Dickensblog

'A Broadway Christmas Carol' in Alexandria, Va.

This fun musical spoof of Dickens is playing again this season here in the Washington, D.C., area. I reviewed it here!

Malton prepares for its first Dickensian Festival

The town of Malton is honoring its connections with Dickens by holding its inaugural Dickensian Festival this winter! Go here and here for more information about the festival, which will include appearances by Lucinda Dickens Hawksley and Miriam Margolyes. And go here to read about the special song composed just for the occasion!

New play shines spotlight on Angela Burdett-Coutts

I was intrigued to learn that British writer and historian Lauren Johnson has written a play about Dickens's friend Angela Burdett-Coutts, titled Lady Unknown. (That was also the title of a biography of Burdett-Coutts.) The play has been performed at the Charles Dickens Museum. 

"She deserve to be remembered and celebrated," says Johnson of the Victorian heiress and philanthropist who worked closely with Dickens on several charitable efforts. I couldn't agree more. 

'Dickensian' update

"Think Dickens does The Avengers," says the Evening Standard of Dickensian in this article. It features a nice big picture of many of the cast members with their characters' names (so I was able to update our cast list!). I note that Compeyson has been given the first name "Meriweather," which seems a just punishment for his sins.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is underway

San Francisco's annual festival began this weekend and will continue (on weekends) through December 20. Articles about the fair are here, here, and here. That last article is especially fun, as it features several interviews with people who've participated in the Fair over the years, whether playing characters, selling wreaths, or even stalking Bill Sikes!

Useless things

Mitchell Kalpakgian has an excellent piece about Hard Times in Crisis magazine. Here's a short excerpt: "Dickens illustrates that the so-called 'useful' things of the world—facts, work, and money—ultimately prove to be useless in life’s major crises, while the 'useless' activities scorned by the utilitarians—play, friendship, charity, hope, and beauty—prove to be infinitely valuable and, ultimately, more beneficial than facts." 

Austen vs. Dickens, the Musical

Or rather, the pantomime. This amusing scenario will come to life in Pride and Prejudice: The Panto next month in London. Click here for details!

'Dickensian' update

The Daily Mail has an article about the show with a few photos. And Inside Media Track has a photo plus a trailer that shows a few shots from the series, along with other upcoming BBC dramas. 

Call for reviewers

We're in need of a guest reviewer who can read and review Thom Thomas's two Christmas Carol sequels, ...give or take a pebble and ...give or take a shilling. If you're interested, please comment on this post and we'll make arrangements to have review copies sent to you!

'Oliver!' in Washington, D.C.

An exciting new production of Oliver! is playing at Washington's Arena Stage. I reviewed it for DC Metro Theatre Arts. Here's a sample: "From its opening number, Arena Stage’s innovative new production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! is bursting with excitement and emotion. Director Molly Smith has stripped the classic musical based on Charles Dickens’s novel to its essence, bringing out its inherent rawness and power."