![\"Paul](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/MOVIE-DAD-9.jpg\")
<\/a>Paul Dooley. Photo by Fiona Lakeland, as is the big one at the top of the page, of Paul with his hero, Buster Keaton, behind him.<\/p><\/div>\n
So, when I tell how worthwhile I think this series of \u201csolo shows\u201d at Theatre West in the Valley is, you know how serious I am about it!<\/p>\n
The series started off with a bang with Movie Dad<\/em> by character actor Paul Dooley. I have to tell you that, although he would not remember me, I did used to know him a tiny bit when I was starting out in the biz. We were both part of Robert Altman\u2019s world, though Paul\u2019s connection with the famous director was much stronger than mine, thank goodness. (I\u2019ll tell my<\/em> story of that strange time in my life sometime when I do my own<\/em> show, but do not hold your breath for that one.) So, this presentation was very interesting to me. There\u2019s so much more to Paul than I could have ever imagined! And it\u2019s all good!!!<\/p>\n This is perhaps the only time in my life that I really wanted<\/em> to see a one-person show. That desire was mostly because I was curious to compare Paul\u2019s experience of the Altman days to mine. But one minute into the show, I forgot all about that aspect.\u00a0 I got so engrossed in his performance that I just wanted to enjoy everything he was saying at each moment. He was totally engaging and charming. I was pretty shocked to discover that an eighty-nine-year-old can be so captivating, and not at all in a \u201csenior\u201d way.<\/p>\n Images from some of Paul Dooley’s many roles. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Paul shared the highs and lows of both his career and personal life. When he began with his childhood, my first thought was, \u201cOh boy, this will be a looong hour and a half!\u201d But I got right into his monologue. It was all pretty fascinating.<\/p>\n Before I tell you more about this show in specific, I have to let you know that, sadly, his time at Theatre West is up. (But if you ever have the opportunity\u00a0to see him do this show anywhere<\/em>, even in his living room, I highly recommend doing so.) In the meantime, there\u2019s a whole series<\/em> of these solo shows at Theatre West; all the info is on\u00a0their website\u00a0at the bottom of this review. If the others are as successful as Paul\u2019s was, we\u2019re all in for more treats!<\/p>\n The line-up of the series of upcoming solo shows at Theatre West.<\/p><\/div>\n Actually, his show brings up several reasons to support theatrical programs like these. The personal presentations are living proof of the internet memes that tell us that everyone<\/em> has pain, even when we can\u2019t see it. We really do not know what\u2019s in someone else\u2019s life, and what their journey really is, unless they share it with us. For example, as I said, Paul and I were in the same big group of people way back in the day, but I was just a kid, and, as we know by his age, he was just another grown-up man slightly in my periphery. I doubt if we ever said another word outside of the obligatory \u201chi\u201d a few times. I hung-out with my fellow young \u2019uns in those days, and had zero interest in knowing anything about him back then.<\/p>\n But, had I taken the time to grill him, as I do with everyone I meet now<\/em>, I would have had so much respect for the man! And this Portraits of Humanity<\/em> series is giving us all the opportunity to do just that, without having to come up with the questions<\/em> ourselves. I really love knowing someone\u2019s whole story, and journey, so this is perfect viewing for others with my same curiosity.<\/p>\n Paul Dooley. Photo by Fiona Lakeland.<\/p><\/div>\n So, back to Paul Dooley\u2019s Movie Dad<\/em> show in specific. I didn\u2019t even realize that he\u2019s played a ton of fathers in films! (Oh wait\u2014for alliteration sake, he should change the title to Film<\/em> Fathers<\/em>! You heard it here first, folks. Get it? Alliteration.) I had absolutely no idea that Paul was so humorous. Or even at all<\/em>! But his comic timing is impeccable. Not only did he tell us his personal<\/em> stories, but he threw in several jokes, which he moved over to a water cooler to tell us. Clever touch.<\/p>\n There were also many projections, including his historical stills, several clips of old footage of him, and even cartoons he drew!!! Who knew the man was so prolific??? Certainly not I!<\/p>\n What a fun night of theatre this was! And there are seven more solo shows to see at Theatre West over the next month and a half. A few people I know have seen previews of a couple of them, which led them to highly recommend the entire series to me. So, let\u2019s hope they keep Paul Dooley\u2019s ball rolling, and I hope to see you all there!<\/p>\n Portraits of Humanity<\/em> running on various week-ends through September 10, 2017<\/strong> PORTRAITS OF HUMANITY: A SERIES OF SOLO SHOWS\u2014PAUL DOOLEY\u2019S MOVIE DAD Let me tell you right up front that I usually eschew one-person shows. I just don\u2019t have the patience for the more-often-than-not self-indulgent pieces. So, when I tell how worthwhile I think this series of \u201csolo shows\u201d at Theatre West in the Valley is,<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Theatre West\u00a0 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West\u00a0323-851-4839\u00a0 www.theatrewest.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"