June 4, 2013
Victorian Afternoon Tea
Time:
Place:
Place:
2:30-4:30 P.M.
Westmount Public Library ->
Westmount Public Library ->
Story-telling Garden (weather permitting)
Westmount Room (in case of rain)
Westmount Room (in case of rain)
Cost:
A $10 donation is suggested.
Profits benefit the Tiny Tim Fund of the Montreal Children’s Hospital
Victorian apparel, hats, gloves, etc. are welcome!
The “Golden Stagers” will be performing a selection of Dickens’ works.
We will be sharing our final thoughts on “Pickwick” and briefly previewing our book for next year: “Oliver Twist”
Tea, sandwiches, scones, cookies and cakes will be served. Guests are encouraged to bring their own china teacups, saucers and cake plates. Prizes will be raffled off.
Please reserve a ticket by:
e-mailing - (clavroth@sympatico.ca) or
calling me - ( 514-487-9975) (514-592-2166) or
pick one up in person from me at M.C.L.L.
Your donations may be made to me in person or given when you pick up your ticket at the event.
Please let me know As Soon as Possible! if you plan to attend.
If you can help with baking, setting up, tickets, possible costume rentals, etc., please let me know as soon as possible.
I am really excited about this event! I hope to see you there!
Yours in Fellowship,
Ellie
The “Golden Stagers” will be performing a selection of Dickens’ works.
We will be sharing our final thoughts on “Pickwick” and briefly previewing our book for next year: “Oliver Twist”
Tea, sandwiches, scones, cookies and cakes will be served. Guests are encouraged to bring their own china teacups, saucers and cake plates. Prizes will be raffled off.
Please reserve a ticket by:
e-mailing - (clavroth@sympatico.ca) or
calling me - ( 514-487-9975) (514-592-2166) or
pick one up in person from me at M.C.L.L.
Your donations may be made to me in person or given when you pick up your ticket at the event.
Please let me know As Soon as Possible! if you plan to attend.
If you can help with baking, setting up, tickets, possible costume rentals, etc., please let me know as soon as possible.
I am really excited about this event! I hope to see you there!
Yours in Fellowship,
Ellie
February 5, 2013
DICKENS BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. at L'Usine de Spaghetti Restaurant, 273 rue Saint Paul Est.
Please join us as we celebrate the 201st anniversary of Dickens' birth (Feb.7th) at the l'Usine de Spaghetti Restaurant, in Old Montreal (514-866-0963). We have reserved their lovely back room complete with antique bookshelves and old stone walls and decorated with scenes of Montreal in days gone by. They even have a picture of Dickens and mention him on every menu! We will order our meals separately but we will provide birthday cake and have a toast to the "Immortal Memory".
Jean Carrière, one of our Montreal Fellowship members and a Golden Stager, has adapted Chapter 33 (modern chapter 34) of Dickens' "The Pickwick Papers" into a three-act play. For our entertainment, the Golden Stagers will premiere their adaptation of the great Bardell vs Pickwick trial scene. Follow link to view script: MEMORABLE TRIAL OF BARDELL AGAINST PICKWICK.
Jean Carrière, one of our Montreal Fellowship members and a Golden Stager, has adapted Chapter 33 (modern chapter 34) of Dickens' "The Pickwick Papers" into a three-act play. For our entertainment, the Golden Stagers will premiere their adaptation of the great Bardell vs Pickwick trial scene. Follow link to view script: MEMORABLE TRIAL OF BARDELL AGAINST PICKWICK.
December 12, 2012
A review of "Dickens' Women"
A One Woman Show Performed by Miriam Margolyes
Toronto, Ontario
On Wednesday, December 12, 2012, Sylvia and I travelled to Toronto to see popular British theatre, television and film actress Miriam Margolyes (best known for her appearance as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films but also a life-long Dickens enthusiast and narrator of the excellent B.B.C. documentary "Dickens in America") perform her Olivier-nominated one-woman show, "Dickens' Women". Ms. Margolyes took on the personae of a large number of female characters from many of Dickens works, using her amazing dramatic gifts to truly bring them to life. Fascinating to all and particularly to any Dickens lover, she interwove Dickens' own relationships with women throughout his life into the performance, thus giving us a glimpse of his complex and often controversial personal history.
We were both completely blown away by her talent! Adding to the magic of the evening, I had been corresponding with M.M.( as she calls herself) just before our trip and had arranged to meet her personally after the show to talk to her about our endeavors to reinstitute our Montreal branch. She was extremely gracious and interested in hearing about us. I thanked her for her wonderful work in bringing Dickens to everyone! She expressed regret at not coming to Montreal as part of this North American tour, but suggested that she would LOVE to visit us sometime in the future. She was very positive when I asked if we could keep up our correspondence and said she would be pleased to hear continuing news of our efforts! She signed a copy of her book "Dickens' Women" for me which I will be glad to share with our members.
We were both completely blown away by her talent! Adding to the magic of the evening, I had been corresponding with M.M.( as she calls herself) just before our trip and had arranged to meet her personally after the show to talk to her about our endeavors to reinstitute our Montreal branch. She was extremely gracious and interested in hearing about us. I thanked her for her wonderful work in bringing Dickens to everyone! She expressed regret at not coming to Montreal as part of this North American tour, but suggested that she would LOVE to visit us sometime in the future. She was very positive when I asked if we could keep up our correspondence and said she would be pleased to hear continuing news of our efforts! She signed a copy of her book "Dickens' Women" for me which I will be glad to share with our members.
Jian Ghomeshi of CBC radio interviewed Miriam Margolyes on December 12, 2012. Miriam tells Jian about her enduring love of the works of Charles Dickens. Link to CBC interview
Note: Today, Dec.16, I received an e-copy of "The BuzFuz", the excellent newsletter of the Philadelphia Fellowship branch. There is a bold headline within (that was suggested to them by Miriam Margolyes!!!) announcing our COMEBACK!!! Thank-you Miriam for your support and encouragement!!
December 7, 2012
"Huston's Christmas Carol a Hit for the Holidays!"
Our John Huston event was a great success! The 48 membered audience were mesmerized and thoroughly entertained by his spell-binding performance. He really looked the part! It was as if the great author himself was on the stage. It was amazing how, without a single note or script, he "became" Charles Dickens himself as well as all the characters from Scrooge to Tiny Tim. Ellie's introduction and reading of "Figgy Pudding", describing her experience of the holidays as a Jewish child in Montreal was very well received.
Our bakers outdid themselves, selling their beautifully presented wares along with a hot (alcohol-free) Christmas cider and other beverages, earning a wonderful $150.00 for the Tiny Tim fund of the Children's Hospital, just from their sales alone! All profits after our operating expenses will also be donated to this fund. Five door prizes, including deluxe copies of "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations" were awarded.
Many thanks to Harriet, Margaret, Judith, Maura, ZsuZsi, Louise(photography) and Sylvia for all your help! We have already booked Mr. Huston for December 8th and 9th next year!
Follow links: to see photos taken at John Huston Event, read Ellie's Figgy Pudding, find Ellie's cider recipe, and visit the Tiny Tim Fund site.
If you wish to have a recipe for an alcoholic punch, check out this website: How to Make Charles Dickens' Holiday Punch
THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS PAST
JOHN D. HUSTON PRESENTS
CHARLES DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL
with an introduction by Ellie Clavier-Rothstein reading "Figgy Pudding"
Dec. 7, 2012 - Montreal, P.Q. - 7:30-9:30 pm
(Doors open at 7:00 pm)
The upstairs hall of Atwater Public Library, 1200 Atwater directly across the street from the Atwater Metro Station. Use the side entrance (a prominent poster will direct you there).
Tickets: $25 General. $20 for seniors, students and members of Literary societies. $15 for Dickens Fellowship members.
Tickets available at the door. CASH ONLY
It's my great pleasure to return to Montreal after an absence of 6 years; or in Mr. Dickens' case, 170 years. It is an especial pleasure to perform at the invitation of the newly resurrected Montreal Dickens Fellowship. The upstairs Hall at the Atwater Library is a cozy atmospheric space and the Fellowship, in Dickensian style, is donating the profits to benefit the Tiny Tim Fund of the Montreal Children's Hospital.
Refreshments will be available. Door prizes will be offered.
Any questions may be directed to Dr. Ellie Clavier-Rothstein at clavroth@sympatico.ca
Refreshments will be available. Door prizes will be offered.
Any questions may be directed to Dr. Ellie Clavier-Rothstein at clavroth@sympatico.ca
"powerful one-man theatre…in the hands of a master storyteller.”
The National Post
For the past twenty Decembers, veteran solo performer, John D. Huston has packed his trunk, grown his beard and trundled off to towns and cities re-enacting the tours and performances of Victorian author, Charles Dickens to full houses and standing ovations. Like his 19th century counterpart, Huston performs A Christmas Carol telling the story and playing all the characters from Scrooge to Tiny Tim performing in theatres, Toronto's Theatre Passe Muraille, Saskatoon's The Refinery, and the 4th Stage of Ottawa's National Arts Centre among others, to historic buildings and private homes. His astonishing tour de force presentation has been described as “mesmerizing,” “powerful” and “Christmas magic” by reviewers across the country.
The National Post
For the past twenty Decembers, veteran solo performer, John D. Huston has packed his trunk, grown his beard and trundled off to towns and cities re-enacting the tours and performances of Victorian author, Charles Dickens to full houses and standing ovations. Like his 19th century counterpart, Huston performs A Christmas Carol telling the story and playing all the characters from Scrooge to Tiny Tim performing in theatres, Toronto's Theatre Passe Muraille, Saskatoon's The Refinery, and the 4th Stage of Ottawa's National Arts Centre among others, to historic buildings and private homes. His astonishing tour de force presentation has been described as “mesmerizing,” “powerful” and “Christmas magic” by reviewers across the country.
“Vivid and lively...a consummate storyteller…mesmerising.”
Winnipeg Free Press
This year, Huston will play his 500th performance, in addition to the 20th anniversary of his first performance. "I've been very fortunate, after 20 years of touring I'm still in love with this wonderful story and these magnificent characters."
“Captivating…from start to finish.”
The Ottawa Citizen
"I loved this production and urge all to see it."
Ottawa Sun
“remarkable... Huston easily becomes the range of Dickens’ incredible characters.”
The Hamilton Spectator
Winnipeg Free Press
This year, Huston will play his 500th performance, in addition to the 20th anniversary of his first performance. "I've been very fortunate, after 20 years of touring I'm still in love with this wonderful story and these magnificent characters."
“Captivating…from start to finish.”
The Ottawa Citizen
"I loved this production and urge all to see it."
Ottawa Sun
“remarkable... Huston easily becomes the range of Dickens’ incredible characters.”
The Hamilton Spectator
“A Christmas Carol à la Dickens”
The Globe and Mail
"The audience and I share the story," Huston says, "they bring their memories of it, from movies, from theatre, from reading the book, even from seeing me in previous years. Together we create a memory, a new layer of the story as we revisit it together. This can only work, at least for me, in a cozy venue. Dickens liked his audiences to imagine they were assembled in a friend's house hearing the story told and I ask my listeners to do the same." Huston bears a striking resemblance to the author; upon meeting one of Dickens' great great grandchildren he was asked, "are you a relative of mine?"
The Globe and Mail
"The audience and I share the story," Huston says, "they bring their memories of it, from movies, from theatre, from reading the book, even from seeing me in previous years. Together we create a memory, a new layer of the story as we revisit it together. This can only work, at least for me, in a cozy venue. Dickens liked his audiences to imagine they were assembled in a friend's house hearing the story told and I ask my listeners to do the same." Huston bears a striking resemblance to the author; upon meeting one of Dickens' great great grandchildren he was asked, "are you a relative of mine?"
For more information contact John D. Huston at 306-290-5794 or jdhuston@mts.net
website: www.dickensperformer.com
website: www.dickensperformer.com