One Life to Live's Strasser Anticipates Fresh Storylines With New Head WriterSOURCE:
Edmonton JournalNancy M. Reichardt, Special to The Journal
Published: Sunday, July 29
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NEW YORK - Over the years, I have interviewed Robin Strasser so many times that we have come to feel like friends.
I have followed her career from her days as Rachel on Another World through her current role as Dorian on One Life to Live. When she went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras after hurricane Katrina, I told her I felt bad because I'd never visited that grand city. She chided me for this and urged me to come down for Jazz Fest that year, promising to treat me to beignets and coffee at the Cafe du Monde. Her commitment to making moments matter has always impressed me, especially in her acting style.
One Life to Live has recently undergone a shakeup. Head writer Dena Higley is gone, and co-head writer Ron Carlivati has taken the helm. This is a significant move because Carlivati, a member of the writing staff for more than a decade, knows the show well. He has put tried-and-true favourites in a fun quadrangle -- Dorian, Viki, Clint and David (Strasser, Erika Slezak, Jerry ver Dorn and Tuc Watkins). Seeing them strut their stuff has been magnificent, and viewing Strasser's current work has been a sheer joy. I asked Strasser about her thoughts on the new direction of the program, and we'd like to share her e-mail with you:
"After all these years of promises of dynamic stories coming up and not having them come to fruition and/or be dropped, even when they ignite the audience's interest -- I have become a hopeful pragmatist ... or even (a) cynic some might say.
"I have great confidence and huge affection for Ron Carlivati, our new head writer. ... I am looking forward to reading his scripts and going on a storytelling adventure with him at the helm. And in Frank Valentini, I am lucky to be working with the best executive producer I've ever worked for in 41 years of doing daytime television.
"Do I want to stick out my neck and describe the hot storyline on the way for Dorian?
"No, my dear friend, we'll both see how it actually gets written and shown on the screen. I am old-fashioned. I've never thought previewing future stories served actor, show or audience. But then again, I've been at this a long, long time."
The best news of all: "I still love and feel passionate about the work, One Life to Live and Dorian. I mean really passionate and invested ... and when I feel that gear inside me go up too high, or my frequency start making dogs in Brooklyn howl ... I start to criticize myself and then I say a prayer, 'Thank you, dear Lord, for the energy and the fervency with which I face all my challenges ... I am grateful and shall always work hard to be worthy of the honor of being on this planet and entertaining or serving people in some small way.' "
Hmm ... a hopeful pragmatist. I like that. After 41 years, what a concept!