Mo'Nique is living large and on a comedy tour
Oscar-winning actress Mo'Nique is interested only in doing things her way.
She didn't play the usual game of politicking to win her Academy Award for playing Mary Jones, one of the worst mothers in movie history, in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire." And she's apparently setting the rules when it comes to interviews for her new Spread the Love comedy tour, which comes to The Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
An e-mail from her publicist arrived the night before her phone interview stating that Mo'Nique would address only one topic: the comedy tour. She would not discuss her Oscar win. She wasn't going to discuss her open marriage, which she talked about during her Barbara Walters interview.
MONIQUE 101 In addition to "Precious," she hosts her late-night talk show on BET. This may be news to those who just discovered Mo'Nique, 42, thanks to "Precious." But long before the movie, Mo'Nique was part of the 2001 film "Queens of Comedy," which also featured Adele Givens, Sommore and Laura Hayes. She also appeared in under-the-radar, black-oriented comedies such as "Phat Girlz," "Hair Show" and "Soul Plane," and starred in the sitcom "The Parkers" for several years.
HER COMEDIC STYLE Mo'Nique the comedian is loud and in your face. She's topical and conversational. She calls everyone "Baby" and has always railed against skinny women. "My style is very honest, and it's for grown folks," she says. "I want to make sure people know it's not for children." That's made even clearer when Mo'Nique lists her comedic influences: Richard Pryor, Moms Mabley, Redd Foxx and Hattie McDaniel (Mo'Nique owns the rights to her story).
WHAT TO EXPECT On her new tour, fans can expect "a whole bunch of love, laughs and good music. We're so excited, just from the title Spread the Love. We want people, from the time they walk into the building to the time they walk out, to feel tired from being loved and from laughing," she says. Her topics range from weight loss to her grandmother to her 4-year-old twins and 19-year-old son. WHO Mo'Nique
WHEN | WHERE Saturday at 8 p.m., The Theater at Madison Square Garden
TICKETS $39.50-$69.50
INFO ticketmaster.com
