Mr. F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre has already written an excellent and most informative review of Whitmore's "Will Rogers' USA" performance. Mr. MacIntyre states the show "gives some measure of Whitmore's talents and stage presence, but it says almost nothing about Rogers as a person or as a performer," and to that statement I would add a few comments.
Whitmore's performance in this production certainly did showcase his talent and stage presence as did his performances in his other one man shows noted by Mr. MacIntyre. I would disagree a bit with Mr. MacIntyre's premise that this show "says almost nothing about Rogers as a person or as a performer." While the show is not intended to be a biographical documentary of Rogers, I think it does a very good job of spotlighting the "look and feel" of Rogers as a performer. I have seen Rogers on film and listened to him on his radio shows, and it seems to me that Whitmore's performance captured the Will Rogers I saw and heard in film and on radio. Like the other reviewer of this show, Mr. Gary Levine, I am more inclined to rate this show at the high end.
Best wishes, David Wile.
Whitmore's performance in this production certainly did showcase his talent and stage presence as did his performances in his other one man shows noted by Mr. MacIntyre. I would disagree a bit with Mr. MacIntyre's premise that this show "says almost nothing about Rogers as a person or as a performer." While the show is not intended to be a biographical documentary of Rogers, I think it does a very good job of spotlighting the "look and feel" of Rogers as a performer. I have seen Rogers on film and listened to him on his radio shows, and it seems to me that Whitmore's performance captured the Will Rogers I saw and heard in film and on radio. Like the other reviewer of this show, Mr. Gary Levine, I am more inclined to rate this show at the high end.
Best wishes, David Wile.