September may be a bit early to start celebrating Christmas.But what if you could celebrate Christmas past, present, and future in the company of a direct descendant of Charles Dickens, the iconic author of A Christmas Carol?The opportunity presents itself right here in New Jersey, with actor/author Gerald Roderick Charles Dickens performing spirited renditions of his great-great-grandfather’s much-loved 1843 novella.Gerald Dickens, 61, whose distinguished ancestor helped define Christmas for the secular w...
September may be a bit early to start celebrating Christmas.
But what if you could celebrate Christmas past, present, and future in the company of a direct descendant of Charles Dickens, the iconic author of A Christmas Carol?
The opportunity presents itself right here in New Jersey, with actor/author Gerald Roderick Charles Dickens performing spirited renditions of his great-great-grandfather’s much-loved 1843 novella.
Gerald Dickens, 61, whose distinguished ancestor helped define Christmas for the secular world, will be in the Garden State in September, and again in December, as part of an annual American tour sponsored by Byers’ Choice Ltd. This year’s tour will include 22 venues in 11 states.
Dickens’s shows, which he has whittled down to about 75 minutes each from his ancestor’s originals, vary from year to year—except for A Christmas Carol, arguably Charles Dickens’ most popular work. Gerald Dickens single-handedly portrays 26 characters, including Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim—and even Belle, Scrooge’s lost love.
New Jersey performances will start in Burlington City on Monday, September 15, at the Broad Street United Methodist Church, where Dickens has been a regular since 2011. “Our congregation has long considered Gerald not just a celebrity but a dear friend,” says Laura Jaskot, 62, who initiated Dickens’s annual visits. She describes them as “a little corner of New Jersey getting a little taste of England.”
Dickens’s first show at the church, starting at 1 pm, will be an adaptation of his ancestor’s novel Nicholas Nickleby. At 7 pm the same day he’ll perform A Christmas Carol. He’ll attend receptions following each performance.
Toms River resident Pat Meravi, 87, is the first person each year to purchase tickets for A Christmas Carol at the church. “I consider Gerald’s performance of this classic an absolute must-see event,” she says.
On Tuesday, September 16, Dickens will find himself at The Historic Village at Allaire in Farmingdale where, at 3 and 7 pm, he’ll present Mr. Dickens is Coming, snapshots of the greatest works of Charles Dickens.
The actor will return to New Jersey on Tuesday, December 9, to present A Christmas Carol at 3 and 7 pm at Red Bank’s Two River Theater.