My day with Red

Every once in a while in our lives we meet someone who, although we may never meet them again, we will remember for the rest of our lives.  Most of the time it happens when you least expect it and you dont realize it it's all over.

On February 9th this year, I was the Lighting Director at YCPAC for an impersonator of Red Skelton.  If you were to say that name in today's world, not many people would know who that was.  I have to admit that I was one of them.  Red was a clown, comedian, and actor during a large part of the 20th century.  He started out in vaudeville, starred in multiple films, performed live tours in his later years, and had his own television show for twenty years from 1951 to 1971.  His comedy was light, clean, and hilarious.  Red passed away in 1997.

Today, he and his comedy are remembered and celebrated by a man named Tom Mullica.  Tom performs the only authorized red Skelton impersonation act in America.  His act takes the art of impersonation to an incredible level.  If you were to watch videos of Red and Tom separately, you could almost not tell the difference.

I had no idea what to expect that day when I arrived at the theatre.  I assumed that it would be like every other comedy show that we've had there.  Turns out I had quite the challenge on my hands.  The lighting style was quite average and not to difficult, but that wasn't all there was to my portion of the show.  We were to have three projector screens as a backdrop, two of which showed a live feed of the show and one that showed some prerecorded scenes that Tom used as part of the show.  The live feed was important because facial expressions are a huge part of the act and the audience can't always see them from their vantage point.  My issue was having to fully light the stage while keeping the light off of the screens so that the images on them didn't get washed out.  I can't honestly say that I was successful.  I kept the lights off of the screens, but there were quite a few times that Tom stepped back out of the main focus of the lights and his face was not lit as was as it should have been.  That, of course, was not Tom's fault because it is my job to light the stage everywhere that he could possibly go.  It wasn't enough that the audience couldn't see him anymore, but as a professional, it sure bothered be.  It was a good enough lighting job that I didn't hear any complaints from the audience so I consider that I small victory.  At least I got some good ideas for the next time something similar presents itself.

The highlight of the day for me was getting to sit with Tom and Stephen, who acts a small part in the show and runs everything backstage, before the show.  We sat and chatted about the lighting for the show and how everything was going to run, minute to minute.  Most performers and their crew don't do this so it was a real treat to have a good heads up on how the night was going to run.  I usually get the lighting cues called out to me through the intercom during the performance.  The best part of this though was spending the ten to fifteen minutes talking with Tom and Stephen.  They are amazingly kind and down-to-earth gentlemen and, of course, absolutely hilarious.  Just chatting with them was keeping me in stitches.  They also seemed genuinely interested in anything I added to the conversation which was a wonderful change compared to the fact that I usually don't even lay eyes on the talent until they are on stage for the sound check.

The show was a huge treat to see and I highly recommend it to everyone.  If Tom is ever traveling to your area, take the kids and the grandparents and travel back in time with this amazing show.

'Til next time.

Matthew

Katt

For those of you who are unaware, the title of this post is a reference to one of my favorite skits by my favorite comedian, Brian Regan. It was an amazing night for me on January 29th when I got to be the lighting director during his performance at YCPAC.  And yes, he did perform that skit as his encore at the request of a screaming audience member.

To tell the truth, it was an easy lighting night.  Of course I may have seen that everything was ready at a decent time and that it all went smoothly because I was so excited, but that is neither here nor there.  Looking back, it really was a pretty simple show.  No set changes or lighting cues, just a simple setup with plenty of light.  Not even any following spotlights.  Just the stage lit and that was all.

As for the performances, they were phenomenal.  The opener, whose name I have forgotten cause I have a short term memory, was incredible.  The only thing that  struck me a bit funny was that his style seemed to mimic, almost exactly, that of Mr. Regan's.  Not that it's a bad style to copy, but he might go a little farther with his chosen career if he were more original.  All that aside, he was a funny man to listen to.

Brian Regan Publicity Photo

Brian Regan was his normal self, but with an entire show of new material that I had never heard before.  I guess when you can't come up with a new act, you head to the place where comedians go to die, professionally anyway.  From what I have seen in the variety and constant updating of his shows over the years, Brian may have quite a while until he starts to fade away.  I do appreciate that with all of the comedians today, he still hasn't changed.  I put him up there with the likes of Bill Cosby because every time I have seen him perform, whether on television or live, it was a completely clean show and still hilarious.  I am always in pain after his performances from laughing so hard.  The show is so funny and yet clean that I took my daughter to see him without having to worry about possibly covering her ears at any point.  Glad that I am not the only one that appreciates it because that night at YCPAC was a sold out show.

The highlight of the night for me was before the show even began.  When most artists and stars come to the hall, they spend most of their time in their tour bus or in our dressing rooms.  I didn't even see Ron White until he was performing.  Brian Regan, on the other hand, wanted to see the stage and house seats before the audience was allowed in.  When he walked onto stage, he shook the entire crews hand, asked their names, and introduced himself as Brian like he was just a roadie or a new part of our crew.  I don't normally get to even see most of the acts off stage let alone meet them.  So when I got to shake my favorite comedian's hand, I was thrilled.  No, sadly, I didn't get a picture with him and didn't get his autograph.  Just a cool story, but to me, that's the important part.  I normally wouldn't even think about asking for a picture or autograph anyway because its just awesome to be part of something cool.

So if you ever get the chance to see Brian Regan live, take the whole family and prepare for pain in you laugh muscles.  You won't regret it.

'Til next time,

Matthew

Ron White

About a month and a half had gone by since I had been to work at YCPAC.  In early November I had been accepted to begin working in the optometrists office in the Walmart that I am employed at part time.  Therefore I was forced to cut back some of my time at YCPAC and during the holidays I was forced to cut back completely.  I didn't mind so much since jumping between the two was becoming increasingly more difficult.

After the holidays ended and my time at Walmart had slackened up a little, I was able to rejoin my friends at YCPAC for a few shows a month.  My first show back, I guess you could call it my triumphant return, was on January 10th when we hosted Ron White.  Not only was I thrilled to be back, but my friends and co-workers were elated to see me.  They really are a great group of people and they make me feel very special.

That night was a sold out show.  Being my first show in over a month, I wasn't quite sure what to expect to be doing.  You can imagine my surprise, and joy, when I was asked to resume my duties as lighting director. The advance for the evening contained very simple lighting instructions: stage lit red for the opening act with two following spotlights and a light blue stage for Ron with two following spotlights.  The only other request was for one light to shine from a completely black stage down onto a stool where Ron's glass and bottle of scotch sat.  Nothing for me that night was too difficult to do, but it was nice to have a slightly subdued lighting set for my return.  Although, only a month off is not enough to forget too much.  It was like riding a bike.

As for the performance, it was hilarious.  The opener, which I can't remember his name, was wonderful and not too full of what I call 'shock' humor. 'Shock' humor is the type that a lot of comedians use anymore.  It's when you realize that you're only laughing because you're shocked that anyone in public would speak those words.  I more appreciate it when someone can make you laugh simply because what they say is actually funny and, for the most part, clean.

Ron White Publicity Photo

Ron White was hilarious.  Before he went on stage, but after the opener, the house and stage went completely dark.  In the darkness, our stage manager ran out and placed to bottle of scotch and an empty glass on the stool.  When Ron was ready backstage, the only light that I brought up was the one that illuminated the stool.  As soon as it was visible, the crowd went berserk.  Then, as Ron walked onto the stage, I brought up the blue stage lights that I had set.  Nice and easy, and yet enough to bring the crowd to their feet.

Usually, from what I have seen, Ron is full of 'shock' humor, so I wasn't too excited to see him live.  I do have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by his act for the night because it was full of good humor about things that I naturally found funny.  Not the entire act of course, but most of it.

All in all, it was a great way to return and it left me excited to return for my next show, which thankfully was only a couple of weeks away.

Thanks for reading.

'Til next time,

Matthew