Official Dickens Fair Performer Page
Official Dickens Fair Missive Page
Back to Dickens Christmas Fair Backup Performer Missive Page


Dickens Christmas Fair 2007 November Missive #3
(sent November 15th, 2007)

Good afternoon and welcome to dress rehearsal weekend for the Great Dickens Christmas Fair!
Reminder: We are at the Cow Palace this Weekend!

In This Missive:
This Weekend's Schedule
Area 51 & Lost & Found at the Operations Trailer
Mandatory Morning Meeting Sunday Morning 10:00AM in Fezziwig's
All Character Round Robin
A Note From The Costume Department
Downloadable Men's Costuming Information
Fabulous Online VicSpeak Pronunciation Drill
Dickens Research
Annie's Hoops and Hair!
Scrooge Needs a Lift to Vacaville & Contacts
Make A Difference With Your Crafting!
Memorial for Mary Jo (Goss) O'Connor at Dickens Fair


This Weekend's Schedule
Please see the schedule for this weekend, which has been posted at http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html
(make sure to print in landscape orientation) Peter has also also created a map of the site (also available on the missive site), especially for the new folks, but also helpful to others as locations of workshops have probably changed from last year.

Saturday we will have limited workshops and lots of rehearsals.

On Sunday, Dress Rehearsal Day there is a mandatory morning meeting at 10:00AM, followed by the All Fair Character Round Robin. The stages will not be running a fair day schedule as it's the shows first time on their stages and they'll need the time to figure out the tech, etc. Some of the groups will be running a fair day schedule however, please check with your director for specifics.

Please Note:
If you cannot make the meeting and round robin, please talk to your director. If you are the director and can't make the meeting and round robin, please talk to me.


Area 51 & Lost & Found at the Operations Trailer
This weekend, Area 51 (the registration desk) and lost & found will be at the Operations Trailer in the breezeway. Remember the jelly beans for Tom!


Mandatory Morning Meeting Sunday Morning 10:00AM in Fezziwig's
It's very similar to the meeting we had the first morning of workshops, with introductions and lots of very useful information. Be there in costume if possible (If you're building something and absolutely can't be in costume, we understand) so we can all get used to interacting as our characters, which brings me to:


All Character Round Robin
(from Therese Porter)
Don't try and escape right after the mandatory general meeting Sunday morning at 10:00AM in Fezziwig's.  This year we are going to try to have ALL (and we do mean all) of the characters that make up our glorious London to recognize each other.  There's only one no-other-time-possible rehearsal scheduled immediately after the morning meeting, so unless you're in the Can-Can, please be at Fezziwig's!

We do something similar each year, and in the past it has involved the book characters, but this time we mean to get all you Dickens denizens to know who everyone else is.  After the general meeting on Sunday, all books and shows cluster up with your casts, in large clumps, in a big circle in Fezziwig's. We will go around the circle and each director will lead their cast into the center one at a time. The group will walk around the circle until they return to the place they started. We won't have time to introduce the individual characters, but each of you will get to show off who your character is, with only your costume and mannerisms, in a few short seconds as part of your group.  At the end of character introductions, the entire cast will be broken into small groups to do individual introductions, tea/cocktail party conversation, etc. for 5-10 minutes. On the cue from us, everyone scatters into another group and does it again. (lather, rinse, repeat).  This should be fun and informative, and help us enhance the immersion experience we are creating for our audience.


A Note From The Costume Department
First of all my apologies about the mix-up regarding the class time for costumes last weekend.
Thank you to all of you who did find us!

We will be holding both the costume class and the millinry  again this weekend - SAT ONLY - and will teach them near the costume department at the Cow Palace
The costume class will be at 10:00AM and the millinery class at 11:15.
Please feel free to bring hats that you want suggestions/help with trimming

Saturday Costume Check Official Times
Saturday 11:30 - 5pm for returning costumes
Note for new costumes: I need to approve your costumes personally, but will be away from the office between 12:30 and 1:30. Please see me during the hours of 11:30 - 12:30 OR 1:30 to 5 pm

Sunday Costume Check Official Times
Remember this is dress rehearsal
We will be available before the meeting and after - till 5 pm
Please check the sign outside the shop for hours
We will reopen on Fri morning at 9 am and will be doing costume checks till noon.

Thank you all for making this a great looking fair!
See you in London!

Liz
<costumes@redbarnproductions.org>


Downloadable Men's Costuming Information
Liz has also forwarded me some great men's costuming information, which I've posted on the missive site at http://www.cattaylor.com/missives.html

The files are:
Bow Ties
Coats & Suits
Collars and Cuffs
Frock Coats
Men's Shirts
Pants & Vests


Fabulous Online VicSpeak Pronunciation Drill
Hilary Ayer forwards this fabulous Victorian speech drill, created specifically for us Dickens Fair Folk
http://blazej-solutions.com/alexander/acting/victorian/speech_upper_class/index.html
Go forth and practice!


Dickens Research
Mark Shanks forwards the following:
A absolutely stunning source of e-books, pictures and maps for Dickens research can be found on the Tuft's University Library's website: The Bolles Collection on the History of London.

http://nils.lib.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/perscoll?collection=Perseus:collection:Bolles

Of particular note is the fact that they have a complete web searchable copy of investigative journalist Henry Mayhew's "London Labour and the London Poor" (1851), who's early newspaper serialization of this massive work was the basis for much of Dickens' observations on London poor and criminals. 

As well, they have availible e-text editions of:
Thomas Allen. "The City and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark and Parts Adjacent" (Vol 1-4)
An American. "London in 1838"
Edmondo De Amicis. "Jottings about London."
Thomas Archer. "The Pauper, The Thief and The Convict." (1865)
James Greenwood, "Unsentimental Journey; or Byways of the Modern Babylon" (1867)
Miss Octavia Hill, "Homes of the London Poor" (1875)
John Hollingshead. "Ragged London in 1861."
Thomas Hughes. Tom Brown's School Days. (1869)
Charles Knight, "London" (Vol 1-6)
John Tallis, "Tallis's London Street Views" (1838-39)



Annie's Hoops and Hair!
    If you ordered hair, Annie's got it! You can pick it up this Saturday --Saturday only, not Sunday-- and if you still need to order it's probably not too late to get it before Opening, though the holiday week can be unpredictable as to getting the shipment in from the wig company. Annie still has quite a few wigs and hairpieces on hand, too. Hoops may very well be ready, but it's not definite; hoop customers will be contacted individually with a progress report. Look for hair and (we hope) hoop pickup near Costumes on Saturday. You can contact Annie at ImminentIdea@aol.com.


Scrooge Needs a Lift to Vacaville & Contacts
Martin Harris, aka Scrooge.
I'm urgently looking for a lift to Vacaville on Sunday after rehearsal to be able to pick up a car. 

I'll be flying from the Heart of Dickens Country into dress rehearsal, and for next weekend only, my CD of A Christmas Carol, (which makes a wonderful present or an English-accent-aid,) will be reduced to $15 for participants.

I would appreciate any last minute contacts with schools, libraries and Homes who would be interested in having me come and read Dickens shortened version of A Christmas Carol. So far I'm already booked at libraries in San Mateo, San Bruno, Novato and as a special Christmas treat at The Freight and Salvage on Wednesday Dec 19th and at the Berkeley City Club on Friday Dec 21st.  It would make it very special if participants could come in costume.

I look forward to coming home to be with my Dickens Family this Saturday, thank you!

Thanks,

Martin
<martinharrisusuk@hotmail.com>


Make A Difference With Your Crafting!
(from Therese Porter)
This year make a difference with your crafting!
 
You will notice ladies in parlours throughout the Fair doing all sorts of improving domestic arts, including needlework.  When the Christmas Keepers are on the Other Books stage many of them will be working on something special, and you can do the same!
 
Quilting Bees
Sharon Collier has suggested that the Christmas Keepers make lap quilts for David Springhorn and his family, and they will be stitching away on them during the Fair as a period pastime.  However, she suggests that any Fair participant can get involved too!  If you've got washable fabric (perhaps leftover from a Dickens costume?) this is your opportunity to turn a piece of it into something warm and homey for the Springhorn family.  Quilting squares should be 9" on all sides - this makes an 8" square with a half inch extra all round for stitching.  You can give your prepared squares to either Therese Porter or Sharon Collier, who will then unleash the Christmas Keepers on them.  If you have questions on the preparation of your square, see Sharon Collier for more specifics.
 
Wooly Goodies
If you are interested in knitting or crocheting for a good cause, "Operation Helmetliner"
(website http://www.geocities.com/helmetliner/) offers patterns and information on this unique way to help our troops.  Due to the often sub-zero wind chill in the desert during winter, a garment called a helmetliner, (known as a "wooly pulley" by our Armed Forces) is worn - it covers most of the head without restricting vision.  These wool caps are worn under the helmet and help to trap the body heat lost through the head -- a serious winter problem for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and South Korea, as well as many parts of the United States.  Scarves are also much appreciated.  The scarves should be approximately 12" by 42" when completed.
  
The Armed Services require that only wool yarn be used.  Wool is the best fiber for protecting the troops because it is (1) warmer than synthetic fibers, (2) it wicks away moisture when wet, and (3) wool is non-flammable -- all characteristics important to protecting the troops.  The only acceptable colours (which also happen to be perfectly period) are black, charcoal, brown, tan and olive drab.  

If you work on these items during Fair hours you can tell our visitors that they are for our gallant soldiers in the Crimea or in various outposts of Empire, and - yes - even Afghanistan.
 
When completed, ship completed helmetliners and scarves to Operation Helmetliner, P.O. Box 236, Auburn, IL 62615. It might be nice to send a little note explaining that A member of the Great Dickens Christmas Fair sends this needful item.


Memorial for Mary Jo (Goss) O'Connor at Dickens Fair
(Betty Simmons forwards this sad news)
Mary Jo (Goss) O'Connor left us on September 15 after a heroic struggle with cancer. Her bright spirit and upbeat attitude brought us all through days of hard work and good times. She always focused on the positive and the possibilities. She lived her life in theater until the end, never letting her illness dictate her life.

In addition to the fairs, she did many wonderful theatrical productions, all the way from running a gold mining camp with Michael O'Connor, to running costumes and props and taking on other responsibilities with Sonoma County theater groups, receiving accolades for her work.

She and Michael ran a successful cactus and succulent business and won awards for their creative displays at the Sonoma County Fair.

We will hold a friendship gathering after closing at the Dickens Fair Saturday, December 1.

Saturday, December 1, about 30 to 45 minutes after closing.
Location: Golden Square in front of Mr. Brown's Coffee House.
If you wish, bring your stories, pictures, music or special objects.
Robert Young will direct and bless the gathering.

Michael will stay at my house in Vallejo after the memorial rather than driving home to Santa Rosa. People are welcome to come to my home in Vallejo to relax, play music, and just hang out. Crash space available. Please contact me for details.

You may contact me, offlist, if you have questions.

Betty "Stiltz" Simmons
<simmons@simmonsgraphics.com>



To sign up for the missives, please email missives@redbarnproductions.org, and request to be added to the missive list.


Link to Cat Taylor's Homepage