Mr. Mark Twain Answers All Your Questions

Reviewed by Deborah Klugman
Sacred Fools Black Box Theatre
Through June 25

If you’re looking to learn more about the life and thought of Mark Twain — well, more that you’ve already picked up from your grade or middle school English text — this show is probably not where you’ll find it, as Ed Goodman, solo performer (or almost solo!) freely admits.

Wearing a goofy white platinum wig and a silly little paste-on mustache, Goodman offers his audience a mix of stand-up comedy, broad impersonation and improvisation, with attendees encouraged to submit questions (collected beforehand) whose answers become part of the entertainment. One element of the shtick is a consideration of what constitutes a worthy solo turn, and our introduction to the FBOOPS (Federal Bureau of One Person Shows), a policing entity (represented by Corey Rittmaster, credited in the program as First A.D., Joke Department) that comes down on Goodman before the evening ends.

The humor is silly and good-natured and entertaining in small doses; the piece does play like a work in progress, rather off-the-cuff, and could benefit from more actual info about Twain himself and his ideas. Jeremy Aldridge, also credited as developer, directs.

Sacred Fools Theater (Black Box), 6322 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood; through June 25.https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/3555. Running time: 50 minutes.