Marvin Cole

The main purpose of portraying Mark Twain is to satirize human cruelty to other humans in the hope of realizing the need to respect all people. A second purpose is to bring the physical, mental, and healing benefits of humor to audiences. On the side we can throw in a glimpse of history, poking fun at pretensions, and expose sham. Mark Twain is still frequently quoted and still telling the truth 100 years after his death. With over 30 years and over 1,000 performances and lectures to civic clubs, university and high school classes, Elderhostel/Exploritas groups, church groups, and all the paddle wheelers on the Mississippi River, I am still awed by this literary giant.