Sounds a little like Andy Kaufman.
Regards Doug Taylor <http://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasbtaylor> Profile From: MoPo List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Alan Adler Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 4:18 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [MOPO] PEE WEE'S BIG COMEBACK 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 _____ To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L <https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1> &A=1 Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [email protected] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
