Like a homecoming, Mark Train Himself returns author and humorist Samuel L. Clemens, to his Missouri birthplace in Hannibal on the banks of the Mississippi River. Experience a special encounter at historic Planter's Barn Theater with the man who made America laugh and inspired the world. It's an intriguing show full of Mark Twain's wit and compelling drama presented by actor Richard Garey. You won't want to miss this unique production of Mark Twain Himself! Mr. Richard Garey combines his passion as an actor, his skill as a storyteller, and his expertise as a writer to bring the role of Mark Twain to life.
A talented and experienced actor, with acting credits in over 40 states and Canada in a twenty year stage career, Garey explores many dimensions of the characters he creates on stage. Mark Twain Himself includes comedy, satire, and drama as you would expect from Mr. Twain. Garey is also the playwright who collected and assembled this one-man play from the writings of Samuel L. Clemens.
DVDDASE5 REVIEW: Mark Twain Himself
"This one-man show is performed by actor and Mark Twain impersonator Richard Garey at the historic Planter's Barn Theater in Hannibal, Missouri. It is a one-camera production performed before a small audience. Garey's selections are a mix of both humorous and serious material combined with autobiographical commentary. In an interview with Garey that is included on the DVD, he provides historical context for the Planter's Barn Theater in Hannibal as well as Mark Twain's role in American literature"
DVDDASE5 REVIEW: Mark Twain Himself
"This quasi-autobiographical one-man, one-act play has been collected and cobbled together from the writings of Mark Twain. Performed by Richard Garey before a scant audience at the historic Planter's Barn in Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, Garey does a credible job as Twain, using his accent and appearance to good effect. Stating that his lecture could substitute for Sunday services, as it holds many of the same qualities, he goes on to speak on diverse topics, including politics, modesty, public speaking, health, and the state of America.
In much the style of the modern day stand-up comic, Garey [as Twain] valiantly tries to engage the audience. However, his [Twain's] convoluted sentence structure and antiquated language often fails to hold their attention...Related in a rambling style with many asides, just as Twain told his stories, the production meanders along with little or no seeming direction, dispensing nuggets of good old-fashioned American wisdom along the way. Garey as Twain concludes his "services" with the funniest bit of the play, a treatise on ways of dying, which include the dreaded 'being talked to death.' A brief concluding interview with Garey sheds some light on Twain's life and hometown..."
