by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Rusty DeWees, actor and Vermont icon, continued his Winter Star Series at the Stowe Town Hall last weekend by bringing in former Governor Jim Douglas and banjo whiz George Woodard for an evening of merrymaking and history, which included a Vermont trivia contest. They also plugged their books and other stuff. So in that spirit we offer this review, of the review.
DeWees, who grew up in Stowe, of course is most famous for his one-man performance as “The Logger.” He’s also been on TV and in the movies, but it’s his over-the-top take on back woods Vermont for which he’s best known.
It was also a Republican-centric evening. In fact, it’s possible that every Republican in the state of Vermont was in attendance in the upstairs meeting room of the historic building. We suspect this for three reasons:
1) The room boasted many former Douglas lieutenants, including Tim Hayward, Neale Lunderville, and Mike Smith (everyone seemed to forget to wear their “Feel the Bern” buttons);
2) Much of the gentle ribbing was directed toward each other and at the expense of Democratic politicians (perhaps more than gentle if you were Peter Shumlin, Barack Obama or Joe Biden’s hair plugs; to be fair, George W Bush and Dick Cheney were prodded, as was Stowe Representative Heidi Scheuermann, who supposedly had spent time just before the show canvassing for votes in the cemetery behind the Town Hall. Other than the headliners, the biggest applause was reserved for lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidate Phil Scott);
3) The Town Hall was near capacity (as Rusty would say: “You’ll git that joke on the way home.”)
Rusty DeWees, left, and former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, in their regular attire, at the Stowe Town Hall, February 27. Vermont Business Magazine photo by Timothy McQuiston.
Douglas, 65, has held many political positions, including state Treasurer and Secretary of State, and was elected a state representative from Middlebury soon after graduation (he has lost only one race). He boasts a phenomenal memory. He also enjoys good wit and a good story well told (Rusty: “GeeIM, where were you born?” “Well,” Douglas answered in his familiar baritone as he adjusted his glasses, “Springfield, Mass. I wanted to be born in Vermont, but I thought I should be near my mother.” Cue the drum roll. “What was it like after you were done bein’ governor?” “Well, you know you’re not governor anymore when you get in your car the next morning and it doesn’t move.”).
While bantering on stage, DeWees chugged some sort of clear liquid directly from a Barr Hill Gin bottle, while Douglas, who would naturally prefer copious cups of black coffee, had to make do with lemon tea and honey as he gamely fought through a bought of laryngitis.
The first half of the evening was dedicated toward Douglas’ career, with DeWees and Douglas rifting on his book, reminding everyone how cheap the former governor is (for the birth of his son he waited until midnight to take his wife Dorothy to the hospital, despite her already being in labor, because he didn’t want to pay for an extra day), and finishing with a Q&A from the audience.
When asked what he was most proud of as governor, Douglas said that he wanted to be a dedicated, hard-working chief executive and he believes he achieved that; he also was proud of the success of his health care plan (Blueprint for Health, aimed at overall wellness and to improve care for people with chronic illnesses).
He was also asked if he would run for US Senate if Bernie Sanders became president.
In the intermission that followed, and before the audience participated in the trivia contest, DeWees entertained those eating cookies and drinking cockTALES by pitching his sponsors, especially, but not limited to, Aubushon Hardware (“Fun to say, hard to spell” Awbuchon, Aubuchon) with helper Beth Gadbois flinging Darn Tough Socks, bars of chocolate and jars of arnica rub into the audience while he spoke hyperbolically about the people and the products “…run down to the Green GodDESS for a Tree Hugger breakfast sandwedge” or “…hike up the MouINN road to the BawDY Lounge.”
The second half of the program was dedicated to frivolity. DeWees and Douglas cross-dressed, with Rusty coming out in a shirt and tie and Douglas donning a Logger-type kit, replete with red-checked vest and blue jeans, though with a Governor Douglas flair: the pants didn’t quite reach the top of his boots, and were pressed into what looked like drywall corners.
Four audience members volunteered to answer the Vermont history questions, but DeWees couldn’t entice any women to get on stage, not even “them CraftsBERRY girls.”
Sampling of Trivia Questions (answers below):
- What was Jim Douglas’ major in college?
- Instead of Middlebury, he almost went where to college (and why not?)
- When did Vermont join the United States to become the 14th state?
- What is the state drink?
- Three vice presidents were born in Vermont, who were they (hint, two became prezEEdent)?
- Who are the three Olympic skiers from Stowe?
- Who was the first governor President Obama met with in the Oval Office?
- How many times has Douglas slept in the White House?
- Previous to Peter Shumlin, who was the last native-born governor?
- The area near the roundabout at the northern intersection of the Morrisville bypass is known as what (it’s got a Dunkin’ and all manner of development)?
Answers:
1) Russian, the Cold War was going on; 2) Dartmouth, but back then there weren’t any girls; 3) 225 years ago TODAY! March 4, 1791; 4) Milk; 5) Chester Arthur (1881), soon followed by Levi Morton (1889, former ambassador to France who drove the first rivet during the assembly of the Statue of Liberty) and Calvin Coolidge (1921); 6) Tiger Shaw, 1984, 1988; Billy Kidd, 1964; Marvin Moriarty was 17 in 1956; 7) Jim Douglas, who helped the president move back into place one of the famous striped couches after the press left; 8) George W Bush invited Mr & Mrs Douglas five consecutive years for a total of 10 nights, the last of which was in the Lincoln Bedroom, “I remember it was an uncomfortable bed;” 9) Deane Davis, 1969; 10) Little Williston; 11) Douglas’ only loss came against Patrick Leahy in a tight 1992 US Senate race; 12) Apparently when one has been in politics for more than 40 years the words “Yes” and “No” get scrubbed from one's vocabulary. After going on for some time about the dysfunction in Washington and the lack of camaraderie among Senate colleagues, Governor Douglas indicated that he would not run for US Senate if it became available (at least that’s what we think he said, maybe.)
Rusty DeWees’ Winter Star Series concludes this weekend, March 4 & 5 at the Stowe Town Hall with “The Logger and the Fellers.” The comedy and music program begins at 7:30; admission is $25.