Comedian Steve Solomon considered stand-up a necessary evil at the start of his career.
That’s hard to believe considering the master impressionist has about 40 different New York dialects in his head. There’s his uncle Charlie, who Solomon describes as “phlegm factory” because of the rough gurgling cough that comes out as he speaks. There’s Uncle Freddy, who is prone to knock over water glasses and salt shakers when he reaches across a table. And of course, there are his parents, who inspired Solomon’s off-Broadway show, “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy.”
“Still in Therapy,” Solomon’s latest installment on his family dynamics, opened this week at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, in Dunwoody. The one-man show runs through Aug. 15.
Before turning to comedy at age 45, Solomon spent 15 years working in education as a high school physics teacher and assistant superintendent of schools in Long Island, NY. The Brooklyn native says he realized early on that his clan’s idiosyncrasies were universal, and the key is performing before receptive theater audiences instead of comedy club hecklers.
Folks see their own relatives in Solomon’s stories, he said.
Q: How is this new show different from the others?
A: In the original show there were main characters like my ex-wife – "The Monster." People wanted to know if there were any good times. In this one, there's this whole thing on the birth of my son. There are 15 new characters and it's a tiny bit naughtier.
Q: What's your process for choosing these characters?
A: I write from 6-9 in the morning. I have to figure out who is saying what. I see things like a comic -- with a twist. For example, that thing on [the news] about the airlines possibly charging for the use of the bathrooms; I thought, how do they figure pricing? How much for a [tinkle]? How much for a [poop]? If you buy both do you get a discount?
Q: Do you see yourself ever doing a show on politics or material off the news?
A: No. It's very simple. If a comic walks into a room and says, "You know the problem with democrats is…" He has immediately lost half of the house. I can't do that. I have to touch on something that touches everybody. Family, driving, sex, eating. We've all done it.
Q: When did you decide you were going to pursue a comedy career?
A: I knew I did voices as a kid. I used to drive my mother crazy. She used to call home and I'd [convince her] that I was my grandpa. When I worked as an assistant superintendent of schools I hated the politics. One day I had a big political debate with some people, and I knew I didn't want to do it anymore. I knew I could do comedy. I wanted to follow my heart, and I did.
"Still in Therapy"
Through Aug. 15. $17-$25. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta's Morris and Rae Frank Theatre. Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. 678-812-4002, www.atlantajcc.org.
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