Local thespian Gavin Wilson has been developing his one-man-show impersonating the great literary wit Mark Twain for more than ten years now and he is about to take it to the States.

The star of local shows including The Slippered Pantaloon, the inimitable Lock Jaw Fox, and the more recently staged version of The Producers, will take the production to the Avalon Theatre in Maryland on November 29.

Reminiscences and Other Lies is a collection of vignettes, most of which Mr Wilson borrowed from a “dog-eared” copy of The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain.

He has performed the show locally and even in the States before but hopes this gig will lead to many more.

Mr Wilson told The Royal Gazette: “I am particularly excited about this theatre as it is well recognised and carries excellent entertainment throughout the year. To get on to the slot is amazing and it certainly goes on the resume.”

Mr Wilson also plans to perform the show in theatres in Florida and Ohio.

Twain’s connection to Bermuda stems from countless visits he made to the Island to enjoy its warm, balmy summers. He is famously quoted as saying: “You go to heaven if you want to, I’d rather stay right here in Bermuda”.

Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens on November 30, 1835, Twain penned several novels including the classics The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Missouri native spent time as a journalist, inventor, lecturer, entrepreneur and riverboat pilot. He was compelled to write on the harsher realities of life, not least the festering racism of his generation. His work gained him the respect around the world and he became nothing short of a national treasure.

Twain’s playful wit flows out in nostalgic vignettes like the one where he came by a railroad and was so incensed by the delays that when approached by the conductor, he gave him a child’s fare. Mr Wilson recalls: “When asked by the conductor if he was a child, Twain remarked, ‘no, but I was when I got in the chair’.”

There is often irreverence to his comical style. Twain was once asked why he wore his trademark white suit to which he replied: “Clothes make the man, naked people have very little or no influence on society.”

Mr Wilson practised the raspy, Southern tones of Mark Twain by listening “over and over and over again” to recordings of well-known Twain impersonator Hal Holbrook. Holbrook himself practiced his voice from a previous impersonator recorded on an old Edison wax cylinder. “Even Twain couldn’t tell the difference between this guy and himself,” chuckled Mr Wilson. “I thought, if I practice using Hal, I’m a generation from almost the real thing.”

Mr Wilson, who studied radio and TV production at the British Broadcasting Corporation during the 60s, said he “really got the show working” about six or seven years ago and performed it once or twice a year. But it was a few years prior that his Lock Jaw Fox show, based around an old St David’s character, began to take off and Twain took the back burner.

“Lock Jaw had a far wider appeal,” he explained. “It was easier to stage you could take it anywhere. Twain is for more of a selective, attentive audience. It works better for an older audience and you have to be practical. It is far more demanding to do.”

While Mr Wilson is the only man on stage, he insists that it is not really a one-man-show – paying homage to those who helped him along the way. He recalls the well-known arts figure Elsbeth Gibson who he first delivered his lines to at the routine’s genesis. “She was very matter of fact. ‘It either works or it doesn’t’ she would say. I was petrified but I did it. I asked ‘What do you think?’ And she said ‘Let’s do it’. She was wonderful and took me through the whole thing.”

As the routine evolved, respected portrait artist Diana Tetlow worked on his make-up while local costume designer Barbara Jones made his white, cotton linen suit “beautifully”. Other support came from his “long-suffering” wife, Linda.

Mr Wilson recalled a Twain show at Ariel Sands saying it went really well but that he had a distinct advantage.

“It was for the International Institute of Directors dinner and the guest speaker was going to be an authority on mutual funds. People were far from excited but he cancelled and I was put on in his place. I did it as an after dinner speaker — an abbreviated version of what I do now and they loved it. That was magical night!”

Mr Wilson has performed the show locally at both City Hall and BMDS and more recently at the Masterworks Museum for Bermuda Art during its Ever The Twain Shall Meet. In 2010, the show headed to the States for the first time taking it to the Sun City Centre’s Rollins Theatre in Tampa. He will return to the Florida stage in January.

Mr Wilson reflected: “It is gentle entertainment. He was a very smart guy and made some great observations. He goes on to describe things that happened to him as a young man and sums it up with a philosophical ending.”