I have to promote the Holly (Michigan) Dickens Festival, of which I have been a part of since 1998. This is where about thirty of us don our Dickensian clothing (ca 1843) and brave the cold each weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas to put on an old English Christmas festival. It's there that you'll meet Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit & Tiny Tim, the ghost of Jacob Marley, the three spirits of Christmas (Past, Present, and Yet to Come), and many other assorted Londoners of the 19th century including Queen Victoria, chimney sweeps, carolers, put-pocketers, and street urchins from Fagin's gang, all in an actual Victorian setting. The streets of Holly are cut off from the cars so we can perform our skits and music. And it's all put on for free for the public (although tips are always welcome!).
As stated earlier, this is my tenth year doing the festival - I never thought I would be doing it this long, but it's a great and fun way to bring history to life (in a farby way, but that's OK) during the off season for Civil War reenacting.
Also, my two eldest sons perform at the festival and have themselves been doing it for a number of years as well.
For photos and more info, check out this site: http://thefestivalsingers.com/
Hope to see you (who ever you are) there!
Showing posts with label Dickens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dickens. Show all posts
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Passion for the Past Pt. 2
During the off season of reenacting (November through April) I go through "time travel withdrawals," so I have to come up with ideas to carry me through those rough, cold months of Michigan winters.
Actually, December isn't really too bad. I spend my weekends up in Holly dressed as a Dickensian character at the annual Holly Dickens Festival (it's nowhere near authentic as in CW, but we give a fun impression). This year one of my portrayals will be Mr. Charles Dickens himself!
Another way to keep me from pulling what's left of my hair out is to write. Last year I began to write a story for the first time since I was in high school (too many years ago!) - it's a time travel story and it involves my family and I. Without getting too deep into the story line, I will say that I am making the attempt to write it as if it actually happened. This forces me to research, very deeply, every little part of life as lived in the 1860's. By doing this, I have found that my social history knowledge has grown immensely! I have been having loads of fun writing this little tale, trying to show me and my family's reactions to this major change in our lives. No, I don't become a CW hero or anything like that - the story just shows how we attempt to adjust to a very antiquated lifestyle, with attempt being the key word. As much as I love history, you see, in my story I/we have a very rough time with day-to-day activities, especially my wife.
I have consulted many "schooled" historians to get their thoughts and opinions of accuracy in my story, lest one day I let it go beyond the extremely few eyes that had ever seen it.
Actually, December isn't really too bad. I spend my weekends up in Holly dressed as a Dickensian character at the annual Holly Dickens Festival (it's nowhere near authentic as in CW, but we give a fun impression). This year one of my portrayals will be Mr. Charles Dickens himself!
Another way to keep me from pulling what's left of my hair out is to write. Last year I began to write a story for the first time since I was in high school (too many years ago!) - it's a time travel story and it involves my family and I. Without getting too deep into the story line, I will say that I am making the attempt to write it as if it actually happened. This forces me to research, very deeply, every little part of life as lived in the 1860's. By doing this, I have found that my social history knowledge has grown immensely! I have been having loads of fun writing this little tale, trying to show me and my family's reactions to this major change in our lives. No, I don't become a CW hero or anything like that - the story just shows how we attempt to adjust to a very antiquated lifestyle, with attempt being the key word. As much as I love history, you see, in my story I/we have a very rough time with day-to-day activities, especially my wife.
I have consulted many "schooled" historians to get their thoughts and opinions of accuracy in my story, lest one day I let it go beyond the extremely few eyes that had ever seen it.
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