Mark Twain Tonight Tickets

Hal Holbrook is more like Mark Twain than Mark Twain was himself ! Holbrook IS Mark Twain. Talk about channeling ! I saw this performance on television way back in the 60's and only now attended it live in Pensacola FL. The 86- year-old Holbrook delivers in spades and has improved with age. He really has it down pat. Remember that all of the two-hour monologue (with intermission) is accurate recants of things Mark Twain actually said or wrote. The performance is basically a humorous one with poignant and timeless observations that strike as much relevance today as they did in Twain's time. I noticed that Holbrook, or Twain, has changed the script over the years, perhaps to target issues of contemporaneous interest for the audience. It works. The packed theater was thoroughly entertained. It's all Holbrook, errr make that Mark Twain. He paces about and delivers his ramblings with no fancy BS props or supporting cast. There are no potted plants or loud speakers or other actors vying for stardom. It's only Holbrook, or Twain, there on stage with a chair and a couple of tables. That's all thats necessary. The gravity and entertainment of Twain's observations are timeless. Go see this while you can. Take your kids and their friends. You may have to explain to them who Twain was but they will dig it . See it now. I doubt anyone else will ever pull this off in the fashion of Hal Holbrook.

For decades, I have wanted to see Mr. Holbrook in this production and am so delighted to have the chance. It was everything I had hoped and more. And how apropos in the lovely Saenger Theater!

A experience to remember. It was a lovely and very enjoyable event. Hal Holbrook was superb.

MR HOLBROOK'S PORTRAYAL OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS AND HISTORICAL PEOPLE MADE ME FEEL AS IF I WERE HEARING MR TWAIN IN PERSON!! MARK TWAIN'S TAKE ON HISTORY, PEOPLE, RELATIONSHIPS, OUR COUNTRY AND ITS GOVERNMENT AS REFLECTED IN HIS OBSERVATIONS HAS ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT ON TARGET. I THOUGHT THE PERFORMANCE BY MR HOLBROOK WAS ON POINT NOT ONE TIME, BUT TIME AFTER TIME AND EVERY TIME. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS SHOW TO EVERYONE THAT WANTS A GOOD LAUGH AND AN EDUCATION IN THE FOIBLES OF BOTH THE GOVERNED AND THOSE WHO TRY TO GOVERN THEM.

Felt like I was in the room with Mark Twain himself. The best part was that his honesty seemed to offend as many as it likely did when he was alive.

having seen H.H. numerous times in previous 25 yr. I found the evening presentation one of less comedy and story telling and more blasting the current political and social environment, a darker tone than before, even from his 1905 vantage point. Yet an entertaining and inspiring presentation by a true artist of a true artist. Hopefully H.H. will continue and I shall have one more opportunity.

Great Seats for an incredible performance. If you come to the Balboa for this kind of an event purchase seats within 10 rows of the stage. Sound system good. Mr Holbrook's performance was excellent except for the portion where he spoke with a heavy southern accent which was difficult to understand.

When Hal Holbrook takes the stage he is Mark Twain. Mark Twain had amazing insight into human nature and the impact it has on the culture. What is interesting is how so much of the commentary is as applicable today as it was 100 years ago. It was a wonderful thought provoking evening and we will see the performance again if we have the chance.

I had seen portions of Holbrook's Twain on TV and I am so glad I was able to see it live. I was impressed with the way Holbrook was successful in moving between humor and anger. The Balboa Theatre is a great venue though I wish their rows were not so close to each other.

Certain parts were entertaining whereas others rather dry. At times, difficult to hear all the words, despite sitting up close. Many pauses as he was trying to gather his thoughts perhaps...

Hal Holbrook is remarkable in his recreation. Congratulations!

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to see Hal Holbrook. His comic delivery and timing was impeccable. I want to reread Huck Finn now.

I've been waiting 50 years, since reading in a sixth-grade "Weekly Reader" about Hal Holbrook's arduous makeup process and transformation, to see his performance. Although I'm sure he doesn't require as much preparation nowadays, the effect is still the same. Mark Twain's writings have supplied Mr. Holbrook with a wealth of material and he draws upon these sources as he chooses. It's surprising how well so many of Twain's observations and pithy comments remain timely and true today. There were some omitted selections I wish I could have heard, but, then, I'm not sure I can sit that long; I'm no longer 12 years old.

Hal Holbrook's Mark Twain Tonight was witty and fun.

Totally enjoyable experience! So glad I was able to see this production. I just wish I'd taken advantage of the ALD for the hearing impaired during the 1st act, but he was great!

Absolutely remarkable! Have wanted to see him perform Mark Twain for many years and I'm so glad that I had this opportunity. Amazing how we are still talking about the same issues 100 years later. Highly recommend to everyone.

Mr. Holbrook has been doing this gig -- along with lots of other work in theater, film, etc. -- for 35 years! The amazing thing is that he continues to research, revise, and revitalize the material for every audience. His dedication, scholarship, and and ability are really inspiring. I'm not generally a fan of one-person shows, but this is a legendary performance. As always, I liked being in the Balboa Theater, a much more intimate space than some other venues, and reminiscent of theaters in New York and San Francisco.

It felt like we watched what could be the end of an era...a master actor at the top of his craft doing a one man show for 2 1/2 hours in tribute to one of the greatest American humorists and social commentators. Mr Holbrook was amazing.

Hal Holbrook has more energy and power in his voice than many 40 years younger. He was captivating as Mark Twain throughout his two hour one-man show. His choice of Twain writings always seemed current, rather than a voice from the past. He interspersed comedy with serious topics and held the audience spellbound in this sold-out theatre. Would love to see his show again, as no two are alike.

Hal Holbrook's timing in the delivery of "punchlines" is still impeccable, and the lines of Twain humor flawlessly delivered in Holbrook's manner is worth the price of admission every time. We attended the performance with friends as a party of four, and we were each captivated by the delivery and content of this incredible one-man-show. That is, we were held captive to Holbrook's ability to assume so realistically Mark Twain's persona and then take us back to the 1905 setting wherein he was capable of reminiscing about Twain's younger years and experiences and engage in a political commentary relevant to those times. While it was interesting to see how much (most ?) of the 1905 social dialog certainly resonated with those issues still facing this nation and the world today, we felt that these prolonged monologues may have occupied a bit too much of the time dedicated to the total performance. These, we believe were flat spots in an otherwise outstanding tribute to Hal Holbrook's remarkable portrayal of Mark Twain, his well-integrated alter ego. Notwithstanding, it was an amazing performance and justly deserving of the standing ovation he received. In closing, it is our observation that he should just stick to the Mark Twain stuff in his social commentaries. There really is no need to update it, because the foibles of Congress and society Samuel Clements wrote and spoke about are timeless. Holbrook just doesn't need to bother updating or modernizing it. There is enough original Twain material for several different shows. It seems apparent that Holbrook personally wants to use that bully pulpit to make his audience think about contemporary problems, and he wants to contribute to the public debate/dialogue. If he really wants to convey these messages, perhaps he should consider doing a different show designed for that purpose, something like Imagine What Mark Twain Would Say Tonight, A Century Later.... Sorry to dwell on the low spots in an otherwise amazing performance.