Dan's Papers - June 13, 2008 - the will rogers follies

Will Rogers, who died in 1935, is not a well-known name in 2008. Why, then, is the famous theatrical duo of Betty Comden and Adolph Green writing a show about him? Well, Will Rogers was truly larger than life back in the first decades of the twentieth century. Can you even imagine any of today's superstars having a resume that includes more than 70 movies, writing more than 4,000 daily, syndicated newspaper columns, playing a leading role on Broadway for nearly 10 consecutive years and playing the role of confidante and advisor to numerous presidents?

Well, that was Rogers, the first multi-media superstar. A part-Cherokee boy from Oklahoma, Rogers got into show business by making audiences laugh with his wry, pithy one liners that were always based on the news of the day. His opening line, - "I only know what I read in the newspaper," - showed his insight into the significant events of his time. Rogers became the most read, listened to and watched entertainer in history.

The stage settings at Gateway fully recreated the atmosphere of the legendary Ziegfeld Follies and the showgirls would have certainly pleased Mr. Ziegfeld. Tom Angland brings the homespun, almost self-effacing aspect of Will Rogers to life. Maybe his rope spinning would not get him into a rodeo but he is very believable and sings with a pleasant, country style and creates the persona of someone you would enjoy getting to know - and he made us laugh with some jokes based on today's world. There were occasions when he did not seem too happy singing in the upper registers, but his voice was at it's best when he sang the beautiful, "Look Around."

The ups and downs of Rogers' married life run throughout the show. After marrying Betty Blake, a role excellently played and sung by Mary Mossberg, Rogers battled the strain that a traveling performer's lifestyle places on marriage. And boy did Will Rogers travel. He loved to fly with the leading pilot of his day, Wiley Post, played by John Simpson. Throughout the play Wiley appears, in the audience from time to time, suggesting to Will, "Let's Go Flying" and in the end they do, but with a fatal result.

The interesting structure of the show, written as a blend of third wall ruptures and stage dialogue, works well in the talented actors' hands. Apart from Will and Betty, other major roles are Will's father, played by Dick Decareau, who is portrayed in his living form and also makes an after death appearance. Decareau hits all the right notes with some corny humor and a lot of personality. Similarly, Jacqueline Bayne as one of Ziegfeld's "favorites" is pretty and funny. As Will relates how he has been approached to run for president, he and the girls perform "Favorite Son," an intricate number, full of hand and leg movements and slapping that could have been disastrous, but really is a showstopper. Another memorable scene is when Betty sings a moving torch song lamenting her husband who is often away. Mossberg really showed a great vocal range and depth of feeling as she sang 'No Man Left for me."

By the end of the show, the audience is content with having been entertained by the story of a very remarkable man. Will Rogers proved to be a unique figure in the entertainment business. It's doubtful that today anyone in the entertainment field could excel in so many fields ever again.