All of us at Vaillancourt Folk Art wish to thank all who attended the performances of A Christmas Carol performed by Gerald Charles Dickens, the Great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens. We had four fabulous performances to sold out crowds! All attendees were touched by Mr. Dickens’ performances of this one man show, as he took the stage in a modified version of Charles Dickens’ readings of the timeless story, A Christmas Carol.
Even more so, it was gratifying to see the generations of families come in to our Gallery and Museum see the performance and then meet Mr. Dickens!
Gerald Charles Dickens signing ornaments for an attendee after Saturday afternoon’s performance.
Vaillancourt is about traditions and we are happy to not only have families continue their traditions with us, but hundreds started new traditions with us this weekend!
We would like to thank the Byers family, from Byers Choice in PA, for all of their assistance in making this performance happen. Like us, Byers Choice is an American made treasure and Joyce, Bob Jr. and Jeff Byers have always been extremely helpful in making sure that “American Made Christmas” survives.
WTAG’s talk show host Jim Polito with Gerald Dickens.
We would also like to thank Paul Boutiette and Neil Crites of the Manchaug Mills for their assistance in creating Blaxton Hall. WSRS and WTAG for their media sponsorship and Millbury Federal Credit Union for their sponsorships. We also want to thank Mechanics Hall for sharing their Charles Dickens story, Professor Joel Brattin, Margaret F. Anderson, and Michael Dorsey of the WPI George C. Gordon Library, Fellman Dickens Collection—a premier source of Dickens materials— for sharing their knowledge, expertise, and producing the images used for the posters in Blaxton Hall. Most importantly, thank all of our attendees for making this performance of A Christmas Carol possible.
SUTTON, Mass. (AP) ― Fans of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale “A Christmas Carol” are getting a chance to hear the story straight from the mouth of a member of the author’s family.
Charles Dickens’ great-great-grandson, Gerald Charles Dickens, is performing his adaptation of the story four times this weekend at Vaillancourt Folk Art in Sutton.
Dickens tells The Telegram & Gazette that he first heard the tale when he was 5, and still loves the magical moment when Scrooge realizes he hasn’t missed Christmas Day.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute professor and Dickens scholar Joel Brattin says Dickens is following the footsteps of his famous ancestor, who twice visited central Massachusetts in the 19th century.
In preparation for Gerald Charles Dickens kicking off his American tour of his performance of A Christmas Carol with a stop at our studios, Dickens was interviewed on by Jim Polito for his radio program on WTAG. Have a listen!
Gerald Dickens Interviewed by Jim Polito courtesy of WTAG
Gerald Charles Dickens is making a special trip to Vaillancourt Folk Art from London to perform his great-great grandfather’s classic tale, ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Dickens adopts different voices, expressions and mannerisms to portray each of the story’s twenty-six characters in this acclaimed one-man show. Show time approx. one hour. Not recommended for children under the age of 8 years old. Tickets are $25 and are limited in quantity. The shows are general admission.
Dickens’ 2009 Performances have been sold out. Thank you for your interest, please contact us for information on next year’s performances.
Biograghy
Charles Dickens, world-famous English novelist, loved performing on the stage. On his American tours in 1842 and 1867-68 he traveled by stagecoach and railroad. He adored performing A Christmas Carol to standing-room only crowds.
Charles Dickens’ son Henry Fielding Dickens was the eighth of his 10 children. A well-respected lawyer who was Knighted in 1922, Henry Fielding fathered seven children, the third of whom was Gerald Dickens.
This Gerald Dickens joined the Royal Navy and rose to the rank of Admiral. Like his father before him, Gerald was Knighted in 1937. Admiral, Sir Gerald Dickens had three sons, the youngest being David Dickens.
David Dickens enjoyed a spell in the Royal Navy prior to a distinguished career in publishing. He and his wife Betty co-authored Christmas with Dickens, commemorating the 150th anniversary of A Christmas Carol in 1993. He has served several terms as president of the world-wide Dickens Fellowship. The youngest of David and Betty Dickens’ four children is the present-day actor Gerald Charles Dickens.
Gerald Charles Dickens’ first American Holiday Tour was in 1996. He commands the stage from the moment he proclaims the opening words of A Christmas Carol, “Marley is dead!” History, literature, biography leap to life as Gerald Charles Dickens delights American audiences with all 26 voices of A Christmas Carol. Just as his great-great-grandfather, he performs the Carol with gusto, emotion, and brilliance.
Grandparents and grandchildren alike will gather at historic hotels, libraries, theaters, and Dickens festivals to see “the man with a top hat and a legacy”!
Save Big With The Crowne Plaza
Coming from out of state? Call the Crown Plaza for a special Christmas Carol Weekend Package. Package includes, overnight room accommodations for 2, show tickets for 2, complimentary round-trip transportation to Vaillancourt Folk Art, breakfast buffet for 2 in Seven Hills Gourmet Bistro, and use of indoor pool. For reservations, please call 508-791-1600 and ask for the Christmas Carol Weekend Package (CODE: XMS).
Not near the Vaillancourt Studios?
Dickens’ American tour could be near you! Visit www.byerschoice.com for a complete listing of show locations.
Gerald Charles Dickens is making a special trip to Vaillancourt Folk Art from London to perform his great-great grandfather’s classic tale, ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Dickens adopts different voices, expressions and mannerisms to portray each of the story’s twenty-six characters in this acclaimed one-man show. Show time approx. one hour. Not recommended for children under the age of 8 years old. Tickets are $25 and are limited in quantity. The shows are general admission.
