MyFace

INTERVIEW WITH MYSELF

By David Roche

Q) David, what first gave rise to your career as a pioneer in the genre of facial-difference humor?

A) It was January 1990, when I was first falling in love with Marlena. We had a quarrel. I got discouraged and felt I was losing myself in the relationship, that I had to do something for myself. I decided it was time to take comedy classes. I had no intention of talking about my face at that time-I am part of the generation of denial. I rarely if ever talked about how I looked; I just pretended I was normal. This worked a great deal of the time, but it gets kind of ridiculous on stage. The classes were so supportive, I gradually was encouraged to talk about myself, which turned out to be richly humorous.

Q) Why are you sometimes called “Reverend Dave”?

A) My “Church of 80% Sincerity” grew out of improvisational work I was doing, as did the title. It is a church for people who are not perfect. Like me. I saw that we are the congregation of the flawed. And I get to be the Reverend Dave. I want to be Pope, but that seems a tad presumptuous to me right now.

Q) What do you feel like when you step up onstage to do the opposite of what people with visible disabilities so often want to do-hide, deny, change the subject?

A) Here is my secret: I have learned to tap into my inner beauty and express it on stage. I just try to be myself. This is very powerful, because it is commonly believed in America that the face is the locus of the human persona. So, a marred face reminds people that they themselves often feel disfigured, flawed, unacceptable to others. In performing, I deliberately bring up that fear and pain for the audience. Through humor, their vision of me (and themselves) gets reframed. When they see my beauty, they get a deep and healing reassurance. They like it and they pay me money. Cool, huh?

Q) What are some memorable audience responses to your work?

A) A very beautiful woman came into my dressing room, started crying and revealed that she wanted to disfigure her face because nobody really listened to her or took her seriously.

Oh, and I love it when someone in the audience loses control and can’t stop laughing.

The best compliment I ever received after a show was when a young man, an adolescent with multiple disabilities, who was in the audience, stood up in the audience after the show and said: “Up until tonight my heroes have been different than me, superheroes with costumes and superpowers. Now I have a hero who is like me and I can be a hero too.”

Q) You told me once that in pursuing this career, you’re scared a lot of the time. How so? Is it worth it?

A) I still get scared. Not because of my appearance, but because I am somewhat  obsessive compulsive. I often find myself taking new risks and challenges, things I have never done before. The problem is, this upsets my carefully planned daily routines which have always given me the illusion of safety. Then I get afraid because I forget that what is happening is actually wonderful. But I am learning to get over it more quickly. I get by with 20% faith. You can imagine that it takes a lot of work.

Q) In dull, daily life, does Rev. Dave really practice what he preaches?

A) I beg your pardon? My sincerity level has averaged 86% this year!

Q) Where is Rev. Dave headed? A three-picture deal, a multinational entertainment conglomerate? You have mentioned soap operas a few times.

A) My friends have always said I should be in a soap opera. Marlena enjoys Bollywood films, but I am not sure I could take that level of excitement needed to be a performer in Bollywood. All that dancing! Plus the stars have to be even more handsome than in Hollywood.

I am busy enough speaking, performing, selling my book, and now blogging.

Q) What would you tell our readers, young and old, who have a latent spark in this direction?

A) What is “a latent spark”?

Q) We know that Americans can be obsessed with appearance. Are there any good things about being facially different in America?

A) Well, a few. Once in a while, I get on the bus, an elderly woman will get up and offer me her seat.

Q) Do you take her seat?

A) Oh yes!

I have also found that I do have an all-purpose excuse. I just say, “Sorry, can’t help you. My face is acting up.” And people don’t question that.

And because I have very few teeth due to receiving radiation therapy as a child,  I save a lot of time brushing them. I am grateful for that.

Q) How many teeth?

A) I have four teeth left, all on top, and I love them dearly. I have given them names: Shaky, Sturdy, Lefty and Tiny. I always give them compliments so that they remain confident.

Oh, and because I have no chewing surfaces, I do not waste time chewing food. I just swallow it down.

Q) By “latent spark,” I meant an interest in being a performer, a humorous performer.

A) Oh. Number one, choose to be around supportive and loving people. Then get out there and do it. Take classes. Take risks. Find what gives you strength and faith and find ways to build them that work for you. Don’t wait for inspiration to be creative. Work is the source of inspiration.

End of interview

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 29th, 2008 at 6:48 pm and is filed under This and That. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.