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A Dickens of a Holiday Time
and Other Gala Times as Well
For all the many performances, characters and songs presented by
Mallory & McCall, it is at Holiday time that we are at our most festive.
As "Mr and Mrs Dickens" we greet merrymakers, MC events, sing and play
Holiday songs, and sometimes Mallory, as Mr Dickens himself, reads the scary
"Marley's Ghost" from A Christmas Carol or, in a more lighthearted mood,
"The Night Before Christmas" with Janna playing background. We have portrayed the
Dickenses since 1980 at festivals, corporate parties, house concerts, on television and
radio, at churches, formal functions, fairs, malls, boat parades, seaside villiages,
vintage home tours--the list is long and varied.
We like to think that we represent Mr and Mrs Dickens as Dickens, himself, might have written them. We just add a touch of fantasy and whimsy to the
actural historical couple.
We present the Dickenses as they might have been in the 1860s, when Charles
had completed much of his work and had become a popular attraction reading from
his manuscripts. Mr Dickens, in life, loved to sing and perform, both at home and for
sold-out concerts, rather like one of today's pop stars--albeit a bit more mature
(come to think of it, some of our current pop stars are getting older than the dickens!). Mallory's baritone voice and dramatic presentation is perfect for the mid-Victorian idol! Mrs Dickens, in this incarnation, plays the vintage foot- pumped organ, and, when available, piano and other keyboards. For some concert occasions, she adds her Irish harp. Together the Dickenses perform traditional carols, and, when appropriate, Chanukah songs, pop tunes, and other well-loved songs of the season (a few in Latin, German, Hebrew and otherlanguages).
At other times of the year, we have performed in the Dickens' style for all sorts
of Victorian events, from high teas to a night at a Public House! We have traveled
in a vintage carriage in a grand parade down picturesque streets of Riverside,
California to promote the Riverside Dickens Festival, where we
presented concerts of all sorts and for all ages.
Mallory's thrilling reading of "The Death of Nancy" from Oliver Twist rather
frighteningly demonstrated how that reading was said to have sorely
effected the real Charles Dickens' health.
But in a much more cheerful vein, we select our musical repertoire from this era
which is suitable for an at-home: typical light music from the popular concert hall
of the day. Add in some musical whimsy, so loved by Dickens, and it becomes a
charming and fun program. A while back, as a result of one of these appearances,
we were flown to New Jersey--Organ, hoop skirts, top hats, tail coats, walking stick,
picture hats, bonnets and a suitcase of unmentionables--for the Clinton Cherry Blossom Victorian Stroll! We shudder to imagine what that would be like on a plane trip now! But it was great fun then, albeit a bit hectic. Modern women often don't appreciate thefreedom that changed clothing after the "War to End All Wars!"
As well as all of the garb suitable for a couple in the mid-1800s, we also wear the proper demeanor and accents as well, keeping always in character. There is a certain amount of cross-over in clothing for the Civil War, the Dickenses and Victoriana in general; the elegance and grace of the full-skirted gowns and the top hats and frock or tail coats lend a special charm to period presentations. Perhaps that's why we are drawn to the 19th Century. (Although Calamity might not agree with the "elegance" part, Baritone Bill fits right in. Check out the Wild West elsewhere on our site!)
If your Holiday plans include something extra special, invite Mr and Mrs Dickens to
perform for you! We can tailor our presentation to your special needs, ensuring that
you'll have a very merry musical Christmas season.
And remember, Dickens is more than just a few short novels about Christmas.
His legacy is deep and wide, his humor, his drama, his ablity to move the hearts
and minds of a broad spectrum of the people in his time, and ours, is legend.
Queen Victoria admired him. And so did, and does, the world. Let us help bring
a bit of this wonderous creative genius into your life, through the music that
he and those around him relished and enjoyed.
For booking information, e-mailed photos and bios contact us at MalloryandMcCall@Yahoo.com or call 323-733-7241.
Remember that the Dickenses are popular especially during the Christmas holidays,
so give us a call early!
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