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Dickens Christmas Fair 2008 Post December Missive #7 - Thank You!
(sent January 7th, 2009)

Mr. Dickens and I, and all the folks at Red Barn Productions want to extend a great thank you for a really excellent Fair! Although I don't have exact numbers, I know the last two days were two of our biggest ever, and it seemed everyone was having a wonderful time. The buzz is fabulous.

For those of you involved in the video shoot, the very pretty result is up on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6pvw2m3ZvQ
The song is  Rodgers and Hammerstein's "What's the Use of Won'drin'?" from "Carousel"

There are lots of Dickens Fair videos posted, some by participants and some by the public, it's always fascinating to see how we look from others' eyes. I think we look pretty darn good!

Have a wonderful 2009!

Cat

In This Missive:
Costumes Says Thank You!
Thanks From the Beverage Department
Greetings From Across The Pond in the Heart of Dickens Country
Missing Tools
Missing Coat


Costumes Says Thank You!
Looking Ahead to Next Year

I know I have said it in previous missives but it needs to be said again - A Huge Thank  you to all of the participants and vendors who, in a combined effort, made the moving part of our scenery look so fabulous. I also want to thank all of those who donated costumes and other necessities to the costume shop this year. Your donations were much appreciated. Especially the heater and the hangers!

I would like to take a moment publicly to thank the people who worked in the shop: Alexandria -  for creating some of the most adorable hats for the lower side of London, taking on Pirates and for being such a great second,  Mae - for the new aprons and for pitching in wherever it was needed, Marion - for being such a positive part of the team, Anya - for your enthusiasm and energy, Kitty - for giving us time when you could (we want you back next year!), Terry - for keeping us fed with the essentials of the costumers food pyramid: Chocolate and sugar, and finally to Vicky - for keeping me sane on the cold Fridays and making me laugh. To all of you my unbounded appreciation at your support and caring of our mission here at Dickens: to create magic - anyway we can.

For those of you who are already planning what you want to wear next year and for those of you who haven't thought that far as of yet - I will be offering classes through out the year on various aspects of creating your Dickens outfit. There will be classes on sewing particular pieces of clothing and also on converting thrift store finds into approvable Dickens items. Please drop me a note at costumes@redbarnproductions.org with "Add me to the class mailing list" in the subject line.

Feel free to let me know what you would like to learn and I will do my best to create that for you.
Please remember that I am available during the year for questions and suggestions with regards to your Dickens costume. Check the website in the coming months for updates and links to costumers, suppliers, and ready made wear that are approvable for our fair. Drop me an email - and if you don't hear back from me in a reasonable amount of time - email me again. : )   Messages do get lost occasionally.

In closing, thank you again  - it is an honor and a pleasure to work with you.
I look forward to seeing each and everyone of you in London this next Christmas -  looking absolutely fabulous!


Thanks From the Beverage Department:
Thank you to those of you who made the new Absinthe Bar a smashing hit. 
We had almost as much patronage from the participants as from the customers.
It was a pleasure being able to educate and serve the all ready educated palates of 'our' folk.
Thank you to those of you who pitched in on Saturday mornings to help with 'put out'.
We had several folks help direct keg laden fork lift traffic - move bags of ice - and pass messages to the ale stands when the radios failed.
Thank you to those of you who kept the 'outside alcohol' and it's effects from being visible.
With the exception of a problem after the last night blow out at Sal's, you kept the party (mostly) at the level where it belongs.
And last, but not least... thank you to our EMT Webb for keeping all our pieces together.
May your new year be a prosperous one!
 
Carol Goodman
Beverage & Catering Coordinator


Greetings From Across The Pond in the Heart of Dickens Country
(From Our Mr. Scrooge)

I'd just like to thank all my fellow performers who helped A Christmas Carol go so well this year especially those who stepped in at the last minute, every person however small their part, helped towards the overall success.  Thank you, job well done! 

Also congratulations to all The Other Book characters, along with the several hundred enthusiastic performers, dancers, vendors and crew for all their hard work that unavoidably was noticed in making this Dickens Fair 30th anniversary really shine and leave patrons hungry for next year....Wow what a show you all put on!
 
The sweet scent of success you created, helped me with my three last readings after the final curtain at Fair.
A wonderful evening at The Freight and Salvage on the Monday put a smile on my return flight, as did my annual reading of the last scene of The Carol to the entire plane as we land in London on Christmas Eve.  This year was fun with many crew members and passengers excited to help and even the Captain came out to join in the festivities with his huge Santa tie and deep stentorian voice as he recited It was the night before Christmas, while giving me a bottle of champers as a Thankyou.  Then finally, my traditional candlelit reading at 8pm Christmas Eve of The Carol in Dickens favourite Pickwick-pub Ye Olde Leather Bottle just minutes from home.   It was packed and a wonderful way to finish my Dickensian extravaganza in a real quintessential English country village pub sitting on Dickens favourite chair by the crackling fire.   Aaaaarrrrhhhhh.
 
It snowed yesterday as we enter an extremely cold period of sub zero temperatures.  But then cold is cheap and Scrooge likes that!   However my wife and I am off for a week of sun, sand and snorkeling in the Canary Isles, luckily the redeemed Scrooge likes heat too....lots of it!
 
If anyone finds they have any unusual photos of Scrooge, please forward as I only got a couple this year, thanks.
 
Again congratulations.
 
"God Bless Us, Everyone!"

Martin


Note from Cat - I can't put all the lost items in this missive (I lost some too) but these are a couple larger items that someone might be able to help with.


Missing Tools
Missing:
2 Ryobi impact drivers (18volt) with gray lithium ion batteries, all marked with initials CB
1 Vaugh 23 oz framing hammer, with pink paint on it
All "borrowed" from the beverage compound 3 and 4th weekend
If you have any of these items, please email beverage@redbarnproductions.org
Thank you.


Missing Coat
On last Sunday night after close my morning coat was lifted from the counter of the absinthe bar probably about 9 o'clock. It is gray with dark gray piping on the lapels, a dark gray velvet collar and gray buttons on the sleeves and back at the waist. My name and phone number are written in the lining up by the collar in permanent marker. It's my first Dickens coat and I'm bummed. Hopefully someone honest knows about it...

Thanks a lot, and have a great new year.

Craig Alden
cralden54@yahoo.com





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