Getting old is tough. Actress uses humor to talk about the ups and downs of aging
Mariann Aalda is at the National Black Theatre Festival with a one-woman show that looks at getting older and defying expectations. The show, called "Gettin' Old is a Bitch... But I'm Gonna Wrestle That Bitch to the Ground!," is sold out for all four showings through Saturday. This marks her sixth time performing at the festival.
"I keep coming back because I absolutely love it," she said of NBTF. "I love the camaraderie of being with all the other performers from all over the country and I get to reconnect with people I’ve worked with before either onstage or on television. It’s like a homecoming or family reunion. And the audiences here are the best. They’re very generous in their appreciation of the performers and the performances. And the volunteers are like family."
We asked her some questions about her career and approach to comedy:
Mariann Aalda
Q: What inspired you to take a comedic approach to the subject of getting older?
Answer: Well, my smart-ass response would be “You’ve gotta laugh to keep from cryin’.”
Q: Can I ask your age?
Answer: I’m 71. I never lie about my age. I think we do a disservice to ourselves when we do … especially women. Culturally, there’s a lot of …
Q: What’s your favorite part of performing?
Answer: Connecting with the audience … getting them to laugh; maybe making them see things a little differently than they had before. This mig…
Q: Least favorite part of performing?
Answer: Most of my acting career was spent in television. Other than soap operas — which also included regular roles on NBC’s "Sunset Beach" a…
Q: Who were your comedic influences?
Answer: Ha! Here’s an odd duo for you … Redd Foxx and Rita Rudner. I worked with Redd, and he was a comic genius. And what I love about Rita i…