Marley was dead: to begin with.
from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
You have to give Charles Dickens credit. He knew how to craft a creepy opening to a story. He then goes on to tell the reader, “This must be distinctly understood. or nothing wonderful can come of the story…”
That famous line comes, of course, from A Christmas Carol, a tale that has been adapted countless times for both stage and screen, which brings me to some very exciting news.
This story actually begins when I interviewed for my current position at Russell Library. One of the questions the interview panel asked was, “Do you have any thoughts on what other uses the library could make of the main Reading Room?”
My reply was prompt. “I’d stage plays in it.”
A short history: Russell Library’s Reading Room is located in what was once the main part of Middletown’s old Episcopal Church. The church was built in 1840, sold to Frances Russell in 1873 and in April of 1876 reopened as the Russell Library. Over 100 years later, during the early 1980s, a major renovation added ramps and balconies to that space.
As soon as I saw the Reading Room, I immediately began planning how I would stage a production in the space. The room has stained glass windows and a large open floor for an audience. Plus, those balconies cried out for actors!
Seven years after I was hired, my wish is coming true. This winter the East Haddam Stage Company will be performing A Christmas Carol in our historic Reading Room. This adaptation is a traditional retelling of Charles’ Dickens beloved Christmas classic. Described as “magical and ethereal” by the play’s director, Kandie Carle, this Victorian ghost story is perfect for our Victorian building.
This version of A Christmas Carol was written specifically to be performed in Russell Library. The author takes advantage of the balconies and ramps and multiple entry and exit points to bring actors in from all around the audience. You never know where a ghost will appear! The magical quality of the show harkens back to the spirit of the age when Dickens lived and wrote, which coincided with the years our building was a church. Our building itself inspired this very special retelling; it’s gothic style and soaring spaces are perfect for the classic holiday ghost story.
By the way, I need to mention that our library is haunted. The Eastern Connecticut Paranormal Society conducted investigations here on two separate occasion and declared Russell Library the most haunted library in Connecticut. You can read about those investigations here and here. So, it seems like a good place for a play about ghosts.
“You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!”
from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Tickets for this library fundraiser go on sale Monday, September 1st. Tickets are $50 and show runs from November 29th – December 21st, Saturdays and Sundays at 7pm.
Buy your tickets early! Judging by the interest the Middletown community is showing in this event, it’s going to sell out very quickly.
The Library Vault 
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