FULL Mark Twain and the General (Butts) Bound Brook NJ 2014 Lewis Sheasley Barth Jamieson Loughman
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Mark Twain and the General
- Composer: Butts Robert W.
- Libretto: Jewel Seehaus-Fisher Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: Brook Theater, Bound Brook, New Jersey, Eastern Opera Company
- Recorded: 2014
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Karole Lewis, Don Sheasley, Ira Barth, Brian Jamieson, Tom Loughman
- Conductor: Robert W. Butts
- Orchestra:
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Robert Butts
- Date Published: 2016
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 3 Audio:3
- Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Mark Twain and The General is based on President Ulysses S. Grant. Towards the end of his life, General Grant (played by Don Sheasley) attempts to write his history of the Civil War. At the same time, he is suffering with cancer. His wife Julia (played by Karole Lewis) fears for his life and worries that his preoccupation with writing his book adds to his pain and could hasten his death. The family cook (played by Ira Barth) reminds the General that he needs to keep up his strength and eat his greens. Needing financial help, Grant is hoping to sell articles when possible. Mark Twain (played by Brian Jameson), in need of a financial and professional boost, visits the Grants with a proposal of an advance payment against royalties from his book and an idea to sell subscriptions to the publication. Though philosophically opposed, Grant and Twain form a partnership that leads to the successful completion and publication of the book, one of the classic works of American literature.