TYT 5 (tight five) is a play with three monologues that follow our main character “Byron Coolie” at three different points in his life (about ten years apart). “Byron Coolie” is a well-traveled aspiring comedian with a wealth of experiences to pull from. Each monologue is sandwiched between 5-minute stand-up sets that progress through time and place as he finds his footing as a comedian.
The term tight five refers to a comedian’s short performance set used to communicate his life’s perspectives in the form of jokes. Because of the 5 minute time limit, a comedian may feel pressured to rush during a performance. When we rush through things, we do not take the time to be present and grasp our self worth. As a result, I chose to spell the word tight like “TYT” because it means Take Your Time. When a comedian takes his time onstage, he’s present, articulate, and much more relaxed in the face of adversity. The word “tight” also implies stiffness or strain. In contrast, “TYT” implies a sense of openness and relief. I analogize this to life. Instead of rushing to be somebody, we should take our time to enjoy the person we are. We should take a TYT 5 and not a tight five.