THEATRE + COMEDY

As part of its One-Person Play Series, Unity Theatre presents Mark Twain.  Performed by James Bianchi March 4 through 7, 2010.

To celebrate the 175th birthday of Mark Twain, as well as his life and literary works, Unity Theatre will present "Mark Twain" as the second in its one-person performance series March 4-7. For four evenings, Mr. Twain will seem to be alive and in-person, as James Bianchi assumes the role of America's great novelist and humorist.

"One of the joys of doing the show," said Bianchi, "is sharing this wealth of material with people and hearing them laugh. It's what first attracted me to Mark Twain, that he is so funny."

Born Samuel Langhorn Clemens in Missouri in 1835, Mark Twain used several pen names before deciding on the one by which he would become famous, including Josh, Sieur Louis de Conte, and Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass. He ultimately settled on one he had heard while working as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi, a phrase meaning "two fathoms," which indicated that the depth of water beneath the ship was safe for navigating.

James has been impersonating the man for a lot of years and has presented this performance in a variety of venues - on stage, in classrooms and clubs and at social gatherings. He first appeared in the role at Unity Theatre in 2002.

Although the emphasis will be on humor, Mr. Bianchi will not neglect the more serious aspects of the man's writings and philosophical musings. Also included will be a selection from Twain's masterpiece, Huckleberry Finn, as well as some of his thoughtful pieces dealing with the subjects of slavery, missionaries, bad habits and getting old.

"Mark Twain" will be performed Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p. m. and Sunday at 4 p. m. Tickets are $25 and reservations can be made by calling the Unity Theatre box office at 979-830-8358 or by visiting www.UnityBrenham.org.
 

"All modern American literature  comes from one book by Mark Twain called ‘Huckleberry Finn."  --Ernest Hemingway