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Arts & Entertainment

Love Story

Say Goodnight Gracie recalls a famous
and beloved comedy team.

Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News

I

f Joel Rooks looks familiar — even
with wig, glasses and cigar — it
could have to do with one of his
many roles on the long-running TV series
Law & Order.
The actor, who recently appeared as a
rabbi questioned about a murdered con-
gregant, soon will be in Detroit to take on
another Jewish role, George Burns in Say
Goodnight Gracie.
The production, running Sept. 9-Nov. 16
at the Gem Theatre in Detroit, recalls the
life and humor of the late comedian and
his stage partner and wife, Gracie Allen.
The one-man show calls upon different
media techniques to bring others into the
mix.
"This is really a play, and the audience
feels it's gone through an experience," says
Rooks, 60ish, who has performed the show
on Broadway as well as on tour. "It's not
just monologues or joke-telling. It's a love
story — [George's] love of life, people and
Gracie above all.
"The setup of the play is that George
Burns has wandered into the place where
people go after they go. He encounters
God, who asks for an audition and the
story of his life before deciding what to do
with him.
"The rest of the show is George talking
to the audience, telling them about his life.
The audience hears the recorded voice of
an actress playing Gracie, and there are
archival films and photos!'
The actor, who recalls watching George
and Gracie on TV, studied the gravelly
Burns voice to prepare for the part. He
watched and listened diligently to tapes of
interviews and TV shows, also capturing
the mannerisms for the script by Rupert
Holmes, a three-time Tony Award winner.
Rooks connected with the original pro-
duction by playing the understudy to the
late actor-impressionist-comedian Frank
Gorshin.
"I've been associated with the play since
2002 and, along the way, picked up some
books Burns wrote;' says Rooks, who
appeared in a touring production of The
Sisters Rosensweig at the Fisher Theatre
in Detroit in the 1990s. "It wasn't so much
researching him. It was getting insight into
the man.

DOWN WITH

COMMON SENSE

VOTE FOR

'GRACIE Mgr

The late Gracie Allen: "All I had to do

was say, 'Gracie, how's your brother?'"
Burns famously quipped, "and she talk-

ed for 38 years. And sometimes I didn't

Relive the life, laughter and love of George Burns and Gracie Allen in Say Goodnight
Gracie, running Sept. 9-Nov16 at Detroit's Gem Theatre.

"The ethnicity is right for me. We came
other big roles.
from the same heritage. His parents were
"I took an acting class and met a guy
from the Old Country as my grandparents
doing a production of The Indian Wants
were on both sides. He was not a regularly
the Bronx, and he cast me as the Indian.
practicing Jew, and
One thing led to another,
that's a similarity
and I was in a hit show!"
I have. I'm Jewish
With two friends
and proud of being
who also wanted show
Jewish, but I don't go
business careers, Rooks
to synagogue very
moved to New York in
often!"
the late 1970s. While
Rooks knew he
supporting himself by
wanted to be an actor
keeping a share of the
when he was just
family business, he soon
starting school out-
became a working actor.
side of Boston and
His friends also met
old enough to know The late George Burns with his
with continuing success
what acting was. He
— Gary Blumsack as
ever-present cigar
liked to play sick to
a producer and Robert
stay home and watch
Desiderio as an actor.
daytime dramas on TV.
Rooks has appeared in New York pro-
Although Rooks performed in high
ductions of Requiem for a Heavyweight,
school plays, he set aside his theater inter-
School for Scandal and After the Rain,
est while joining the family retail clothing
among others. Film projects include It
business, marrying and having two sons.
Runs in the Family, The Sightseer and The
"When my wife and I split up, I began
Gig. Among the TV programs in which he
looking for things to keep me busy and
has worked are Ed and an assortment of
auditioned for a community theater
soap operas.
group;' Rooks recalls. "I was cast in the
"When I began working on Say
lead for that first play and went on to get
Goodnight Gracie, I already felt that I knew

even have to remember to say, 'Gracie,
how's your brother?'"

George Burns as people do when they see
someone often on TV' Rooks says. "I don't
think anybody could dislike him because
he was so charming.
"When I told Rupert I thought the play
was great, he explained that most of it was
taken directly from what George Burns
had said. The playwright met with Burns'
daughter and son before he began writ-
ing!'
Rooks is anticipating a special perk as
he plans to revive the one-man show in
Michigan, where the George Burns Theatre
for the Performing Arts in Livonia was
launched with performances by the legend-
ary entertainer and had a one-year run in
the 1990s.
"I was a cigar smoker, but I gave it up:'
says Rooks. "I'm looking forward to the play,
in part, because I get to smoke again!'

❑

Say Goodnight Gracie runs Sept.
9-Nov.16 at the Gem Theatre, 333
Madison, in Detroit. Times vary by
day, with both matinee and evening
performances. $25-$39.50. (313)
963-9800 or www.gemtheatre.com .

:IN

September 4 • 2008

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