Laughter is the best currency (next to BerkShares) and no one knows that better than Roger Reed. Roger the Jester, as he’s more commonly known, is the mime character into whom Roger transforms when performing for global audiences at birthday parties, galas, festivals, and other celebratory events. He first emerged on the streets of Boston in the mid-1970s, then known as Roger the New Renaissance Jester. He hustled to make a name for himself, saying, “if the sun was out, so was I.” Even when he didn’t make much money from a day of performing, merely making people laugh was enough to be considered worthwhile.
His college experience put him on a career path as a photojournalist, but he felt unfulfilled after a year in the field. Having grown up watching Red Skelton and other television variety shows, he understood the structure of a well-curated comedy show and as a natural jokester himself, he considered it a plausible career prospect. He discovered Tony Montanaro’s Celebration Barn Theater in South Paris, Maine, and went there to learn the ways of the mime. He then traveled with improv troupes, but grew tired of the organized group and dialogue-filled performances. As a self-described introvert, Roger can take up space as the center of attention during his sole mime act while not having to bother with small talk or changing social dynamics. With this vision in mind, he set off to “recreate the wandering lifestyle of a medieval fool.”
Nothing brings him more joy than having an audience member from the early days of his 49-year-old career return with their children and grandchildren. A typical show involves juggling, musical instruments, magic tricks, and funny faces, and while Roger’s tactics haven’t changed much over the years, each show is unique and tailored to its audience members. There are no dress rehearsals and, in fact, his improvisational skills are necessary to simultaneously satisfy a wide range of ages and maturity levels.
Roger has traveled to over 25 countries to incite laughter. Following the 2005 earthquake in Haiti, Roger staged a comic relief effort to lift the spirits of those affected called “Jester Relief.” He recalls an aid worker validating his work when she introduced him to laughter as one of the “Seven Steps to Survival” espousing the importance of lifting the spirit in order to overcome traumatic scenarios and disasters. Even if only in a satirical or ironic way, there’s a comical side to everything, Roger says, “I see funny stuff that happens all the time.”
Luckily for Roger, he doesn’t have to travel too far from home these days to find new audiences. With the changing demographics in the Berkshires, new residents are discovering Roger for the first time. It’s just as well because he loves supporting local economic activities like accepting BerkShares for his performances, shopping locally, and participating in a local CSA farm share.
Roger concludes each show with the following quote, “Laugh yourself heartily and you will feel better. Make your friend laugh and you’ll make him happier. Make your enemy laugh and he will hate you less. Make the desponding laugh and you’ll raise their hopes. Make the sorrowful laugh and you’ll give them hope. Make the old laugh and you’ll make them younger. Make the child laugh and you’ll make them happier, healthy, and more loving.” At the end of the show, everyone’s a kid, he says. Everyone loves to laugh, play, and be amused, and Roger excels at drawing out the inner child in everyone.
