“The Wonder Bread Years”
When: Through Sunday, Dec. 19
Where: Victoria Theater, downtown Dayton
Showtimes: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: $39 to $77.50, depending on performance. Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or (888) 228-3630
More information: www.victoriatheatre.com
DAYTON — So how did “The Wonder Bread Years” come into existence? We chatted with creator and star, Pat Hazell, 48, about the Victoria Theatre’s current production.
Q How did your show get its name?
A I remember Wonder Bread from my childhood and the fact that it promised to “help build strong bodies 12 ways.” I remember the whimsy of the packaging — those colorful balloon circles and the nature of it as a product that sings ‘Americana.’ It all helped reinforce the nostalgic nature of the humor I use in this show.
Q What’s the concept of the show?
A The underlying theme is about our sense of wonder — how we lost it and how we get it back. It’s about experiences of discovery, curiosity, adventure and it reinforces the fact that there’s a lot to be hopeful about. The show is pure escapism and gives people a break from the nightly news, from politics, war and terrorism, from anything you read in the news that creates fear. This is a safe haven, a chance to laugh for a couple of hours.
Q Why do human beings like nostalgia?
A Time is an interesting thing. When you have time between an experience and when you reflect on it, it builds your affection for it. Nostalgic comedy is like comfort food. It gives us a little more than just laughs, there’s warmth in it.
Q What are some examples?
A I try to find common denominators so that people can relate regardless of their age or background. Instead of writing about specific television shows, for example, we talk about sitting at the kids’ table at Thanksgiving: If you were 12 or under, you sat at that cardboard fold-up table. Or about prizes in cereal. Or how we trick-or-treated and traded candy on Halloween. Or about what happened on Christmas morning when your mother or grandmother tried to make you save the tinsel or the wrapping paper.
Q Where did you grow up?
A I was the middle child of six and I’m from Omaha, Neb., in America’s breadbasket, not unlike Dayton, Ohio. There were a lot of Dairy Queens and people riding in the back of Country Squire wagons. I reflect on it as a happy time and although the bull’s eye audience is the baby boomer, the show is written in a universal way. I don’t mention my age in the show or where I grew up. I’m trying to create not my life story but our life story. I’m trying to give the audience perspective on looking for moments of joy in life.
Q What’s the history of “The Wonder Bread Years?”
A I’ve been doing it over 10 years. I originally wrote it as a one-hour PBS special for a pledge drive in Lincoln, Neb., at the Johnny Carson theater. I did it in a shortened version in Dayton years ago at The Loft. It has grown in popularity over the years, now other actors do the show too.
Q Why a one-man show?
A My conditioning came from being a stand up comic, you learn how to be a lone wolf. I love the freedom, it allows you to be nimble and go with the flow. It’s not a monologue, but a conversation with the audience. The audience responds not with words, but with laughter, a sigh, a groan. If you’re good, you’re picking topics that open places for audiences that immediately create a connection.
Q Speaking of connection, you’ve been connected with Dayton?
A Yes, my last visit to the Victoria was a show called “Bunk Bread Brothers.” And I’ve written a show that will be at the Victoria in May called “Cocktails with Larry Miller.”
It’s a giant prize package to be able to be part of the Victoria’s Broadway Series along with shows like “The Lion King.”
Q What do you like about live theater as opposed to film and TV?
A Film is frustrating — you don’t know for years what worked and what didn’t. I wrote for “Seinfeld” and other TV shows. But live, you get an immediate response and you can adjust to the audience. The audience is an organism and when you’re hitting them in the sweet spot, it’s contagious.
Also, there’s more creative freedom when you take the risk of developing something from the ground up.
Q What’s your underlying theme of this show?
A I believe we have more in common than we have differences. It’s a shame people look at anybody in whatever situation as unlike themselves. They should understand that everybody cries, and bleeds and is afraid of things and that others respond when people offer a smile or a helping hand.
This time of year people get more in tune with it, because the malls have happy music and decorations go up. We’re all just trying to keep our lives in balance.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or MMoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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