By Penny Ellison
The Parsons Advocate
Those of us of a “certain age”, yes myself included, probably remember fondly the comedy of Mr. Red Skelton. Perhaps you were old enough to remember him on radio or like millions of us remember his The Red Skelton Show. His comedy was clean family fun, the likes of which will sadly never be seen again. Tucker County was lucky enough to have had one of only two nation-wide Skelton portrayers perform here recently.
Jennings B. Barnett’s show: Red Skelton Remembered was performed recently at Blackwater Falls State Park to an audience of about 50 people. Barnett, who has been honoring Skelton for 14 years said his motivation for doing this show was that: “I just want his character to be remembered.”
Barnett said that Skelton was his childhood hero, that he brought so much laughter to so many people.
“While laughing for a few seconds you have been able to forget about heartaches and troubles you may have been going through.”
Barnett, who is classified as a character portrayer as opposed to an impersonator, explained that to be an impersonator he would have to die his hair and make his face resemble Skelton. Barnett is none-the-less the “real deal” though and has been through strenuous acting classes. As you might remember a lot of Skelton’s comedy was pantomime which is very physically demanding. Barnett says that he loses about four pounds during an average performance.
“In a mime, movement and position are very important. To make it work you really have to put your body through some contortions”, said Barnett.
Barnett, who has every known CD of Skelton’s, goes back and studies them frequently.
“I have to study his facial expressions, his hand movements.”
Barnett said he has had a dream come true by having been fortunate enough to actually met Skelton twice. The first time in Louisville, Kentucky where he got to talk to him for about ten minutes. The second time however, Barnett snuck into Skelton’s dressing room and got to hang with him for a while and even cracked jokes back and forth, playing off of each other.
When asked his impression of Skelton- the man- Barnett said: “I have never met any man who had as much clout as him but was at the same time so humble and kind.”
Barnett himself is multi-gifted. He is a high school Math, Chemistry, and Physics teacher, as well as being a Minister. He has performed in 17 different states and hopes to be doing his show many more years.
“Red performed until he was 82. I hope to do this as long as I’m physically able.”
Barnett said that like Skelton, he sometimes gets tickled during a performance and quotes one of the things Skelton said: ‘I’ve got 5,000 people out there why should I be the only one who doesn’t get the joke.’
See if you recognize some of Skelton’s characters that Barnett performs:
*Gertrude and Heathcliff
*Clem Kadiddlehopper
*Willy Lump Lump
*Sheriff Deadeye
*Junior “Mean Widdle Kid”
*Freddie the Freeloader
One of the things that Barnett hopes that people take away from his show is a good time, of good clean entertainment. Skelton was a man who honored God, Family, and Country.
“Because he was a family man he always kept his show clean, suited for all ages from pre-school to great grandparents”, Barnett said.
Barnett closes his show with the same saying that Skelton always did and I can think of no better way to end this article than to say: “Goodnight and may God bless.”
For more information or to book Mr. Barnett go to: www.redskeltonremembered.com .