聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was brought to life when readers took on the challenge at a program called The Dickens鈥� Night at the Preeceville Trinity United Churchon November 27.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽Preeceville and district residents were invited to celebrate this festive season with The Dickens鈥� Night, said Sheila Ivanochko, director. 鈥淚n true Dickens鈥� fashion, all proceeds from the free-will offering will benefit the Filling the Gap Christmas hamper program and the Family Resource Centre.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥淟ast year was the first time we presented the CBC-endorsed dramatic readings in our community,鈥� said Ivanochko. 鈥淎nd it was such a success that Trinity United Church board felt it was worth producing again.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥淭he 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,鈥� she said. The second annual production of A Christmas Carol featured local readers (in period costume) and musical interludes, followed by socializing and refreshments.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The project was organized and co-ordinated by Sheila Ivanochko and the Trinity United Church. All proceeds went towards Filling the Gap, Christmas hampers and the Family Resource Centre.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Through this program the whole community comes together through churches, schools, individuals and service groups to provide help to make Christmas a time of blessings, said Miles Russell, master of ceremonies.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Charles Dickens, who wrote A Christmas Carol 聽in 1843, used his written works to raise funds for those聽 in need during the Christmas season, Russell said. "His first public readings were inspired by the northern industrial town of Manchester. He wrote the book because he needed money but he chose the theme as a response to the notorious poverty of the 鈥榟ungry forties.鈥� His first public reading took three hours and then over time, Dickens reduced it to an 80-minute reading.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Performers who enacted the reading included Karolyn Kosheluk, Sheila Ivanochko, Lil Masley, Les DeRuiter and Lynnel Person.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Kennedy Kosheluk provided the mood music on the piano at the beginning of the evening.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Karolyn Kosheluk recited the first portion, saying: "On a frigid, foggy Christmas Eve, we meet Ebenezer Scrooge in his counting-house, all-consumed by frugality and a love of money.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sheila Ivanochko provided the second portion of the reading: "Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him of the impending visits of three spirits.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Les DeRuiter recited the third section: 鈥淭he Ghost of Christmas past takes Scrooge back to happier times, to the Fezziwig party and other long-ago events.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lil Masley read the portion that introduced the Ghost of Christmas present: 鈥淭he Ghost of Christmas present escorts Scrooge to Christmas dinner at the meagre abode of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Scrooge becomes aware of the grim plight of Tiny Tim.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Miles Russell continued reading the portion of the Ghost of Christmas present: 鈥淭he ghost continues on to a Christmas party at the home of Scrooge鈥檚 nephew. Slowly Scrooge becomes aware of his own potential to spread cheer.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In the final portion of the reading, Lynnel Person recited: 鈥淎s a result of the visit of the third spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, Scrooge sees the folly of his ways, and repents, promising to honour Christmas always in his heart.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Musical performances were offered by Laura Chartrand, Nathan Seghers, Jerry Lisitza and Les DeRuiter who performed a musical interlude, accompanied by a recorder, to Zion鈥檚 Daughter, O Rejoice.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Terese and Robert Sandager, accompanied by Barb Melsness, performed In the Bleak Midwinter. Megan Maierperformed amusical interlude on a flute.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Kennedy Kosheluk performed Jesu, Joy of Man鈥檚 Desiring on the mandolin.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 After the closing remarks, avocal a capella was offered by聽 Laura Chartrand, Jeff Davis and Jerry Lisitza.
