If you were wowed by Lily Tomlin's one-woman show, "The Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," get ready for Dr. Laura. The well-known radio psychologist, who is heard on 250 stations in the United States, Canada and Armed Services Radio, is coming to Salt Lake City to present her own one-woman show, "In My Never to be Humble Opinion."
When she saw Tomlin initiate her show 25 years ago, Dr. Laura Schlessinger said to herself, " 'I want to do this!'
"It was social commentary and that's what I do! I'm not an actress — I talk about me. So this show traces a day in my life during Act One — then in Act Two, I answer questions from members of the audience that they filled out anonymously on small cards as they came in. Then we talk about relationships, parenting and lots of others things — and it ranges from tears to raucous laughing," she said during a phone interview from her California home.
"It took a few shows before I got comfortable with Act One, because the audience is dark and so I speak into a black hole — and I talk about intimate experiences from my life, trying to help them understand my own journey. After doing it the first time, I got depressed. It's such an intimate experience. But now I'm really enjoying it. And the lights go on in Act Two so I can see the audience as I answer their questions," she said.
Publicity about the show intimates that Dr. Laura is some kind of superwoman who does the syndicated radio show she has done for 31 years, travels for the one-woman show, writes frequent marital and family advice books — and still has time for bicycling, sailing and weight lifting.
"Yes," she exulted. "I do all those things! I'm a good role model for juggling all the balls at once. I'm a hyperactive person. I'm in constant motion. Energy-wise, I'm like the little kid who is either highly active or fast asleep."
She just fell into the radio show. "My life is what happened to me when I was making other plans. I had never listened to the radio. It was a total accident — but I love it. I love the interaction and the intimacy of it. At first, I thought how do you do this intimacy thing? It's just me and I'm bold. A lot of people are not happy with that.
"But I only have three-to-five minutes with each caller, so I try to quickly get past the resistance. I have to be instinctive. I love getting into the fray to help someone with their own psyche. It's uplifting when you get to the Aha! moment. Doing radio is more deeply satisfying than teaching, which I have done, too."
In spite of her extensive experience interacting with people about morality, she is still "really surprised at what people get themselves into. Sometimes I get letters from people who say 'these phone calls can't be real,' but they are! Common sense is not common any more. People are adrift. They don't understand that immediate gratification is not good. Often they are far afield of dignity and modesty."
And women, she said, "are brainwashed by the feminist movement and then they're surprised when they get a husband and they're not happy. I hear about horrible, painful situations."
Coincidentally, Dr. Laura also has a new autobiographical book out, "Bad Childhood/Good Life," which utilizes the experiences of her own childhood to relate to those of readers. "It's a very motivating book," she said. "It's an attempt to help people in their relationships. You can't get through it without tearing up."
Dr. Laura has no regrets about any edgy response she may have given a radio caller. "I go straight for the jugular! If there is a piece of shrapnel in someone's leg, I go after it and pull it out! I'm specific to the caller. When there's a need to be soft, I do that. But I use my instincts. I'm doing my best. Not everyone is ready to hear it, but I've helped a lot of people and it's gratifying."
In Dr. Laura's opinion, "The height of compassion is to be truthful with a person. My job is not to sound nice — it is to help people." And how long does she want to continue the radio show? "Posthumously. I love what I do!" How long will she do the one-woman show? "I figure two years, and then who knows? I may have another mountain to climb."
If you go
What: Dr. Laura Schlessinger presents a one-woman show: "In My Never to be Humble Opinion"
Where: Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah
When: Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 3 p.m.
How much: $20-$55
Phone: 581-7100
E-mail: dennis@desnews.com