Monday, January 24, 2011
Mark Twain Impersonators Gain Popularity
NYTimes.com: "McAvoy Layne climbed the stage chomping on an unlighted cigar, his shock of spray-painted white hair bright in the spotlights. “You can’t beat an audience that’s been waiting 100 years,” he said to the crowd.
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4 comments:
Mark Twain impersonation should be an option within the CMU SoD.
Mark twain once said that a classic is something that everyone wishes they had read, but no one wants to read. it is ironic however that his work itself is now considered classic. it is even more interesting that he himself has now become a classic. the face of mark twain is recognizable in any situation, but it feels semi-obsurd that he now has impersinators.
Nic
Coming from Philadelphia where Ben Franklin impersonators are constantly roaming Old City and even occasionally showing up at weddings, I am not particularly phased that Mark Twain impersonators are an item these days. He is almost an embodiment of simpler times and the American spirit of adventure (in a stereotypical, forgetting about the racism). What is truly shocking is their international success. I wonder what the attraction is to countries such as France and China. Then again, I am completely unaware of the success of classic American writers in other countries. What is even further shocking is that thye are hired for business "pep rallies" and do team work exercises to enhance the work place. Nowhere in the article does the article say they have studied business atmospheres or teams to give validity to their lectures. That is the truly odd phenomenon. I can't understand what it is about Twain's stories of adventure that would translate for a business lecture, or even an affective one. Mark Twain impersonators should focus on telling the stories or biography of the author, which is what the spirit of being an impersonator should be all about.
Though there is a sense of absurdity after reading the title, one soon realizes that the Twain impersonators are on to something good here. Feel good stories that are humorous, well known, and inspire adventure, which are read by a man regaled in ridiculous Twain attire is sure to catch a well sized demographic. I wish the impersonators luck on their ventures!
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