RIORDAN DOUBLES AS ACTOR.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer In a city where everyone's second career is in show business - bartender-producers and waiter-screenwriters - add one new, and perhaps the ultimate hyphenate hy·phen·ate tr.v. hy·phen·at·ed, hy·phen·at·ing, hy·phen·ates To divide or connect (syllables, word elements, or names) with a hyphen. n. : Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. , mayor-actor. On Monday, Riordan began rehearsals for a public radio drama, ``Thank You, Jeeves Thank You, Jeeves is a Jeeves novel by P.G. Wodehouse, first published in the U.K. on March 16 1934 by Herbert Jenkins, London, and in the United States on April 23 1934 by Little, Brown and Company, New York. ,'' to be produced this week by L.A. Theater Works and broadcast this summer by KCRW-FM (89.9). ``I like to take risks like this,'' Riordan said on his way into the rehearsal. ``Besides, if actors like (former President) Reagan and (Sen. Fred) Thompson can get into politics, why can't a politician get into acting?'' This is not Riordan's first foray but a part of his abiding interest in show business. In January, he and Councilwoman Laura Chick appeared in the two-person ``Love Letters,'' a benefit for a San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. theater. Years before he got into politics, Riordan took a course in comedy at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX . And, while political critics might say the mayor never learned the most valuable lesson of comedy - timing - he jumped right in at Monday's rehearsal in the role of blustering blus·ter v. blus·tered, blus·ter·ing, blus·ters v.intr. 1. To blow in loud, violent gusts, as the wind during a storm. 2. a. To speak in a loudly arrogant or bullying manner. American millionaire J. Washburn Stokler. Starring in the show are actors Douglas Weston, Martin Jarvis and Jennifer Tilley. Riordan said it was Weston who approached him about appearing in the show, which will be made available to National Public Radio stations across the country. Susan Albert Loewenberg, who began the L.A. Theater Works 14 years ago and produces similar shows for public radio systems across the country as well as in Canada, said she had heard from a friend that Riordan might be interested in the play. She approached Weston, who in turn talked to Riordan. ``It was right about the time of him appearing in `Love Letters,' and I went out and saw him and thought he was wonderful,'' Loewenberg said. ``I think he's a natural. He has a rare ability to listen to people on the stage with him.'' L.A. Theater Works stages 14 plays a year that sell out to some 400 fans for their productions. ``Thank You, Jeeves'' will be taped before a live audience Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Double Tree Guest Suites, 1707 Fourth St., Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. . Tickets run between $27 and $33. For information, call (310) 827-0889. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , Riordan, his shirt sleeves rolled up and a script in hand, shook hands with his fellow cast members, talked briefly with the director and promptly missed his first cue. ``Let's try that again,'' he said. ``This time, I'll get it right.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Mayor Richard Riordan, right, rehearses for his radio theater role. Myung J. Chun/Daily News |
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