‘Reflective’ ‘Doonesbury’ creator Garry Trudeau coming to Keswick

Even though he’s branched out into theater, film, TV, and writing columns for The New York Times and essays in Time, Pulitzer Prize-winner Garry Trudeau is still best known for the comic strip “Doonesbury.”

His two most recent books of “Doonesbury” strips, “Yuge! 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump” and “#SAD! Doonesbury in the Time of Trump,” are sure to be topics of discussion when Trudeau makes a public speaking appearance at the Keswick Theatre Nov. 13.

Trudeau answered some questions by email to clue you in to what this is going to entail.

What can we expect for your upcoming appearance at the Keswick Theatre? Question and answer? A “Doonesbury” retrospective? This is all pretty rare because you keep a pretty low public profile.

Well I created the strip in my bedroom 50 years ago last summer, so, yes, the evening will be part retrospective. I guess I’ve entered a more reflective period of my life. I’ll also be talking a bit about the power of storytelling generally, how are our current divisions are really just dueling narratives. And there will be Q and A, always my favorite part of showing up.

To what do you attribute “Doonesbury”’s longevity?

Almost certainly that’s the result of the strip being characterdriven. Over the years, readers become vested — they watch the characters evolve and age (and age out). I also think that constantly introducing new, younger characters helps. Young people are dynamic, they’re in the act of becoming, and it’s always fascinating to watch a generation come of age.

How many newspapers carry “Doonesbury” these days? I read it was 1,000 worldwide.

That was the approximate number some years ago. But quite a few newspapers have folded, and others peeled off when I stepped aside from doing the daily strip (It is a Sunday-only comic strip now), so now it’s more in the 600 range.

You first satirized Donald KESWICK >> PAGE 2

SUBMITTED PHOTO Released in September, “#SAD! Doonesbury in the Time of Trump” features comic strips from 2015-1018.

PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Armistice Day, later changed to Veterans Day, was created the following year to honor World War I veterans, as well as all veterans.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Garry B. Trudeau