Night Clubs Reviews

Mar 1, 2008 - A very funny Robert Dubac stars in "The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron" at Reno's Eldorado Hotel Casino

By Jack Neal

Not since Dr. Ruth made sex therapy an entertainment for mass audiences has anything been so hilariously right on about the sexual idiosyncrasies of the American male as is actor-writer Robert Dubac’s one-man play, “The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron.”

Slick, glib and assured, Dubac’s extended standup comedy routine about how the male id stands in the way of sensitive male/female relationships opened Tuesday (2/19/08) at Reno’s Eldorado Hotel Casino for what should be a successful five-week run.

Dubac the actor is as sensational as Dubac the writer. Holding center stage alone in one of the funniest shows I’ve seen in years is no small achievement, yet this adroit, smooth performer does it without missing a beat or a laugh – and the show is loaded with laughs.

Mining territory similar to Robert Decker’s “Defending the Caveman,” Dubac plays Bobby, a bewildered male chauvinist who has been dumped by his fiancé and is desperate to get an answer to the question “What do women want?” before attempting a phone reconciliation with what appears to be – for all the joe-six-pack reasons imaginable – his ex-girlfriend.

Looking for help to find the answer he’s looking for, Dubac skillfully plays four characters responsible for feeding Bobby’s overgrown ego. Dubac’s wit-filled mix of personalities includes an army colonel, who believes that honesty is the key to romantic success, but what does he know? A French foreign exchange student who believes speaking in mindless metaphors is the way to a woman’s heart, but does he ever get there? A 123-year-old sex machine still looking for the perfect woman, but who wants to sleep with a 123 year old sex machine? And Fast Freddie, who plays in the fast lane, or so he imagines.

Bobby realizes most of their advice is worthless, but with the help from his “feminine side” – the left side of the stage – he finally finds the answer, he thinks, to what women really want.

Dubac’s writing, acting and the clever staging of “The Male Intellect; An Oxymoron” makes for a side-splitting and entertaining show. At 90 minutes, however, it does begin to wear out it’s welcome. Dubac also steps into a couple of comments about gays that’s more stereotypical than fun. A 75 minute show with appropriate trimming would make “The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron” much more to the point, tighter, and even more of a pleasure than it is.

“The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron” starring Robert Dubac can be seen at the Eldorado Hotel Casino, 345 North Virginia Street, Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays at 7 and 9 p.m.. Cost: $30.95, $35.95, $40.95, and $25.95 for seniors. For information call 775-786-5700, 800-648-5966, or go online at eldoradoreno.com.