capable of. Eliza Bowles, Shelley Stephen and Dixon White also join the TKD crew in debut stage roles and fit right in with the rest of the veteran cast. Haley McCulloch also welcomes her first stage management role with TKD. It’s not everyday that a stage manager has to factor the audience as a cast member, and to do that in a debut is impressive. Each member of the creative team brought their all for this production, and the hard work and dedication was evident from opening night.
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind runs until June 22, with showings on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm and matinees on Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are available at their box office, located at 800 South Central Street, or online at https://theatreknoxville.com/too-much-light-makes-the-baby-go-blind/.
