Thespians and Literature Lovers Unite

Thespians and literary enthusiasts joined together for the 21st annual Dickens Festival held in Downtown Riverside in late February. The idea originated from the goal of driving more spending power to the Riverside area. Carolyn Grant and Joan Patton brought the issue to the City and introduced the idea saying that a festival would help boost local businesses and attract new ones too. Since many places had Shakespeare Festivals, Riverside decided to step out of the box and devote their Festival to Charles Dickens and the Victorian era. The event, which began in 1993, has grown over the years and stretched over Main Street, shares Brenda Beers, Treasurer and Chairman of the Oliver Alley. Pedestrians can be seen – many in Victorian-inspired costumes – walking the streets and enjoying the music, food, theatrical plays, and clothing choices. A few of the attendees were so well dressed in Victorian era garb, it was difficult to determine if they were actors or not. Children were able to have a tea party with the Queen of Hearts, Jane Eubanks, and Adult Alice, DeeAnna Stewart, from Wonderland over at Oliver Alley. Children were also able to make dolls based on those from the 19th century and make clothes to dress their newly-made dolls in. For attendees who preferred a little theatrical indulgence many of Riverside's theaters entertained the crowd with live performances, some written by local students from local middle and high schools. The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dickens’ final and unfinished novel, was performed at the St. James Theater. A lecture about Charles Dickens was given by Ray Crosby, a student receiving his doctorate, at the Victorian Theatre. At the Riverside Historical Courthouse audiences were able to experience the mystery theater play written by local attorney Richard Reed named “The Trial of Jack Ripper.” For the play, the audience is brought into the unsolved mystery of Jack the Ripper, an infamous killer who murdered five prostitutes in the Whitechapel District of London in 1888. The audiences learned about the five murders, were able to view photos, and experienced what the five victims suffered through testimonies bringing audiences close to the murder that shocked the era. Brian and Jamie Dwyer, returned visitors, came dressed as Prudence Halworthy and Argyle Pettigrew, agreed that they loved the festival and were enjoying their day out. Sisters Margaret Jones and Jessica Reeves of Chino came to the festival for the first time and share that they can’t wait to return next year. “I really enjoyed myself. Not only am I a lover of literature I also teach English Literature so I am really having a good time here,” said Margaret who is an adjunct professor at Mt San Jacinto College. Mother Wendy came with her daughter Emily last year and couldn’t wait to bring all of her children back this year. “It was such a wonderful experience I had to bring them all this year to appreciate what the festival had to offer.” Janet Funderbunk, President of the Festival for the past eight years, was very pleased with the outcome of this year’s event, her last as presiding president. The Festival was full of classical and accurate events to the time of which it was devoted to- organizers knew that Charles Dickens would be proud. In the words of Dickens, “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” The event will return to it admirers far and near in 2015. [END] ORIGINAL STORY If you are a lover of literature and classical theater then you would’ve enjoyed or did enjoy the 21st Annual Dickens Festival in Downtown Riverside. Brenda Beers, Treasurer and Chairman of the Oliver Alley would explain the Festival began in 1993 by Carolyn Grant and Joan Patton who came up with the idea to help sustain local businesses that was beginning to dissolve in the area. It was brought to the City’s attention that having a Festival would help boost local businesses and attract other businesses to the Riverside area. Since most places already have Shakespeare Festivals Riverside decided to step out of the box and devote their Festival to Charles Dickens and his literature era. Since 1993 the festival has grown stretching over Main Street you can see pedestrians of many costumes based in the 19th century era and casually dressed people being entertained by music, food, theatrical plays, and for sale dresses, hats and many more based on the time. Some people were so well dressed that it was hard to differentiate who were the actors or audience. For the children there was a lot of ways to entertain them but Oliver Alley was the place to go for tea parties with the Queen of Hearts played by Jane Eubanks and DeeAnna Stewart who would Play Adult Alice in Wonderland. At the tea party little kids would have tea and cookies and be taught about etiquette and manners. They would also have the privilege of meeting other characters from the lovely fable such as the Mad Hatter. Your children could make dolls that were based on the dolls from the era and could make clothes to dress it. Then you could mosey over to the many other theaters that were entertaining the crowd with live theaters some written by local students of the middle and high schools in the area through a local contest. For example, The Mystery of Edwin Drood at St James Theatre and a lecture about Charles Dickens given by Ray Crosby, a student receiving his doctorate, at the Victorian Theatre. At the Riverside Historical Courthouse you will experience a mystery theater play written by local attorney Richard Reed named “The Trial of Jack Ripper.” The audience is brought into the unsolved mystery of Jack the Ripper who killed five prostitutes in the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. You will learn of the five murders, view pictures, then you will be brought into a world of experiencing what the five victims had to go through bringing the audience to wanting to find justice for them. A jury is selected randomly and discreetly for each production and then the events begin to unfold and it was astounding. Janet Funderburk, President of the Festival for the past eight years, was very pleased with the outcome of this year’s Festival. Mrs. Funderburk became involved with the Festival some time ago when she found herself in charge of the Victorian Tea a fundraiser held annually to help fund the Festival. Then she would find herself on the Board and then elected President. This year will be her final year as President and she is very proud of the time served. Janet and husband Henry Funderburk are not new to non-profit and community work Henry is Founder and President of “Steppin On Up” a non-profit organization that helps to find and donate shoes to people in need. The locals were very supportive and loved what the festival had to offer this year. Brian and Jamie Dwyer were returned visitors who came dressed has Prudence Halworthy and Argyle Pettigrew, if you will, both said they loved the festival and were enjoying the day very much. Sisters Margaret Jones and Jessica Reeves of Chino came to the festival for the first time and enjoyed themselves immensely and can’t wait to return next year. “I really enjoyed myself not only am I a lover of literature I also teach English Literature so I am really having a good time here.” said Margaret who is an adjunct professor at Mt San Jacinto College. As the day ended people would discussed amongst each other how they couldn’t wait to come again next year. Mother Wendy came with her daughter Emily last year and couldn’t wait to bring all of her children back this year. “It was such a wonderful experience I had to bring them all this year to appreciate what the history of time and what the festival had to offer.” The Festival was full of classical and accurate events to the time of which it was devoted to and Charles Dickens would be proud. In the words of Dickens “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” The Festival will return to it admirers far and near in 2015. 21st Annual Riverside Dickens Festival Feb 22&23 Main Street Mall, Riverside, CA