Review: Theatre by the Blind's CHANGING FACES Will Open Your Eyes to Artistic Possibilities

CRE Outreach was incorporated in 2007, serving at-risk students, the visually impaired and military veterans through theater-based arts programs. Utilizing theater as a means to enhance self-esteem, encourage self-expression and empower individuals to overcome the challenges in their lives, CRE Outreach focuses on "transforming lives, one show at a time."

Last year I saw the CRE Outreach production of "Nobody Told Me" directed by Greg Shane and presented by Theatre by the Blind, the only blind theater company in the United States. The production incorporated not only blind and visually impaired actors but sighted veterans who were learning new skills to re-invent themselves into more artistic career choices. And while the blind actors certainly learned from and relied on the sighted veterans, the veterans all told me they learned more listening to and watching how the visually impaired actors learned to maneuver their way around and how to work together to achieve a goal. So when I was invited to see Kelsey Wilk's new play "Changing Faces" as the 16th production of Theatre by the Blind directed by Greg Shane, I knew I was in for another mind-empowering experience.

Just imagine learning your lines as well as the entire stage environment without being able to see. Just how would you do that? Many actors shared they learned their lines by listening to a recording of them, and moved around the stage with the addition of mats on the floor to indicate which way to find entrances and exits as well as where furniture would be located since the modest set pieces were moved by two sighted stage crew members for each scene. It seemed like a daunting task to me, but the actors assured me that even though they would once in a while get turned around and move the wrong way, it was easy to remember thanks to the focus of the show's director Greg Shane.

Blind in his right eye, Greg's personal connection and sensitivity to the challenges of the visually impaired lend a unique perspective to his work with actors who feel from the heart rather than focusing on what they see when onstage. It's a unique perspective, and the challenges faced by the actors in their "Changing Faces" roles, especially given the number of entrances and exits as well as number of lines required for many of the roles, were most definitely a challenge to overcome. What's more, all characters in the play are sighted, so no references to anyone being unable to see are in the show. And after a while, it is easy to forget that fact. And even when one actor lost her way, the front row audience reached out to her, turning her around so the play could continue as if nothing amiss had happened. In fact, all it did was remind me the actors really could not "see" where they were going.

"Changing Faces" tells the story of Scott Daniels (portrayed by Ernest Pipoly, a former truck driver who lost his sight at age 50), an all-American family man who gets involved with the wrong crowd, leading his family to go into the witness protection program. The action begins on a normal day in Ernest's office during which his assistant Barbara Baxter (Willie Ruth "Cookie" Cook) comically deals with many phone calls. Cook excelled in the scene, allowing us to see the real attitude of her frustrated character. A mysterious phone call sets the action for the rest of the play.

Many of the standout performers include Connor Head (as Eddy Garcia and Lucas Daniels) who takes to the stage with every ounce of his being. At one point during a police confrontation, Melanie Hernandez interrogates him, leading to Connor being pushed against a wall. Imagine how much trust is involved with this choreography since Connor has been blind since birth and Melanie started losing her vision at 8 years of age. And at several integrals, Connor and David Sandoval, the youngest actor in the troupe at age 14, entertained on guitar, bongos and saxophone, singing with much gusto. And speaking of music, the show was introduced through an original piece by keyboardist Laywood Blocker, who even though blind has played for 63 years and was a winner on NBC's The Gong Show. His moving words set the entire emotional mood of the play.

Kenny Lee, an accomplished actor who is losing his vision due to damage to his optical nerve, plays two roles in the play and shared that Theatre by the Blind has encouraged his continuing love of performing when he thought his acting career was over. Arnett Coates, who lost his sight at age 20, not only plays the "bad guy" in Act 1 but a very flamboyant entertainer in the second act. The two roles are like night and day, and Coates handles them with outgoing ease. Rounding out the cast is Leela Kazerouni who overcame great physical odds to again appear in a Theatre by the Blind show.

The run of CHANGING FACES ends this weekend with all performances sold out. If the run does not extend, be sure to keep your eyes open for their next play presented at the Promenade Playhouse, which I guarantee will inspire you to realize the true power live theater can have on your soul. Congrats to all involved.

For more information on CRE Outreach and Theatre By the Blind call, 310-902-8220 or go to www.creoutreach.org.

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