Brooke Lacy as Ziegfeld’s Favorite and the cast of The Will Rogers Follies at Goodspeed. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.
by Mark G. Auerbach
After the winter that just wouldn’t end, Goodspeed Musicals has turned up the heat with a most welcome revival of the 1991 award-winning musical, The Will Rogers Follies. The splashy musical bio wrapped up in Ziegfeld Follies production numbers, picked up Tony Awards for “Best Musical”, “Best Score” for music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, two Tonys for choreography and direction by Tommy Tune, and additional awards for costumes and lighting.
Goodspeed’s exuberant revival features imaginative choreography by Kelli Barclay, who also reimagined Tommy Tune’s work for Goodspeed’s My One and Only. The costumes by Ilona Somogyi, clever and playful, are showstoppers themselves, particularly in the powder-puff-filled wedding scene and a second-act “Follies” number, “Presents for Mrs. Rogers”, where they glisten like the diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and topaz they represent.
David M. Lutken as Will Rogers in The Will Rogers Follies at Goodspeed. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.
David M. Lutken, an alum of the original Broadway production of The Will Rogers Follies, and a folk musician best known for his recent musical, Woody Sez, is the consummate, showstopping Will Rogers. He’s got a charming folksy demeanor. He sings and dances with finesse. He strums a mean guitar, and he tosses off a series of difficult rope tricks, and makes them look easy. In the role made famous by Keith Carradine and later Mac Davis, Lutken gives one of the best musical theatre performances I’ve seen in years.
Will Rogers (1879-1935), an Oklahoma native with Cherokee roots, was a cowboy, who got into the vaudeville circuit with his rope tricks, made his way into the Ziegfeld Follies, then silent movies and talkies. Along the way, he became a humorist, newspaper columnist, radio commentator, globetrotter, and political wit. He staged a farcical presidential campaign in 1928, and by the mid-1930s, the American people adored Rogers. He was the leading political wit of his time and was the highest paid Hollywood film star. He and pilot Wiley Post were killed in a plane crash in 1935. Rogers became the subject of plays and movies. James Whitmore portrayed Rogers in the one-man play Will Rogers’ USA on Broadway and as on TV.
Peter Stone’s book showcases the many talents of Rogers, and provides Lutken with an opportunity to improvise some “chat” with the audience. Cy Coleman’s score merges folksy charm with Ziegfeld Follies extravaganza, and the Comden and Green lyrics are clever.
Don Stephenson’s direction pays homage to Tommy Tune’s original staging, and the huge production numbers, with great musical direction by Michael O’Flaherty and orchestrations by Dan DeLange, along with Barclay’s choreography, fill the Goodspeed stage with hardly an inch to spare. Walt Spangler’s set, Michael Clark’s projections, Rob Denton’s lighting are glorious. Mark Adam Rampmeyer hair and wig designs are winners.
The cast of The Will Rogers Follies at Goodspeed. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.
The supporting cast is terrific, from Catherine Walker’s portrayal of Betty Blake Rogers, to David Garrison’s shtick-filled Clem Rogers. The Rogers children–Ben Stone-Zelman, Riley Briggs, Brendan Reilly Harris, and Nathan Horne were great, as was Ziegfeld’s favorite, Brooke Lacy. The ensemble and the orchestra were also both superb.
All said, The Will Rogers Follies is sensational, especially for its dance numbers, costumes, and David M. Lutken in the title role.
The Will Rogers Follies plays Goodspeed through June 21. David M. Lutken & The Seats of the Pants Band, his group, head to Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, MA on July 3-4 with a show called Give Me Liberty, 2018, with music by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and other American folk artists.
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Goodspeed Musicals presents The Will Rogers Follies. Book by Peter Stone. Music Composed and Arranged by Cy Coleman. Lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green. Inspired by the words of Will and Betty Rogers. Directed by Don Stephenson. Music Direction by Michael O’Flaherty. Choreographed by Kelli Barclay. Scenic Design by Walt Spangler. Costume Design by Ilona Somogyi. Lighting Design by Rob Denton. Projection Design by Michael Clark.Sound Design by Jay Hilton. Orchestrations by Dan DeLange. Wig & Hair Design by Mark Adam Rampmeyer. Cast: David M. Lutken (Will Rogers), Catherine Walker (Betty Blake), David Garrison (Clem Rogers), Brooke Lacy (Ziegfeld’s Favorite), Dewey Caddell (Wiley Post), Ben Stone-Zelman (Will Rogers Jr.), Riley Briggs (Mary Rogers), Brendan Reilly Harris (Jimmy Rogers), Nathan Horne (Freddy Rogers), James Naughton (Voice of Ziegfeld).. Through June 21..Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, CT. For tickets: 860-873-8668 or www.goodspeed.org.
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Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm/WSKB.
