Twain role took 13 years of research


When Mark Twain spoke at lectures, he didn't stand behind a lectern or orate with a booming, intimidating tone. He spoke to the people – often with a cocktail in hand.

Val Kilmer couldn't help but be attracted to the famous American novelist and spent the past 13 years researching him. The actor learned Twain's mannerisms, his beliefs, his humor and his dress. Kilmer needed all of it for his one-man show, “Citizen Twain.”

“He was probably America's first stand-up comedian,” Kilmer said in a recent telephone interview. “Twain just went out as if he was standing at a bar – ‘Hey, how you doin' tonight?' Basically, the style we're all familiar with now.”

Twain's outlook and sense of humor captured Kilmer.

“If you had to pick a narrator for the story of America, Mark Twain would be No. 1 on the list,” he said. “He's so full of love on all of our faults, all of the great things about being an American and all of the lousy things about being an American.”

Kilmer, known for blockbuster films such as “Heat” and Oliver Stone's “The Doors,” began his acting career in the theater. At 17, Kilmer was the youngest actor accepted into the dramatic division at the Juilliard School. He made his Broadway debut in 1983, three years before “Top Gun.”

Kilmer said he could play Twain for the next 20 years.

“I've never had so much fun as an actor,” he said of the show.

Much like Twain, who was prone to travel, Kilmer is taking the show from city to city. He hopes to open on Broadway next year.

And just as Twain took an informal approach and interacted with his listeners, the audience can watch Kilmer remove his makeup as he answers questions. Kilmer said that demonstrates “the magic of storytelling.”

Kilmer took a moment to don the Twain persona and chat with The Register:

Q. Why do you mostly wear white suits?

A. Well, I've suffered so many tragedies in the last 10 years of my life, if I wore dark suit, which you're supposed to at formal dinners, it just reminded me of too many funerals.

Q. Besides writing, what are your hobbies?

A. A good walk. I guess you could say cigar-smoking is a hobby. People say it's addictive, but I don't agree. I say you can quit anytime. I've done it a thousand times.

Q. You predicted a couple things in life, including the death of your brother. Do you feel like you have a sixth sense?

A. Yes. I don't know; sometimes I feel like it's as much of a curse as a blessing. I haven't used it to its advantage yet. It's usually something I've had a vision, and it's ended up being some tragic event.

Q. What do you think was your greatest accomplishment?

A. I've managed to endure. I'm very grateful that my writings are still as popular today as they were when I wrote them. I think I've hit on some key observations about life that are still viable.

Q. Did you think “Huckleberry Finn” would have an impact on race relations in the U.S.?

A. I hoped it would because you know it's a sequel to “Tom Sawyer,” which was the most popular book at that time. I knew I had the potential to create a masterpiece. Of course, you hope such a thing quietly, in case you fall on your face, but I knew I had a good chance for a popular sequel to “Tom Sawyer.”

I wanted to make a contribution as an artist. Race is a great embarrassment of our great nation. It was a dark secret of compromise since the very inception of our nation. We've never played fair with our people, even though we had that aspiration to be ultimately the fairest society.

It would have been best, of course, if we were able to resolve differences without extreme violence of war, but we couldn't do it. Unfortunately, the war did not heal racism. It established a new pattern of equality and new laws. It's taken 100 years to implement some of those laws, and we're still experiencing extreme racism today in many, many communities.

Digital & Driveway Delivery - 50% Off
User Agreement



Programs & Promotions
Business Directory
Ads by Google