Centaur Theatre Company
Presents the Quebec Premiere of
Little Dickens
Created & Performed by
Ronnie Burkett
With Musical Arrangements by
John Alcorn
Production Manager & Artistic Associate
Terri Gillis
Stage Manager
Crystal Salverda
November 19 – December 15, 2019
The upcoming holiday season is about getting together with friends and family so get out the good china and scoot over to make room at the dinner table for TheDaisy Theatre gang, who are back in town from November 19th to December 15th, with a brand new show: Little Dickens. They’ve put their signature “outrageous irreverence” stamp on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with puppet mastermind, Ronnie Burkett, pulling all the strings.
| “We are delighted to have Ronnie Burkett ‘back in the house’ with Little Dickens”, shared Centaur’s Artistic and Executive Director, Eda Holmes. “If you thought you knew this Christmas classic, think again! This Burkett-esque retelling of Dickens’ story will blow your Christmas stockings off. It’s a raucous, adults-only holiday treat!” This merry marionette mash-up has The Daisy Theatre diva, Esmé Massengill, cast as the miserly, drunken, and bitter Scrooge, and true to the heart of this cherished story, Burkett’s most iconic and beloved character, Schnitzel, plays Tiny Tim. As with every improvised Daisy Theatre show, there is no set script, and as Esmé Scrooge makes her midnight journey to redemption, she encounters many of the Daisy gang favourites portraying Dickens’ infamous characters. In true vaudevillian style, music ties it all up in a big Christmas bow with cheeky Christmas remixes, sultry jazz solos, and the joyful merriment of Fezziwig’s party. ABOUT RONNIE BURKETT Captivated by puppetry since the age of seven, Ronnie Burkett began touring his shows at the age of fourteen. His Theatre of Marionettes was formed in 1986, playing on Canada’s major stages and abroad. Ronnie received the 2009 Siminovitch Prize, The Herbert Whittaker Drama Bench Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre, a Village Voice OBIE Award and four Citations of Excellence from the American Center of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette. In 2019, Ronnie Burkett was appointed as an Officer of The Order of Canada. AGE RESTRICTION: 16 years and over |
#LittleDickensMTL
Preview Pre-show Convo: ThursdayNovember 21 at 7pm. In the intimate Centaur Theatre gallery, Eda Holmes chats candidly with Ronnie Burkett’s Agent/Manager, John Lambert, about his intriguing role in the Theatre of Marionettes. Free and open to the public.
Sunday Chat-Up: SundayNovember 24th at 12:30pm also in Centaur’s main floor gallery. Join Lucinda Chodan, the Montreal Gazette’s Editor-in-Chief, in conversation with Lynn Kozak, Associate Professor in McGill’s Department of History and Classical Studies. They will discuss the challenge of finding exciting and engaging ways to present the classics in contemporary culture. This is a free public event with refreshments provided by Bonaparte Restaurant.
Post-Show Talkbacks: ThursdayDecember 5th and SundayDecember 8th. Audience members are invited to stay after the evening and matinée performances respectively for what is sure to be an entertaining Q&A with puppet theatre creator ‘extraordinaire’, Ronnie Burkett.
Saturday Salon: SaturdayNovember 30 following the matinée in Centaur’s main floor gallery, Eda Holmes welcomes director/actor/teacher/puppeteer and puppet-maker, Zach Fraser. He has been using puppetry to tell stories for almost two decades, including his upcoming original creation for the National Theatre School’s 2020 graduating class.
Performance schedule:
Previews: November 19, 20 & 21, 8:00 PM
Opening: November 22, 8:00 PM
Closing: December 15, 2:00 PM
Visit centaurtheatre.com for details.
