'He told the truth, poked fun
By Tim Ryan
at everyone and spoke for and
to the common man'
Star-BulletinHe was first an Indian, then a cowboy, finally a national figure.
Will Rogers is still remembered for his humor, wisdom and plain common sense. He was a star of Broadway and 71 movies, a popular broadcaster, an author of six books and more than 4,000 syndicated newspaper columns. He befriended presidents, senators and kings.
Scott Wakefield
performs the lead role
in Diamond Head
Theatre's "The
Will Rogers Follies."
By George F. Lee,
Star-BulletinAnd when his roping skills got him listed in the Guinness Book of Records, Rogers called himself "Poet Lariat" for his oft-quoted quips and philosophies.
"Live your life so that whenever you lose, you're ahead."
Interest in Rogers' life has undergone a resurgence, the major thrust coming from the Tony-Award winning "The Will Rogers Follies" that has played to more than 4 million people during its first two years on Broadway. Three companies have toured the United States and Canada.
Diamond Head Theatre presents "The Will Rogers Follies," starring Scott Wakefield, tomorrow through Oct. 5.
Why does Rogers' humor transcend generations?
"He told the truth, poked fun at everyone, and spoke for and to the common man," says Wakefield, who's performed the lead role more than a hundred times. "He poked fun at government and big business in a way that people could understand. And he did it in such a way that even those he went after laughed at his comments."
"I joked about every prominent man in my lifetime, but I never met one I didn't like."
Another reason for the renewed interest in Rogers, Wakefield said, is the parallel between today's "peculiar" political times and the 1920s and 1930s. Rogers brightened the gloom of those decades with his anecdotes - and his antidotes for mistaken public policy during the Great Depression.
"We'll be the first nation in the world to go to the poor house in an automobile."
Politics also was a top target, Wakefield said. Rogers was a prank White House candidate in 1928, promising only to "resign if elected." He was an actual favorite-son nominee for president in 1932.
"Whatever the other fellow don't do, we will."
"The Will Rogers Follies," with a cast of about 30, attempts to merge past and present, combining Rogers' most famous and witty monologues with Ziegfeld Follies production numbers. (Rogers was in 10 editions of the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway.)
"It has beautiful production numbers with lavish costumes," Wakefield said. "It's a nice juxtaposition with the laid back Will, his rope tricks, guitar playing, and a dog act, with the big dance numbers."
Like Rogers, the Texas-born Wakefield seeks out what's newsworthy in the communities where he is performing "Follies."
"I want to make some of the topics immediately relevant," he said. "So when I come into a town I ask everyone what's happening in their lives, in the government, whatever. Obviously here, Bishop Estate is a big deal, right?"
"All I know is just what I read in the papers."
Performing as Rogers has affected more than Wakefield's bank account.
"His most famous saying may be, 'I never met a man I didn't like.' He meant that you have to step into the other fellow's shoes to learn what he's like before you can make any fair judgment.
"I do that now. Most people don't take the time to do that. Now I try to get along with everybody."
"If you live life right, death is a joke as far as fear is concerned."
The Will Rogers Follies
Dates: Friday through Oct. 5
