[NEohioPAL]Beacon Journal Raves about Wayne Turney at Actors' Summit

Thu Nov 4 06:25:13 PST 2004

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Actor brings Harry S. Truman to life

One-man show filled with lively witticisms

Kerry Clawson

Beacon Journal
President Harry S. Truman was one funny guy, despite the enormous pressures=20
he faced during one of the most volatile periods in our country's history.
Actor Wayne Turney brings the 33rd U.S. president to life in the one-man sho=
w=20
Give 'Em Hell, Harry, which opened Friday at Actors' Summit in Hudson. The=20
actor has made a thorough transformation from his normally abundant curly ha=
ir=20
and beard to a short, parted haircut and big glasses as Truman.
The most delightful part of Give 'Em Hell, Harry is its many Truman=20
witticisms, which Turney delivers with aplomb. This plain-talking, gutsy Mis=
sourian=20
shot straight from the hip and peppered much of his language with cursing.
Turney makes it clear that Truman was comfortable in his own skin and had a=20
clear sense of right and wrong. Turney also does an excellent job conveying=20
Truman's deep commitment toward perpetuating the liberal reforms begun by=20
predecessor Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.
The actor portrays all of this while Truman is speaking to imaginary=20
characters, from former President Herbert Hoover to his own wife, Bess.
Truman took office after FDR's death, just as the war in Europe was coming t=
o=20
a close. He approved the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,=
=20
Japan, quickly ending the war in the Pacific. His presidency was further=20
marked by the beginning of the Cold War and America's entanglement in the Ko=
rean=20
War.
He is well known for firing Gen. Douglas MacArthur for insubordination durin=
g=20
the Korean War. Truman also guided the United States from a war to peacetime=
=20
economy after World War II and advanced civil rights for African-Americans.
In this play, Truman says the best time of his life was campaigning for a=20
full presidential term on a whistle-stop tour in his 1948 race against New Y=
ork=20
Gov. Thomas Dewey. One of those train stops included Akron on Oct. 11, 1948.=
=20
Truman's surprise victory made history.
In one of Turney's most humorous scenes, the president is back home in=20
Missouri mowing his own lawn with a manual mower as he talks to the audience=
. As he=20
becomes especially heated in his monologue, he bounces the mower around=20
violently on the edge of the small Actors' Summit stage.
This down-home image of Truman fits in well with the president's many folksy=
=20
jokes and anecdotes. Some of his great quotes provide plenty of food for=20
thought today, just before a presidential election.
They include:
=E2=80=A2 ``The voting booth is the most valuable piece of real estate in th=
e United=20
States of America.''
=E2=80=A2 ``There is nothing more dangerous than a liar in public office.''
=E2=80=A2 ``No man can get rich in politics unless he's a crook. It can't be=
 done.''
=E2=80=A2 ``I never saw myself as president. I was just in the right place a=
t the=20
wrong time.''
=E2=80=A2 ``Politics is a pretty rough game,'' making a distinction between=20=
``rough''=20
and ``dirty.''
=E2=80=A2 ``Three things will ruin a man: power, money and women.''
Truman was a bold orator. Turney makes you want to cheer when his character=20
blasts both the Ku Klux Klan and communist witch hunter Sen. Joseph McCarthy=
,=20
whom he calls reckless and dangerous fanatics.
Give 'Em Hell Harry tends to gloss over the lowest points of Truman's career=
,=20
especially accusations of corruption during his second presidential term.=20
Truman was far from a perfect president, but=20

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<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 3.75pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=3Dcenter><SPA=
N style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Actor brings H=
arry S. Truman to life<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=
=3Dcenter><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><IMG SRC=3D"cid:X=
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style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#666666 size=3D3>One-man show fil=
led with lively witticisms</FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: bla=
ck; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR><FONT color=3D#666666 size=3D3><IMG SRC=3D"cid:X=
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<B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-f=
ont-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#666666 size=3D3>Kerry Clawson</FONT></SPAN>=
</B></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR><FONT color=
=3D#666666 size=3D3><IMG SRC=3D"cid:X.MA3.1099578312 at aol.com"  height=3D1 wi=
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></FONT></SPAN><FONT color=3D#666666><SPAN class=3Dcreditline1><B><SPAN styl=
e=3D"FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Beacon Journal</SPAN></B></SPAN><SP=
AN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><IMG SRC=3D"cid:X.MA4.10995783=
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<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al"><FONT size=3D3>President Harry S. Truman was one funny guy, despite the=20=
enormous pressures he faced during one of the most volatile periods in our c=
ountry's history.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; F=
ONT-FAMILY: Arial">Actor Wayne Turney brings the 33rd </SPAN><st1:country-re=
gion><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">U.S.</SPAN>=
</st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: A=
rial"> president to life in the one-man show <I>Give 'Em Hell, Harry, </I>wh=
ich opened Friday at Actors' </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLO=
R: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Summit</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN styl=
e=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> in </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN=
 style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hudson</SPAN></st1:place></st1:C=
ity><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">. The actor has made a=20=
thorough transformation from his normally abundant curly hair and beard to a=
 short, parted haircut and big glasses as Truman.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></=
P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al"><FONT size=3D3>The most delightful part of <I>Give 'Em Hell, Harry </I>i=
s its many Truman witticisms, which Turney delivers with aplomb. This plain-=
talking, gutsy Missourian shot straight from the hip and peppered much of hi=
s language with cursing.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al"><FONT size=3D3>Turney makes it clear that Truman was comfortable in his=20=
own skin and had a clear sense of right and wrong. Turney also does an excel=
lent job conveying Truman's deep commitment toward perpetuating the liberal=20=
reforms begun by predecessor Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.<o:p></o:p></F=
ONT></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al"><FONT size=3D3>The actor portrays all of this while Truman is speaking t=
o imaginary characters, from former President Herbert Hoover to his own wife=
, Bess.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; F=
ONT-FAMILY: Arial">Truman took office after FDR's death, just as the war in=20=
</SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Europe</S=
PAN></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> was coming=
 to a close. He approved the dropping of atomic bombs on </SPAN><st1:City><s=
t1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hiroshima</SPAN></=
st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> and <=
/SPAN><st1:place><st1:City><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">=
Nagasaki</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">,=
 </SPAN><st1:country-region><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"=
>Japan</SPAN></st1:country-region></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; F=
ONT-FAMILY: Arial">, quickly ending the war in the Pacific. His presidency w=
as further marked by the beginning of the Cold War and </SPAN><st1:country-r=
egion><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">America</S=
PAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMIL=
Y: Arial">'s entanglement in the Korean War.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; F=
ONT-FAMILY: Arial">He is well known for firing Gen. Douglas MacArthur for in=
subordination during the Korean War. Truman also guided the </SPAN><st1:coun=
try-region><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Unite=
d States</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black;=
 FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> from a war to peacetime economy after World War II and=
 advanced civil rights for African-Americans.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; F=
ONT-FAMILY: Arial">In this play, Truman says the best time of his life was c=
ampaigning for a full presidential term on a whistle-stop tour in his 1948 r=
ace against New York Gov. Thomas Dewey. One of those train stops included </=
SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A=
kron</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY:=20=
Arial"> on </SPAN><st1:date Year=3D"1948" Day=3D"11" Month=3D"10"><SPAN styl=
e=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Oct. 11, 1948</SPAN></st1:date><SPAN=20=
style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">. Truman's surprise victory made=20=
history.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; F=
ONT-FAMILY: Arial">In one of Turney's most humorous scenes, the president is=
 back home in </SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT=
-FAMILY: Arial">Missouri</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN style=3D"COLOR:=
 black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> mowing his own lawn with a manual mower as he t=
alks to the audience. As he becomes especially heated in his monologue, he b=
ounces the mower around violently on the edge of the small Actors' </SPAN><s=
t1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Summit</=
SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"=
> stage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al"><FONT size=3D3>This down-home image of Truman fits in well with the pres=
ident's many folksy jokes and anecdotes. Some of his great quotes provide pl=
enty of food for thought today, just before a presidential election.<o:p></o=
:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al"><FONT size=3D3>They include:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN class=3Dbullet1><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 1=
2.0pt"><FONT color=3D#444444>=E2=80=A2 </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">``The voting booth is the most valuabl=
e piece of real estate in the </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN st=
yle=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">United States of America</SPAN></st=
1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial=
">.''<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN class=3Dbullet1><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 1=
2.0pt"><FONT color=3D#444444>=E2=80=A2 </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">``There is nothing more dangerous than=
 a liar in public office.''<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN class=3Dbullet1><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 1=
2.0pt"><FONT color=3D#444444>=E2=80=A2 </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">``No man can get rich in politics unle=
ss he's a crook. It can't be done.''<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN class=3Dbullet1><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 1=
2.0pt"><FONT color=3D#444444>=E2=80=A2 </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">``I never saw myself as president. I w=
as just in the right place at the wrong time.''<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN class=3Dbullet1><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 1=
2.0pt"><FONT color=3D#444444>=E2=80=A2 </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">``Politics is a pretty rough game,'' m=
aking a distinction between ``rough'' and ``dirty.''<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT=
></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN class=3Dbullet1><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 1=
2.0pt"><FONT color=3D#444444>=E2=80=A2 </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">``Three things will ruin a man: power,=
 money and women.''<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al"><FONT size=3D3>Truman was a bold orator. Turney makes you want to cheer=20=
when his character blasts both the Ku Klux Klan and communist witch hunter S=
en. Joseph McCarthy, whom he calls reckless and dangerous fanatics.<o:p></o:=
p></FONT></SPAN></P><I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FA=
MILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language:=20=
EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Give 'Em Hell=20=
Harry </SPAN></I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY:=20=
Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;=
 mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">tends to gloss over=20=
the lowest points of Truman's career, especially accusations of corruption d=
uring his second presidential term. Truman was far from a perfect president,=
 but </SPAN></BODY></HTML>

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