It's been some time, but I remember writing a review of Randall Knopler's Acting Naturally for the Forum, a book examining Twain on stage and how he was part of "performance culture." My memory is dim regarding the book--but the review should still be posted at the Forum archives. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Dawidziak" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 1:10 PM Subject: Re: Mark Twain on stage > Alex, > If you're looking for a scholarly and insightful study of "Mark > Twain and the Stage," you can do no better than Shelley Fisher Fishkin's > essay in "A Companion to Mark Twain" (edited by Peter Messent and Louis > J. Budd, Blackwell Publishing). Shelley also covers this territory in > engaging fashion in her foreword, afterword and notes to the University > of California Press published version of "Is He Dead? A Comedy in Three > Acts" (2003). Together, these works give a thorough assessment of Twain > and the stage during the writer's lifetime. > Kent Rasmussen's "Mark Twain A to Z" and the expanded two-volume > "Mark Twain: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work" (Facts on File, > 2007) contain several references that cover both the stage works during > Twain's life and later adaptations. > I'm not aware of any single work that lists and discuss such later > adaptations as the Rodgers and Hart "Connecticut Yankee," the Adam and > Eve segment of "The Apple Tree," David Birney's adaptation of "The > Diaries of Adam and Eve," Roger Miller's Tony-winning "Big River" and > the recent attempt to turn Tom Sawyer into a musical. Such a study > certainly would be extremely valuable. > > Alex Effgen wrote: >> Hello: >> >> Given Holbrook's recent tour of New England, and the successful run >> of "Is He Dead?" I wonder what study has been made of Twain or his >> works adapted for the stage both during his life and after. Is there >> an easy reference list of his work adapted? Has this been discussed? >> >> Thanks! >> >> -Alex >> >