Back in the late 1970’s I apprenticed the troupe and was a manager for the
Groundlings Theater in LA on Friday nights.
Paul Reubens initiated a new character - a naive kid who just got off the bus -
who in the storyline eventually evolved into a comic.
All of LA was mythic and eye-opening to this character and he had a way of
making you see the fairy tale of it all through his eyes.
This was the first appearance of Pee-Wee and on successive Friday nights he
would appear and hone the character - change things here or there - draw in the
audience more and more - Until he finally put together Pee-Wee’s Playhouse -
the stage production - with other members of the Groundlings group - truly
brilliant comic talents.
The movies were fun, I thought -
But, all I can say is that in person in those early days and through the
development of Pee-Wee’s stage show -
I have seen few things funnier or laughed at fewer things harder that I did
that show.
Rubens would come out tossing candy to everyone, dancing on his tip toes,
engaging the audience.
I don’t know what it was - but he definitely tapped something both mythic and
absurd - a wonderful and unusual combination.
Paul was always a very kind and gentle person, even quiet, and it was a shame
he hit the Hollywood Babylon skids as he did.
We all have our feet of clay -
But in the old days - when it was fresh and never seen before - his act was
nothing short of scream out loud riotous - you literally couldn’t get the air
out of your lungs fast enough.
Jeez, I’d love to see something that funny once again!
Alan
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