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(Mr. R. is far too busy -- getting ready for another show)

Two for one - two one-man shows, back-to-back

"An Evening with Mark Twain", performed by Richard Traynham

"An Evening with Professor Einstein", peformed by Frank Leeding




An Evening with Mark Twain
as performed by Richard Traynham


Next:  Set suggestions for the Twain piece, and notes for this section.

Jump to:  {An Evening with Professor Einstein}

{Set design suggestions}


==== SCENE:  A book case, several stacks of newspapers, roll-top desk,
             door to off stage, possibly a window, it is near dusk.

Twain enters (no cigar in hand, hat, suit, etc to match mood)
walks to bookcase and looks for a book, selects one, flips pages
-- back to audience.

                            TWAIN

Ah! Just as I thought! More Humbug.

(turns to audience; a bit irritated)

Sorry, I didn't know you were there.

I have just received a telegram from my publisher...

(searches inside jacket pockets, first one side, takes out
a piece of paper, glances at it, and puts then it back in
the same pocket and then reaches in the other inside jacket
pocket and takes yellow-telegram paper from pocket and unfolds
it)

TO MARK TWAIN. STOP. YOU RECENT REVIEW OF LAST OF
THE MOHICANS NOT PUBLISHIBLE IN CURRENT FORM. STOP.
POSSIBLE LIBEL SUIT. STOP. PLEASE RE WORK AND RE SUBMIT.
STOP. YOURS. J. L. MARKING EDITOR. STOP.






(exit via door)

(fade to black)

Next: Set Design Suggestions and Notes to this section.

{Down to 'An Evening with Professor Einstein}



  

Set design suggestions

This of course follows in the great tradition set forth first
by Twain himself [Note 1], and
then by Hal Holbrook [Note 1], and then by Jerry Hardin 
[Note 2]


There are several aspects of Twain's life that are particularly
relevant as regarding set design.

  1) More than anything else, he was a dreamer. That this
     could easily be translated into text is obvious -- although
like any writer, he had his "problems" writing (ie, the horror
of writer's block, etc). There are over 4 drafts of "The
Mysterious Stranger".

  2) He was in invoative thinker. This was limiting in his
     business adventures. He designed possibly the first
automatic type-setting machine. This was a dismal failure
and almost bankrupted him. He was simply (like Charles Babage
in trying to make the first computer) was simply ahead of his
time -- the mechanics of the time were in-sufficient to the
task. As a side note, recently researchers and engineers in
Great Britain *did* construct Babage's computer -- of course
we now have *electronics* to measure things to over 1 millionth
of an inch accurach -- which did not occur until the 1900c
(20th century).

  3) What ever his personal b/g was, he clearly was disturbed
     by the condition of the blacks in america. Huckleberry
Finn is also about the *realisation* of the slave Jim -- given
half the chance, a black man can become the equal of the
white. As the cartoonist/historian Larry Gonick sed:

    "In a truely color-blind society,
     Frederick Douglass would have been
     one of our greatest Presidents." -- not an exact quote.

Twain's treatment of "Injun Joe" (one of my own many persoae)
was less than exemplary, and *does* bare research into, of.

  4) Twain was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters at Oxford.
     He was often skeptical of titles; esp, politicians, the clergy,
etc. Thus, his comments must have seemed particularly biting.

  5) He certainly considered himself and "editor's editor" -- having
     risen through the ranks from field reporter, to type setter,
and so forth. There would be *much* research to be done on this
aspect of his life; ie, dealing with editors editing *his* works.

  6) His family meant the world to him. And the death of his
     daughter must have affected him terribly. Many believe this
the reason for his growing dismal and negative view towards the
human race. I think that is true, but certainly the hypocracy of
the Spanish-American war must surely (i would sey, neverously)
been the back-bone of "The War Prayer".

  7) Finally, a few general references:

   "The Adventures of Mark Twain" (film; claymation), by Will
                                  Vinton and comppany. This
   clearly shows the two natures of twain. Well done!!!

    (more later, on with the show)

Web refs

  [Imitations of Twain by various] (audio)
            

Minimal Set

That twain loved books so much, should indicate that the very
least set item would be a book case with books in it. Refer to
"the classics" - he often had a harsh eye towards much of the
popular literature. Ref is made to: Cooper's "Last of the Mohicans".

A roll-top desk would be ideal to give the "old time feel" of the
piece. But alternatively, even a plain desk, stacked with papers
and a few books and a chair would do as well.

A stack of news papers could be used with good effect. The idea of
this piece is to portray certain aspects of Twain, and as such...

The Nature Of Twain & this work

Twain was at all times a person of critical eye of the events
around him. This probably was enhanced by his time on the
Mississippi river -- having to watch the treatcherous sand
bars, submerged trees, etc (esp at night).

Next off, it is clear that he hated flummery, the quick trick,
and any who would take advantage of the "ordinary person". There
is a constant thread through all of his works (at least all that
i'm familiar with) of exposing the fraud, hypocracy, and out-right
hatred. This makes for many possible forays into *modern* times,
as i have presented in this form. Please feel free to add or
subtract -- do NOT edit my words; if they are in-appropriate to
your presentation, i would rather they were deleted rather than
to bolderise them into in-annity.



Notes
(This section only)


[1] Twain as show man

  (ref is to the degress from Oxford)

{Back to the TEXT}



[2] Hal Holbrook

{Back to the TEXT}




[3] Jerry Hardin

Ref:  [Jerry 
Hardin]


{Back to the TEXT}





An Evening with Professor Einstein
as performed by Frank Leeding



Next: Set Design Suggestions and Notes to this section.














  

Set design suggestions

This of course follows in the great tradition set forth first
by Einstein himself [Note 1], and
then by Walter Mathau [Note 2].


There are several aspects of Twain's life that are particularly
relevant as regarding set design.

  1) More than anything else, he was a dreamer. That this


     Finally, a few general references:

   "IQ" (film), by ???? shows the two natures of twain. Well done!!!

The research for this film is superb. Kurt Goedel did indeed
question the nature of time, and the compass was one of the
key events in Einstein's life. As far as other *factual*
material in the film it should be taken with a grain of
salt. More can be made by using Mathau's portrayal of Uncle
Al as a firm guide line.

Also, there *are* a few films of Einstein to give you an
idea of the real man. But, like H.G. Wells, the voice,
presence that we "know" is far different from the man
himself. Per "Time after Time", in researching the role
of H.G. Wells, the actor Malcomb McDowell obtained an
authentic recording of Wells' voice -- it turns out that
he had a rather high-pitched, nasal voice. McDowell wisely
chose to portray him as a English Gentleman -- despite
the deviance from life. hmmm, i wonder if this why
the people of the earth never listened to Well's warnings?
(he predicted atomic war fare, and many other tragedies of
the modern era).

    (more later, on with the show)


Notes
(This section only)


[1] Einstein: But what does all of this fame mean?



{Back to the TEXT}



[2] Walter Mathau

{Back to the TEXT}




[3]

{Back to the TEXT}





[4]

{Back to the TEXT}




[5]

{Back to the TEXT}



[6]

{Back to the TEXT}



[7]

{Back to the TEXT}