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Dickens bicentennial celebrated by SF Bay Area costumers

Jean Martin's photo
SF Costume Design Examiner

February 7, 2012, marks the 200th anniversary of author Charles Dickens’ birth. Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, and went on to become one of the world’s greatest and most beloved writers. The characters in his novels run the gamut from innocent children to dastardly villains and from rich to poor. Thus, costumers have a wide array to choose from when it comes to choosing characters to portray. Costumers can also wear costumes from any time period covered in any of Dickens’ novels, which range from as early as the French Revolution and the English Regency through the Victorian era to the time of his death in 1870.

There have been numerous TV and movie adaptations of Dickens’ work. Recent ones that are great to watch and are also helpful for costuming ideas include:
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The San Francisco Bay Area is no stranger to costuming Dickens-style as it holds the Great Dickens Christmas Fair every year. The folks that run Fezziwig’s Warehouse at the Fair also organize the Period Events and Entertainments Re-creation Society (PEERS). PEERS recently held two Dickens-themed balls in honor of the author’s bicentenary.

The first was the Twelfth Night (Dickens Fair Reunion) Ball, which was held last January 7 at the San Mateo Masonic Hall. Charles Dickens was portrayed by Robert Young and he did a short reading during one of the intermissions. The Peerless Music Hall also performed Victorian songs and dances on stage. Guests participated in the fun as most of them came in costume and danced to Victorian music played by Bangers and Mash. Also in attendance were a young Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert.
 
The second, the Charles Dickens Bicentennial Ball, was held last February 4, also at the San Mateo Masonic. The first hour was devoted to Robert Young reprising his role as Charles Dickens with a dramatic reading plus musical performances by members of the Peerless Music Hall. The evening re-created a formal Victorian Ball and theatrical performance hosted by Prime Minister Lord Palmerston (James Myers) for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Guest were dressed in elegant Victorian attire and danced the night away like they were in a movie adaptation of a Dickens novel.
 
Copyright 2012, Jean Martin. 
 
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Other related articles:
Charles Dickens Celebrates 200th Birthday
Charles Dickens Celebrates 200th Birthday
Photo credit: 
Jean Martin

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, SF Costume Design Examiner

Jean Martin is the editor-in-chief, writer and photographer for SF/SF: Science Fiction/San Francisco (www.efanzines.com/SFSF/), which covers all areas of fandom in the Bay Area and beyond. She is involved in costuming/cosplaying, dancing, singing and acting, and has won awards for costuming...

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