Mark Twain Answers All Your Questions!

For fringereview.com One -man shows about Mark Twain are almost a genre of their own but this is a welcome addition to the stable. Ed Goodman’s Mark Twain was one of Edgar Allen Poe’s guests in last year’s Fringe hit “The Poe Show” and this might be considered his spin-off. Before the show audience members are invited to write questions for Mark Twain on cards, they can also write anonymous “Truths”. These are placed in two buckets onstage, and Goodman, as Twain, reads from the cards and riffs fluently and appropriately, while weaving in some well-researched biographical detail. But this show goes well beyond keeping the promise of its premise. Confident use of the audience continues throughout the show, leading to some meta complicati... full review

Coming off of last year's fringe hit, The Poe Show, my expectations were pretty high for Mark Twain. Thankfully, and with no surprise, Ed Goodman (Mark Twain) delivers. Wildly informal and equal parts hilarious. Mr. Twain explains to us all the "rules" of a one-person show (Tell the truth, wallow in it, only one-person, etc.) and how is he is legally bound to comply with each of them throughout the performance. He uses these rules as a springboard for many great bits and jokes. There are a couple very funny short sketches in between answering questions (which are either shouted out from the audience or written by audience members (anonymously) before the show begins. Using improv, logic and brilliant comedic timing, Mark Twain Answ... full review

MARK TWAIN ANSWERS ALL YOUR QUESTIONS The celebrated writer and humorist begins the evening by dying in a hail of bullets from a police shootout that then evolves into your classic porno flick with the sound of a zipper preceding an officer bringing out for inspection his lethal weapon. Later in the evening Mr. Twain accidently immolates himself. Twice. While historical validity is not perhaps a high point here, Ed Goodman’s interpretation of Twain is truly an uncanny experience and one must constantly remind themselves they are only watching a consummate actor recreating his role from last year’s The Poe Show, otherwise you would swear that on stage it really was Ed Norton in a silly wig. Cheap laughs abound. We’re talking a re... full review

I have two words for this show – absolutely ridiculous. It’s a combination of stand-up, biographical facts and sketch comedy. This is not a polished piece, nor do I think it is supposed to be. I feel like the ‘rough around the edges’ vibe is by design. There are definitely moments that fall flat, but actor, Ed Goodman, has the resiliency to bounce back and deliver a gem only moments later. The comedy is loud, ribald and at times inappropriate. He even managed to include audience participation without me totally hating it. For the record, I loathe audience participation, so that is actually high praise. Unlike the show’s namesake’s work, I don’t think this is likely to endure for years to come, but it’s good for an hour’s entertainment. Oh! B... full review