By Frank O’Donnell WPRO Arts and Entertainment
I started off asking comedian/impressionist Rob Bartlett what’s new.
“Well, we’re in a new studio,” he says in a deadpan voice. “It’s much better. And we’ve got a much nicer green room.”
He’s talking about the new studio that Fox built for the Imus in the Morning show. Working there is Bartlett’s “steady gig, the source from which everything comes.”
But he’s got a lot of irons in the fire. “I cast a lot of lines,” he says, turning it into a fishing reference. “You got to keep chumming, my friend.”
One of the irons in the fire, lines in the water is working as a standup comic, which he’ll be doing this Sunday night at the Ocean State Theatre Company in Warwick. “My shows are constantly evolving.”
An accomplished impressionist, Bartlett says he just started doing the voice of Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler magazine. “I’m an expert,” says Bartlett, “at doing voices that do me no good whatsoever.” He’s quick to point out that “good taste just isn’t in my lexicon.”
He’s working on Robert DeNiro, but “I need a hook. I can say, ‘Little bit,” and he does, in DeNiro’s voice. “I can make the face, but I need more than that for radio.”
He’s got a lot of new material for his live performances. “I started playing more with the audience,” he says. “And I’m comfortable being this on-stage persona that’s really me, not so much a character.”
He’s happy with his evolution as a performer. “I started as a prop comic, and then all I did was characters. Now, it’s a nice blend. Me, the characters.”
With all the new stuff, he’s still doing some of his classic bits. “I’ve got Wheel of Jordan, the Night Before Christmas in Brooklyn, like that.” He says it’s like going to see your favorite rock band in concert – you want to hear the classics.
Bartlett’s been dabbling in theater lately as well. He played Mushnick in “Little Shop of Horrors,” and Amos in “Chicago.” “I spent a summer with Christina Applegate in ‘Sweet Charity,” and did ‘The Odd Couple’ with Nathan Lane.”
As much as he enjoys theater, he’s limited to shows that are close enough to his day job with Imus. “I can’t go out of town, so I do mostly revivals, reinventions.”
As for Imus, “I’m sure he’ll convince himself he’s got Ebola. He’s already got a cold.”
Bartlett’s excited to be returning to the Ocean State – he was last here about 14 months ago – so he can check in with Buddy Cianci. “I knew it was only a matter of time before he’d be back. Buddy Cianci gets things done – by any means necessary,” he jokes. “He’s as charming as they get. I’ve never met anyone with as much charisma.”
So maybe he’ll talk about Buddy a little bit while he’s on stage. Whatever he’s talking about, you will know that he thoroughly enjoys what he’s doing. “The joy of performing goes a long way with me.”
Rob Bartlett, presented by Catch A Rising Star, appears at the Ocean State Theatre on Sunday, October 12. For tickets and information, call the box office at 401.921.6800, or visit their web site at www.oceanstatetheatre.org.
