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Dickens Christmas Fair 2008 November Missive #5
(sent November 13th, 2008)

We have a few changes to the workshop schedule for this weekend due to the cancellation of the special event in the library. Please download the new schedule from the missive site at http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html. If there are any further changes between now and the weekend I will send out an addendum tomorrow. The tentative schedule for dress rehearsal weekend will also hopefully be posted tomorrow.

I will be printing new schedules, but not as many as last weekend. Thanks to the folks who printed their own last weekend, I printed more than usual - 400 - and we still ran out! And if I haven't said it enough - thanks to Robert Young for putting the workshop weekend classes and schedules together!

The weather folks are predicting warm weather this weekend... so plan for anything, 'cause this is the bay area...

Cat


In This Missive:
Donor's Choose - Help Sunset Ridge Elementary
Please Don't Drop Cigarette Butts!
Costume Workshop Powerpoint Presentation
Period Appropriate Shoes Available Online
The Adventurers Club Needs Household Staff
"Sam Weller" Would Like to Borrow the Cliff Notes of  Pickwick Papers
The Great Train Robbery Free Online
Speaking of Which... An Excuse to Watch Movies!


Please remember to respond to the person that posted each item below, rather than hitting "reply".  Please also remember that past missives (including workshop info) can be found at http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html


Donor's Choose - Help Sunset Ridge Elementary
from Dave Batzloff (Mr. Fezziwig)
Sunset Ridge Elementary was kind enough to invite us back for a second year. We don't come with the best reputation and turning over a school to a bunch of itinerant actors is fraught with risks, but they've welcomed us. It's a lovely space and we do our very best not to break things, track mud onto their carpets, or rearrange where teachers have left things. But as lovely as it is, Sunset Ridge is not a wealthy school in a wealthy neighborhood. It's a Title 1 school, meaning that a high percentage of students come from low-income families.

Last year, Danielle Goudeau had the idea that we could give a little back to the school via Donor's Choose. Once again, Fezziwig's has risen to the challenge and has selected one of the projects to complete. We've funded a proposal for Mrs. Z's classroom, providing a recess pack including 2 soccer balls, 2 basketballs, 2 skip-its, 7 jump ropes, a foam disc, 3 recess balls, a football, and a bag to keep it all in. If there's one thing us Dickens folk understand, it's how important it is to play.

There are 6 other proposals seeking funding at Sunset Ridge. Perhaps
you'll join us in helping the school that helps us out.
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?zone=402&keywords=sunset+ridge&x=0&y=0


Please Don't Drop Cigarette Butts!
(from Seamus Seanachaoi)
As a smoker, I do not wish to lose my rights as a result of careless fellow smokers. As an actor, I do not wish to lose our place of workshops for the same reason. There are two butt buckets in front of the school where we can go out an sit on the bench and smoke and properly put out our butts. However, I spent as much time smoking as picking up butts that other smokers left out front on the ground. I even found a butt inside the gate. The school has a sign on the front building that declares it is a tobacco free school. I am sure that while they are accommodating to our needs, they would not appreciate the mixed message that our carelessness leaves.
Thank you.
Seamus


Costume Workshop Powerpoint Presentation
(from Liz Martin)
"If you would like a copy of the Costume Workshop Powerpoint presentation, please bring a blank CD with your name written on it, to Juliana Bradley. Find her at the Costume Workshop (10AM, Room G) or at the Adventurer's Club Site at the Cow Palace. Or you can drop it off to Liz as well. If you do not have PowerPoint on your computer, you can now download a free "view only" version, so don't let that stop you! Thank you!"


Period Appropriate Shoes Available Online
Gregory Seeley forwards these links for period looking shoes:
http://www.zappos.com/n/bs/p/102179.html [I don't see different models for men and women, so I assume they're unisex. I have worn a pair of these for 4 years running and they're great]

http://www.justinfootwear.com/order/justin/506.htm [men]
http://www.justinfootwear.com/order/justin/l0506.htm [ladies, note in both cases the little "kilt" at the base of the laces is removable]


The Adventurers Club Needs Household Staff
"If you have not yet found your niche, join us for the Christmas Season! 
We are looking for maids and footmen.
 
Simple duties!
Liberal free time to explore! 
Congenial surroundings! 
Vast appreciation for your sterling efforts!  
 
Please Contact us ASAP.
Sincerely,
Steve George <sgeorge1701@gmail.com>
Shelley Monson <smonson17@yahoo.com>


"Sam Weller" Would Like to Borrow the Cliff Notes of  Pickwick Papers
I am looking to borrow temporarily, a copy of Cliffs notes of  the Pickwick Papers. My local library does not have one. I have a copy of the book but it's rather on the thick side, and I am hoping to just dig up certain character points.
I'd only need it for a week or so. Any help would be appreciated
Thanks,
Colin "Sam Weller" Hammond
aka Jasper @Cent. London Tele.
<col3in@yahoo.com>


The Great Train Robbery Free Online
For anyone who has taken Peter Overstreet’s workshop, Cruel Britannia, you’ll note that he has cited Michael Crichton’s “The (First) Great Train Robbery”. Both the film AND the book are marvelous rich resources for anyone wanting a glimpse into all aspects of mid-19th Century life. As a special treat, the film (starring Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland) is now available FOR FREE at Hulu.com

http://www.hulu.com/watch/27655/the-great-train-robbery

The movie is an AMAZING source for costumes, props, sets, dialects, lingo, and the mood of the era we portray at Dickens Fair (the movie takes place in 1855…and is based on real events)!

The book is still available in paperback as well.

AND…Don’t miss the Cruel Britannia workshop, as this is its third and final year. At the end of 2008 workshops, Peter will be posting all of his lecture notes (including an extensive “Thieves’ Glossary”) on a website (yet to be determined), so you may print and peruse as you like.

(Seamus also posts that the entire movie can be downloaded for free on www.vuze.com. You will need to install the free software in order to find the movie on the site, and it takes a couple of days on DSL to download)


Speaking of Which... An Excuse to Watch Movies!
Sewing your fingers to the bone on your new costume? Time to watch Dickens movies! Check out the BBC boxed Dickens sets available through Amazon.com, the fabulous nine hour Nicholas Nickleby, (watch it in chapters in the evening) and enjoy these film version recommendations from your book directors:

A Christmas Carol
Films: There are so many film adaptations of this story, but Therese Porter's favorite (and this opinion seems to be widely shared) is the Alastair Sim version from 1951. Fun, poignant and great characterizations. Some folks adore "Scrooge" starring Albert Finney, watch them all!

CD: Hands down, check out the Patrick Stewart reading. It's truly wonderful. Put it in your car's CD player and enjoy over and over.

Oliver Twist
Again, there are so many film adaptations it's hard to chose. Everyone has an opinion. Most versions leave out big chucks of the story, including the musical version, although Gwen very much likes the character portrayals and the costumes are good.  Mike Bryant (our Monks - who takes great umbrage with huge liberties taken in the recent PBS version, although others liked the detail) says "I'd direct people toward the classic "Oliver Twist" starring Alec Guiness as Fagin. It has recently been re-released on DVD through the Critereon company,and besides having that British air that only British productions capture just so, it's probably the most faithful to the book rendition" The newish version from Roman Polanski is quite lovely, although it also leaves some large pieces of story out.

Robert Young mentions these other adaptations:
The 1982 version with George C Scott and Tim Curry has considerable merit.
The 1948 version with Alec Guinnes as Fagin and Anthony Newley as Doger.
Full length story: 1985 TV mini-series (6 Hrs - 12 epsds) with Eric Porter as Fagin, Michael Attwell as Sykes (and Miriam Margolys as Mrs. Corney!)
1922 version with Lon Chaney as Fagin and Jackie Coogan as Oliver is definitely worth a viewing.

Nicholas Nickleby
Again from Therese: The best for all round theatrical gold is the Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby done by the Royal Shakespeare Company (1982) A stunning adaptation with Roger Rees as Nicholas and the rest of the company stunningly double (and sometimes triple) cast - an award-winning stage production. (7 3/4 hrs. total on nine tapes or a bunch of dvd's - have a viewing party with friends!)
 
Nicholas Nickleby (2000) This version has the BBC touch and  James D'Arcy as the title character, Charles Dance, Sophia Myles and Diana Kent co-star. 200 min
 
Nicholas Nickleby (2002) a decent rendering of the story by Douglas McGrath ("Emma") tells of the adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Charles Hunnam). Christopher Plummer is Ralph Nickelby, Jamie Bell is a superb Smike, Nathan Lane and Barry (Dame Edna) Humphries play Mr. & Mrs. Crummles.  Also stars Edward Fox, Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson, Romola Garai. 132 min.

David Copperfield
(1970) This lavish British production of the Charles Dickens classic is told in flashback from the 28-year-old David Copperfield's point of view. Richard Attenborough, Robin Phillips, Laurence Olivier
 
Especially recommended - "Masterpiece Theatre" (1999) version with Bob Hoskins as Micawber, Maggie Smith as Aunt Betsey Trotwood, Ian McKellen as Mr. Creakle, and Daniel Radcliffe (the future Harry Potter) is David. 210 min. on two tapes.
 
The 1935 version with W.C. Field as Micawber also has some merits.

Great Expectations
There are numerous filmed versions including the recent one with Ioan Gruffudd, Justine Waddell and Charlotte Rampling and the 1999 version with Jean Simmons as Miss Havisham

Pickwick Papers
James Myers mentions the 1985 BBC television miniseries which has finally been released on DVD.  It's an excellent adaptation, extremely faithful to the book, telling the entire story of the Pickwick Papers in twelve 30-minute episodes. (Note from Cat, this is included in the BBC boxed set)







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