Événement

Mark Twain in Fairhaven: A Musical Tall Tale 2014

The fanciful musical based on Mark Twain's 1895 visit to Fairhaven will launch its third season at the Firehouse Performing Arts Center on July 31st and run Thursday through Sunday for three consecutive weekends. The play, written by former Bellingham resident Joseph Lenz, was first performed at the Bellingham Theatre Guild, and then in Lynden before reaching it's rightful home in Fairhaven in 2012.

Twain, while on a 12 month, worldwide, moneyraising lecture tour, made a stop in Fairhaven, staying at the Fairhaven Hotel and speaking at the Lighthouse Theatre in New Whatcom. He is also said to have played billiards at the Cascade Club in the Mason Block (now Sycamore Square) and ordered out for a couple of whiskeys, which he had heated to ease his sore throat.

Exercising artistic liberties, Lenz portrays locals, during an economic downturn, plotting to engage Twain in promoting their fair city. That's not much of a stretch since Fairhaven had fallen on hard times and The Blade, the city's most popular newspaper at the time, ran this before Twain's arrival: "as a man with so great a reputation, and one who has the power to easily benefit or injure a city like our, according to the impression he receives, Mark Twain should be treated as a distinguished guest." However, in the play, when Mr. Clemmons arrivessans white suit, the townsfolk fail to recognize him and hilarity ensues.