A show onstage in central Iowa that’s part stand-up comedy, part theatre, aims to answer the age-old question — "What do women want?" Robert Dubac is both the author and star of "The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron?" Dubac plays multiple roles in the one-man show, representing the many alter egos of men who each have a take on what the fairer sex is seeking.
Lapsing into a Southern accent, he says: "One of the characters, The Colonel, comes from the Deep South and used to be in the military. I understand what women want is honesty. Honesty is the most important thing to a woman, unless it’s the truth about her, then it’s not so very important." Dubac’s other characters argue women truly want communication, a sense of humor, passion or sensitivity.
Dubac says: "The show is basically written for all of us guys who are not the boneheads that women meet. One woman will run into one guy who makes it difficult for the rest of us. He’s the one who treats her badly so women, all of the sudden, think all men have this capability. There’s a lot of us guys out there who actually have grown up." The Colorado native says he’s in his tenth year of performing this show, which has evolved over the decade — though he says as much as times change, people don’t.
Dubac says: "You can get bombarded with all of the psychoanalysis, the Doctor Phils and all of the talk shows, or you can come see something live that’s entertaining. That’s one reason why I think it’s survived so long. People get a lot out of it and they have such a great time. Men get to figure out what women want and women get to figure out what men want and you go home with a big smile on your face instead of a confused psyche."
Dubac’s been married more than a dozen years and says he DID write the show, but his wife had to explain it to him. He’s scheduled to be at the Civic Center’s Temple Theatre in Des Moines through April.