PREECEVILLE - Preeceville and District residents were invited to celebrate this festive season with the Dickens’ Night dramatic reading Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol hosted at Trinity United Church in Preeceville on Nov. 26.
Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, in response to the notorious poverty in Manchester, England in the 1840s. He personally offered public readings to audiences upwards of 3,000 people, directing proceeds from his readings toward charities. In true Dickens fashion, all proceeds from this event (free will offering at the door) will benefit Filling the Gap Christmas Hamper Program.
“We first presented the CBC endorsed dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ classic in our community in 2016 then in 2021,” said organizer Sheila Ivanochko. “Since then, Reading Night has become an annual event, offering audiences a relaxing evening of stories and music. In subsequent years we have presented The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Christmas stories from around the world, and in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions, a live-streamed presentation of Vinyl Café Christmas favourites.
“Dickens’ classic Christmas tale really gets everyone into the Christmas spirit and makes a significant difference for a local charity during this special time of the year.”
The 2023 production of A Christmas Carol featured local readers (in period costume) and musical interludes, followed by lunch and refreshments.
The evening kicked off with Bonnie Lisitza providing music that set the mood for the evening. Karolyn Kosheluk was gave the welcome and short introduction.
Participants in the reading were, Miles Russell, Kelly Ivanochko, Sheila Ivanochko and Jeff Davis.
Musical interludes were provided by: Therese Sandager, Bonnie Lisitza and Jerry Lisitza,who performed a vocal to In the Bleak Midwinter. Karolyn Kosheluk performed a piano interlude to Christmas in Killarney and Carol of Bells. Laura Davis, Jerry Lisitza and Bob Drayer shared their talents in a recorder quartet to Coventry Carol and the quartet was joined by Carla Olson for a performance to Ding Dong, Merrily on High. All the performers joined in for one finale performance to Gloucestershire Wassail.
Refreshments and background settings all were geared towards the time period featured in A Christmas Carol.
