Wit, Wisdom, and Musery from America's Greatest Humorist - MARK TWAIN TALKS - Newsletter/Blog

New Bedford, MA

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

The full two-act show (including Twain's announcement of his candidacy for President) will be presented Feb. 17 and 18 at 8pm and Feb 19 at 2:30pm at Your Theatre, Inc. in New Bedford, MA. Tickets are $12/10 seniors, students, etc. Link to info is http://www.yourtheatre.org/yti/index.php?page=evshowpage&evtid=111

Big Show

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Well, it's finally happening. Nov. 4-13 at the Park Theatre, Cranston, RI (www.parktheatreri.com 401-467-7275). The full show "Mark Twain Talks", 2 acts with intermission. Tickets are $25 - $20 for seniors/students.

I'll be wearing full dress (white tie and tails) for the evening shows, so if you haven't experienced that sight, come take a look!

War and Time

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

“how do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”.......... John Kerry 1971

What happened to John Kerry? What happens to a man as he grows older and is no longer directly involved in the fighting of wars, but only supporting them through funding them?

Kerry is six years older than me, but I remember the passion of the Vietnam Veterans against the War. I remember how angry we all were that the United States was involved in a war of aggression against people half a world away. I remember the shame that, because of inequity of the draft laws, mostly disadvantaged youth were being sacrificed so that our country would not “lose face”.

We are now engaged in two “wars” half a world a way which Kerry supports. We no longer have a military draft so there is far less anger about the lives lost. Still, we send the National Guard to these wars while the professional standing army “trains” at Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, et.al.

Our journalists are now “embedded” with the troops, so we don't get the kind of brave reporting we got from Vietnam, where it was those brave enough to show us the true face of the war who were largely responsible for ending it.

I used to be angry, now I'm just sad.

FILM AT ELEVEN

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

“The church is always trying to get other people to reform — it might not be a bad idea to reform itself a little by way of example.” Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad

The same could be said for The United States. We are losing our moral authority and influence (other than military) in the world. We have stopped trying to convince others that our system of representative democracy is the best available form of government. Instead we have adopted a policy of demanding that others do as we say, not as we do.
Take Egypt............please. We supported Mubarak, knowing his was a corrupt government. We pretended that it was founded on democratic principles — right up to the time when the people took to the streets. As soon as a mob appeared we sided with them and demanded a change in government without regard to the rule of law, which we insist is the most important principle in this country. If mobs appeared in the streets of Detroit or Newark or Los Angeles would our government head resign? History says no.
If we wish to be a guiding light in the world, we need to let other countries resolve their own problems, bring our troops home, and work on the many problems we have here in this country.

“The pitifulest thing out is a mob.” Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

I'm Baaaaaaaaaack!

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800

As some may know, I had a run-in with cancer last year and was on an enforced hiatus due to my loss of hair to chemotherapy. This is the drawback of appearing as Twain "au naturel" without wig or false mustache.
I am happy to report my full recovery and I am now accepting bookings for this summer season, when I expect to be fully hirsute again.
I am working in less demanding roles -- currently as Chief Justice Job Durfee in "The Murder Trial of John Gordon" in Cranston, R.I.

Massive hits

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800

I've had this website for over 5 years. Cruising along at 100 to 200 hits a day. Not very exciting but a pace I feel comfortable with. Then Thursday I did a performance at Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield, MA. This morning I have over 7,000 hits and several comments to my Guestbook. I think they liked it.

Where does the time go?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A kind friend pointed out that I have neglected this newsletter for the last year. I confess to having "Mark Twain Talks" slip a bit while I finished the work on our new cottage and tried to stay solvent during the recession. As some may know my "day job" is as an investor and keeping ahead of the market the last year has required an attention and dedication that was not heretofor necessary.

Things are back on a predictable track now and I am back to work. I just returned from a very successful performance in Middletown, NY and have had several inquiries for next year.

Onward and Upward!

NAMES

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

There was a discussion recently among the SoloTogether group about what label we put on what we do.

Whether we call ourself a Historical Impersonator (I understand the late Bill Meikle insisted he was a "personator", not an "im-personator"), Stand-up Historian, Living History Performer, Historical Role Player, Historical Presenter, Historical Interpreter, Living Historian, or just Solo Performer of a One Man Show, what we ultimately attempt to do is bring the past alive. In my case I try to show people that nothing much has changed in the nature and actions of the Human Race even if the times in which we live are markedly different from those of 1894.

My new Talk, "Notes on the Damned Human Race", which premiered in England this summer is an attempt to show this. The review from Buxton is on the Review page.

New Address

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Over the course of the summer we have moved to a lovely little cottage on the banks of the Sippican River in West Wareham, MA. A great deal of work was required before we could move in and that is my excuse for being relatively out of touch.
We did spend 2 delightful weeks in England, and a day in Holland with friends, in the middle of July. Then it was back to work on the house and we moved in in September. Same phone, same e-mail, only the address has changed.

Lethargy

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

I sometimes think I am the laziest man on earth, a phrase my father used to use to describe me. I just noticed I haven't posted here for almost 6 months!

My first year doing shows in Vermont for the Vermont Humanities Council was great fun. Two of the shows were to overflow crowds which was great for my ego, if not my voice. I have already done one show this year, have two more definites and more in the works.

For those who have been asking about local Massachusetts shows, I will be at the West Bridgewater Library on April 1 and home in Marshfield at Ventress library for Twain's birthday in November.

Finally, we are returning to Buxton, England this summer to premiere the new "Notes on the Damned Human Race" at the Fringe Festival where we won an award for "Hannibal Years" in 2006.