By Rita Charleston
For the Times
Obviously, Taylor Mason is no dummy — although he prefers working with them.
That’s because Mason is a ventriloquist. Along with many other talents that made him the winner of the $100,000 grand prize as Star Search Champion in 1991, Mason has performed in Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House, and is proud that his act is so clean you can bring your mother along.
In fact, he’ll be showing off that act at the Bucks County Comedy Cabaret in Doylestown on Friday and Saturday.
Growing up in a little farming community outside of Chicago, Mason got an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois. He then went on to receive a master’s degree in advertising from Northwestern. But on his way to begin a life in advertising, he realized he didn’t want to live the next 40 years of his life that way. So, equipped with many talents — including playing the piano, a comedic spark AND ventriloquism — he decided to try performing.
"Luckily, after just one audition, I managed to get a job as musical director, actor and writer with Chicago’s famous Second City. And, about a block away from Second City was a comedy club called Zany’s, where I also worked, mainly with my puppets," Mason recalled.
In fact, always a funny little kid and piano-playing youth, he loved those puppets, often practicing with them alone in the secrecy of his room when he was very young.
"That’s because growing up, especially in the seventies, it sure was not hip to be a ventriloquist. So I practiced when I was all by myself."
Today, happily out of his room and in front of approving audiences, Mason said he’ll use about two or three puppets in his act at Doylestown, but all in all he has well over 25 of them.
However, Mason insisted, he’s never hidden behind his artificial people. "The act works because the puppets are actors with their own distinct personalities that are quite different from mine, so there’s nothing to hide behind," he said.
In addition to his stage work, Mason continues to display many other talents. For instance, he has a children’s TV show called Taylor’s Attic, a DVD called Bananas, and another called Thou Shalt Laugh — The Deuce with comic actor Tim Conway and Saturday Night Live alum Victoria Jackson.
Today, Mason, his wife of 21 years, and their two sons live in Moorestown, N.J, where his wife is from originally. But the entertainer will perform anywhere he can find live audiences, from Las Vegas to Atlantic City casinos, to corporate events and summer festivals. And of course, college shows, where at one time Mason was one of the most popular acts of the circuit, earning more money than either he or his farming family believed possible.
As a professional performer for 24 years, Mason, at the age of 51, continues to enjoy every facet of his life and hopes he will never have to retire. "I’m still vital, I have lots of things going on, and feel I still have an incredible amount to do. I’m filming my DVDs. My kids show is about to be picked up by a major distributor. And I’m writing a series of books," he said.
"I’m very fortunate and have discovered that my real job is getting the next job, and there seems to be a lot of next jobs out there for me." ••
For times and ticket information, call 215-345-JOKE or visit www.comedycabaret.com