#Fangirl

Gerald Dickens

I've long been a fan of Charles Dickens. Bleak House is my all-time fave, so much so that my dog's name is Ada Clare, who's one of the characters. And that's exactly what I love best about Dickens -- his characters. The names: Bayham Badger, Anne Chickenstalker, Wackford Squeers. The mannerisms, such as Mr. Smallweed who is carried around on a pallet and must have his bones shaken regularly. And the personalities, especially the ones I love to hate such as Mr. Skimpole, a conniving rat-fink who claims he's "nothing but a child."

So when I heard that Dickens' great-great-grandson was going to be in town, I was like "Oh son! Gotta see me some of that!" So I did.

Gerald Dickens performed a one-man play at the Music Box Theater in Minneapolis. To Begin With is the story of a little known book written by Charles Dickens: The Life of Our Lord. This book was never intended to be published, but instead was written for the sole purpose of instructing Dickens' children (he had 10 of them) in the story of the Gospel. It was only to be read aloud every Christmas for his family. Here's an excerpt:

“My dear children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived, who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in anyway ill or miserable, as he was. And as he is now in Heaven, where we hope to go, and all to meet each other after we are dead, and there be happy always together, you never can think what a good place Heaven is, without knowing who he was and what he did.”

Fangirl & Dickens

Gerald Dickens did a fantastic job portraying his great-great grandfather. He was also gracious enough to not only greet guests after the play, but also signed autographs. Yeah. Had I known that, I'd have hauled my entire Dickens collection with. I settled for having him sign my playbill.

If you ever get the chance to see Gerald Dickens perform, do it. He frequently travels the U.S., especially during the holidays when he presents his version of A Christmas Carol.