Review: Holbrook plods along as Twain

The life of Mark Twain, sometimes called the father of American literature, is certainly one for the history books. The life of Oscar-nominated actor Hal Holbrook, who played Deep Throat in “All the President’s Men,” is likely to make good reading one day. The life of author Mark Twain as presented by actor Hal Holbrook at the Naples Philharmonic Thursday night might be interesting — but it certainly isn’t riveting entertainment.

Holbrook’s one-man show — “Mark Twain Tonight” — dates to the 1950s, when the thespian’s first wife interviewed him as he impersonated famous historical figures. The act was adapted into its current form and premiered on Broadway in 1966, earning a fistful of accolades.

“Mark Twain Tonight” is presented as a lecture-hall talk from the author in the year 1905. On the surface, Mark Twain (real name Samuel Langhorne Clemens) would seem a rich source to mine for entertainment. He was a prolific author, a Mississippi riverboat captain, a gold miner in Nevada and a reporter in California during the 1860s; in later life, Twain was an inventor, publisher and close friend of scientist and noted eccentric Nikola Tesla.

Holbrook has an extensive library of authentic material to draw from and continually adapts the show. There is no set program for each production, although every night includes a dramatic recitation from Twain’s great novel “Huckleberry Finn.” Along the way, Holbrook also dips into Twain’s travelogues as well as anecdotes about politics, religion, cats, Halley’s Comet and a host of other subjects pulled from the author’s letters and other papers.

Thursday’s program included parts of biting essays on politics, Congress, politicians, Democrats, Republicans, tolerance, the role of newspapers and more politics. Social commentary penned more than a hundred years ago, including jibes such as “Democrats are insane, and only Republicans can see it,” sent repeated ripples of laughter through the crowd.

The night’s biggest success — and most applauded moment — was a dramatic reading from “Huckleberry Finn.” Holbrook chooses a scene where Huck lies to men to save escaped slave Jim from being recaptured. The power of Twain’s prose is immediately evident, as is its message of a young boy on the brink of manhood struggling with titanic themes and trying to cope with an uncertain future.

Most of the author’s commentary seems amazingly prescient; a segment on religious differences comes across as particularly apt in our fractured world. While no individual nugget from the evening was an outright dud — and most punchlines brought at least a chuckle or two — the night is paced so slowly as to be coma inducing. There is no theme that bridges the evening, and thus no dramatic arch. The overriding effect is that of being trapped in a room with an endearingly amusing old uncle who forgot to take his meds and is gearing up to talk your ear off. Audiences only need look at Tovah Feldshuh’s recent show to see the tension that can come from a solidly-constructed, well-presented piece.

Holbrook is a convincing Mark Twain, having perfected the appearance of a genteel but still rascally gentleman, down to the bristly mustache, forgetful mannerisms and a shuffling, amiable walk. To that end though, he may perhaps be too focused on the artifice of the character instead of the material. The constant rambling about the stage between chair, table and lectern proved a distraction for me, as did the repeated folding and unfolding of the same papers and fiddling with props. The affected accent — while entirely appropriate for the character — also melted the words to a Southern-fried mush when Holbrook sometimes failed to enunciate.

The night isn’t a total wash. Holbrook serves up an diverse sampling of Twain’s writings and has the style and delivery to sell the material. The readings of Twain’s work are exciting and vivacious and most of the evening likable — if not the spiciest entertainment around.

My favorite Mark Twain novel is “Huck Finn,” especially the exploits of the Duke and the King. What’s yours? Email me at csilk@naplesnews.com.

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