A conversation with Richard Lewis can go many directions. During a recent interview, the comedian touched upon, in no particular order: Jonathan Winters, Bill Clinton, Slash, MC5, Larry David and Sigourney Weaver, among others. But what seemed to be most on Lewis’ mind was the fact that he turned 64 earlier this summer. “When I hit the stage, every show is really important,” said Lewis, who performs at Synetic Theater in Crystal City this Friday and Saturday. “They’ve always been important. But now I’m not sure when I’ll come back to this venue, or if I will. It gets a little spooky for me when I gig now. I just don’t know how long I’ll be doing this, or how long I’ll be able to do it. Every gig is like Super Bowl time for me now, more than ever. My energy level is really through the roof now when I hit the stage.”
Lewis has performed stand-up since 1971, been a guest on a number of late-night talk shows and starred on screens both big and small. Most recently he’s had a recurring role on the critically acclaimed Larry David show “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
| Onstage |
| Richard Lewis |
| Where: Synetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington |
| When: 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday |
| Info: $40; synetictheater.org |
When it comes to performing live, Lewis has forgone the notecards he used to carry onstage. A friend suggested he memorize his material, but retaining that much work wasn’t possible. So Lewis combines the bits he’s memorized with plenty of ad-libbing.
“I really don’t know what I’m going to say,” he said. “I surprise myself. That’s the way I’ve been working for a long time now. Consequently, I’m riddled with fear when I hit the stage. I’m much more frenetic now. I’m a much better performer now because I don’t have that security.
“I truly don’t know what’s doing to happen,” he continued. “I think I might as well be surprised along with the audience. I need the audience almost more than they need me. If they’re not traveling on this little trip with me onstage, I’m in trouble. It’s a team effort for me at this point.”
During the last decade, it’s been his role on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” in which he essentially plays himself, that has exposed Lewis to a new generation. Lewis and David have been friends since childhood, but the former knows the latter didn’t give him a role based on friendship alone.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” Lewis said of his role on “Curb.” “I had a little bit of luck with Larry because we were buddies and we’ve known each other since childhood.”
Lewis said that his goal starting out as a comedian was to be as fearless as possible onstage. Forty years later, he’s lived up to that.
“I know that I’m not everybody’s taste,” Lewis said. “Never have been, never wanted to be, never figured I could be.”
