Chambers Street Theatre Archives

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Chambers Street Theatre for 11am on Apr 30th, 2015

Today Ruth reads from "Innocents Abroad."  Yes, it's Mark Twain... This is straight reporter writing, and we can all learn from the lively way Twain tells about facts, places, and people.  Even information can be interesting and Twain proves it.  Read Chapter 14 about the Cathedral of Nortre Dame and the Paris Morgue to for alive and insightful writing.

Chambers Street Theatre for 11am on Apr 23rd, 2015

And here we are with the Twain version of the "Duel."  Last week we did the Dickens' "Duel."  It's up to you to compare Dickens and Twain.  I delight in the similaries and the differences:  Dickens, the Englishman, goes for the lighter "picking away" style, while Twain gets out the "axes."  Both go after the need for this Dueling to stop, and it's humor that finds the "feet of clay."

Chambers Street Theatre for 11am on Apr 16th, 2015

We can all look back and say "Dueling was silly."  Well, it wasn't so silly in the 1800's.  This was serious and deadly business.  Many men were tricked into losing their lives, and many men were mutilated.  This strange duel business had to be attacked with humor.  Charles Dickens was one of the first writers to challenge the "honor" of death.  

And it was Mark Twain who answered the call on the American side.  Often it has been said that Twain imitated Dickens.  Twain said he learned a great deal from Dickens.  Compare this week's Dickens' "Duel" with next week's "Duel" by Twain.  Very different, yet going for the same problem. 

 

Chambers Street Theatre for 11am on Apr 9th, 2015

Once again we go to Mark Twain for good reporting in "Roughing It."  Chapter LXX covers meeting with a man who had a mental issue.  I'll leave it at that, because only Mark Twain could cover this story with truth, compassion, and humor.  Not much was known about mental issues in the 1800's so Twain used his reporter skills to record the reality that could be figured out in the future.

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