Larry Wilde's One-Man Show is Funny and
Heartfelt
By Barbara Rose Shuler
If you have been a stand-up comedian all your life, a best-selling
humorist, an actor and a show-biz personality, how do you
present your autobiography?
Larry Wilde--a resident of Carmel for over a decade--has carefully
and imaginatively crafted a splendid summing up in a one-man
show he calls "Going on Ed Sullivan."
Using the well-sharpened tools of his trade, Wilde opened
at the intimate Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in Carmel
in this smooth, funny, heartfelt, multi-layered, multi-media
performance about his life in comedy.
Many laughs later, the audience had not only learned about
the unusual life and career of the charming humorist but received
an education about what it takes to be successful in this
challenging profession.
In the process, Wilde also served up an intriguing retrospective
of 20th-century show business, decade by decade, as he traces
his career. He packs an enormous amount of information into
the show's two-acts without losing its soufflé lightness of
humor. In fact, the two hours are so engaging and fly by so
quickly that you may realize only later what a deft and resourceful
writer and producer the humorist is.
"Going on Ed Sullivan" takes its name from Wilde's mother's
determination that her son must appear on television's premiere
variety show if he wants to be taken seriously as a comedian.
His mom is a darling woman, who joins her friends to watch
the iconic program every week.
Of course she's right, Ed Sullivan--odd, dour duck that he
is--would no doubt give her son's career a snappy boost. It
is also apparent that he was succeeding brightly without Sullivan's
imprimatur. But mom fiercely holds her ground about the prized
gig.
Wilde has shared the stage with many well-known actors and
personalities, among them Debbie Reynolds, Ann-Margret, Rosemary
Clooney, Andy Williams, Vicki Carr, Pat Boone, Wayne Newton,
Sonny & Cher and the McGuire Sisters.
His television credits include several appearances on the
Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, Sanford & Son, the Tonight Show
with Johnny Carson as well as numerous national TV commercials
and more. He counts among his friends and collaborators great
comedy performers including Woody Allen, Jack Benny, Milton
Berle, George Burns, Johnny Carson, Phyllis Diller, Jerry
Lewis, Bob Hope and Maurice Chevalier.
"Going on Ed Sullivan" unfolds episodically in 12 segments.
Each section explores a period in Wilde's life and career
beginning with his childhood in Jersey City, learning how
to think on his feet from his salesman father Selig.
He shares his struggles and successes from childhood to the
present narrating from the stage against a changing backdrop
of films, stills and audio material. Along the way he pokes
much fun at himself and keeps us enthralled as only a master
storyteller can.
He tells about his Marine boot camp days and subsequent successes
as a military variety show producer, some funny-scary nightclub
gigs, memorable television appearances, meetings with famous
comedians, the time he accepted huge applause for an astronaut,
the Sullivan chronicles and more.
The multi-media elements have been carefully integrated with
the live material for a balanced and lively effect. In this
regard, the show benefits from the talents and professional
expertise of filmmaker John Harris and scenic and lighting
designer William Strom.
Wilde wrote the script with his wife MaryRuth, who makes a
brief film appearance in the show during an amazing news clip
about their wedding, which took place in the grocery store
in which they met.
Above all, Wilde stresses the importance of keeping humor
warm-hearted. At its best, humor heals, refreshes and delivers
us from folly.
Larry Wilde is dedicated to improving life with laughter and
paying tribute to the masters of this art. He explains it
all in "Going on Ed Sullivan." Don't miss it!
Adapted from Barbara Rose Shuler's review in GO's StageScene
section of the Monterey
County Herald
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