The voices of four familiar ghosts will soon be resounding at the Erin United Church on Dec. 17 to be exact.
Back by popular demand, Transition Erin invites young and old to An Evening with Dickens.
Get into the Christmas spirit with a two-hour dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ famous Christmas ghost story given by local actor Andrew Welch, augmented with seasonal music by Elswyth Fryer and Felicia Urbanski.
One teenager was surprised by how much they enjoyed last year’s experience.
“When my mom told me about this event around this time last year, I must admit I was pretty skeptical. But the performance Andrew delivered on that cold December night was truly unlike any dramatic display I’d ever seen.
“The passion, the emotion, the rhythm, the delivery, everything was flawless. He engaged me immediately, and didn’t lose my attention at any point throughout. The accents, the enunciation, every subtle vocal nuance, were executed to perfection.
“What started out as a dreaded event I was unwillingly dragged out to by my family turned into one of the most memorable experiences of my Christmas vacation. It’s hard to believe that one man can do so much with just a single Christmas story. It will captivate you, enthrall you, and – just like it does for Scrooge – get you into the holiday spirit.”
So what’s his secret? Welch says his approach to the piece is true to the roots of the original – in fact, Charles Dickens himself toured readings of his work for many years after it was first published.
“It is first and foremost a ghost story,” says the actor, “and the Victorians were masters at that genre. Remember, these were the times of Edgar Allen Poe and Bram Stoker. It is important to capture that edge to contrast it with the wonder that is the magic of Christmas itself.”
An Evening with Dickens is a pay-what-you-can event hosted by Transition Erin. Proceeds will support community initiatives. Come out on Dec. 17 at 6:30pm to enjoy good cheer and seasonal refreshments before the performance begins at 7pm.
Erin United Church is located at 115 Main St. Erin and is fully accessible.
For more information about the evening, contact: Val Steinmann at 519-833-0712
To find out more about Transition Erin initiatives go to www.transitionerin.ca.
