Script made up of original Twain writings

By Michael Cobb

West Lowe is reviving his one-man show as Mark Twain for a Feb. 13 performance at the Norfolk Library. For those who have never seen Lowe as Twain, the actor embodies the writer by wearing period clothing and makeup, something he’s been doing for nearly 50 years.

“The costume is the same vintage white suit that I wore back in 1976,” Lowe says. “In those days I could tease and white my own hair. Now I have a wig that was custom-made by the same man who made the actor Hal Holbrook’s wigs in New York City. The Yak hair was from the exact same shoebox with Hal’s name on it. I’m honored!”

“The makeup takes about two hours. My wife, Marie, has been contributing that to the performance for years now. It’s a whole art in itself, and I rely on her steady hand and good eye,” he adds. 

Lowe’s theatrical impersonation grew out of an attempt to complete an English requirement at St. Lawrence University. He had been inspired by Twain’s books in high school and wanted the opportunity to get to know Twain’s work better. Exhausted by scholastic paper writing, Lowe researched, wrote and memorized his own script of original Twain material. He collaborated with a classmate on the costume and makeup, and performed three nights in the campus coffeehouse. Lowe has been performing the one-man act, on and off, since 1976.

“My performance, a theatrical impersonation of Mark Twain, is made up of original Twain material. Some is from literature, but most is from his lectures and speaking engagements. I have about 90 minutes of dialogue that I enjoy organizing differently for each show, although chronological order is a natural baseline,” Lowe says. 

The performance will feature an introduction by Clara Clemens, Twain’s daughter (played by Norfolk resident, playwright and actor Marinell Crippen), with comments and stories that Twain actually delivered in Norfolk.

Sam Clemens (Mark Twain) and his daughter Clara summered in Norfolk from 1904 to 1906 on Golf Drive, in a house that has since burned down but was on the site of Colleen Hellerman’s home. It was a somber time for Clemens, as his youngest daughter, Suzy, and wife, Olivia, had recently died. “Marinell, in her role as Clara, speaks of this in the introduction to the performance,” Lowe says. 

Lowe’s performance is supported by The Isabella Eldridge Club, founded in 1912 by a group of Norfolk women interested in studying the arts, with the stated mission “to stimulate an intellectual and social relationship among the women of Norfolk.” Their earliest meetings were held at the Norfolk Library, and today the tradition continues.