Pulling No Punches, Faking Foreplay: Comedian Mike Dugan

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MIKE DUGAN PULLS NO PUNCHES exploring the darker edges of the male psyche in his show "Men Fake Foreplay," now at Bethesda Theatre. The comedian and Emmy-winning writer wrote for Jay Leno and Dennis Miller before launching his 90-minute monologue filled with funny and philosophical insights. Whether he's trying to figure out why men really cheat or why they don't seem to understand complex communication, Dugan's take on the man-woman thing goes far beyond yuks about leaving the toilet seat up.

» EXPRESS: How did "Men Fake Foreplay" come to be?
» DUGAN: When I was writing for late night, I was making a lot of money, but I wanted to write for my own voice. I mean, how many ways can you call Monica Lewinsky a slut? The more I looked around, the more I realized the world is designed to help men do the right thing, not the easy thing.

» EXPRESS: What is the title saying?
» DUGAN: Yeah, it's not about sex. There are actually two definitions in the dictionary for foreplay: the one about sex, and then there's, "Actions or behaviors that precede an event." I set out to redefine foreplay as all the things a man does.

» EXPRESS: Do you think men leave the show with a deeper understanding of themselves or just embarrassed?
» DUGAN: Some guys are embarrassed, and maybe they should be. If you feel bad, then maybe you've done something wrong. This isn't really a good show to take a woman to if you're cheating on her.

» EXPRESS: You have three daughters; do you think your show will help clear the world of bad guys?
» DUGAN: When my mission is complete, I will have vanquished rude and boorish men. But I don't know if my girls will have any concerns about that when they're in the nunnery.

» EXPRESS: Would you call yourself a feminist?
» DUGAN: Women are kind of cool, but I consider myself a humanist. I use a paradigm that works for me, which is the idea of just men and women to look at human interaction from a deeper perspective. The show is about human compassion and empathy for both sexes.

» EXPRESS: You put a lot of blame on the people who raise us. Do you believe they're they responsible for our shortcomings?
» DUGAN: I think a lot of it has to do with the people who raised us. I know how hard it's been for me as a man to find my way into decent manhood, and I come from a good family. But what about guys who don't even have that? It's a scary thought.

» Bethesda Theatre, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda; through Sun., $30-$50; 800-551-7328. (Bethesda)

Written by Express contributor Adaora Otiiji
Photo courtesy Bethesda Theatre