Independent Shakespeare Co Opens A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS Tonight
ISC's holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol With Charles Dickens, opens tonight, December 7.
In his lifetime, Charles Dickens was recognized not only as a great writer, but as a tremendous actor, famous for performing solo renditions of his novels. (Women were known to faint in excitement at his performances!)
One of the first pieces he presented to great acclaim was A Christmas Carol.
In our play, A Christmas Carol With Charles Dickens, we re-create (with a little artistic license) the experience of a public performance given by Mr. Dickens himself. Based on the novelist’s own adaptation, A Christmas Carol With Charles Dickens is performed by ISC co-founder David Melville as Charles Dickens, playing nearly every character in the story.*
David says, “in most productions of A Christmas Carol, the narrative voice of Dickens is lost. He was a remarkably complex author, and was quite critical of contemporary Victorian culture. Our version retains both the dry and satirical humor as well as the remarkable humanism Dickens was able to interweave throughout the story.”
David is joined by Julia Aks, who takes on some of the characters as well as providing musical accompaniment.
The performance is full of the acting pyrotechnics Dickens was famous for, and the two actors conjure a magical evening full of wry humor, ghosts, romance, and redemption.
You may not faint, but we guarantee it's a wonderful way to start your holiday season.
A Christmas Carol With Charles Dickens, based on the acting text of Charles Dickens and adapted by David Melville and Melissa Chalsma, runs December 7-23, Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 5:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm at the Independent Studio, 3191 Casitas Avenue, #168, Los Angeles, Calif.
Tickets are $20 (children and students $15). Recommended for children 8 years old and up. For tickets, contact www.iscla.org or call (818) 710-6306.
With David Melville & Julia Aks.
Stage Management: Jen Potell.
Direction: Melissa Chalsma
*David also does a solo Nicholas Nickleby. Quite a feat!
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