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If you ask most people what Christmas is all about, they’ll tell you about family, holiday spirit or even, as Linus from Peanuts said, “Jesus Christ’s birth.” If you ask banker Ebenezer Scrooge, played by John Michael Decker, he’ll tell you it’s all a “humbug” and a “con.”

“Instead of a heart, I’ve got an icicle stabbed in the left side of my chest, and that’s the way I like it,” Scrooge said.

Father Christmas had a different outlook. He chatted about spreading joy and love. Father Christmas has a plan to change people like Scrooge.

“Mr. Marley, the spirits and I are working on Mr. Scrooge,” Father Christmas said. “We hope to have him completely reformed by Christmas morning.”

A 31-year-old tradition, Dickens Christmas transforms the village of Skaneateles into a magical holiday time machine. Every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, actors costumed in 1840s fashion play Victorian characters and walk the streets of the town; some caroling, some playing music and others interacting with tourists.

Events include holiday parades, horse-drawn carriage rides and trunk performances of classics like Washington Irving’s “A Sleepy Hollow Christmas,” and, of course, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” The snow in the air, garlands on street lamps and roasted chestnuts all add to the magic.

“It feels like we’re in a Hallmark movie,” attendee Lucy Ricardo said.

Abbey Fitzpatrick | Staff Photographer

Actors dressed in Victorian garb walk the streets of Skaneateles, New York greeting locals.

It may be cliché, but the holiday spirits are literally out and about. Newsies offered copies of the Syracuse Post-Standard, bands of trumpeters played Christmas carols and Jacob Marley, the ghost of Scrooge’s old banking partner, dragged his chains as he haunted the banker.

Kevin Pelletier, who plays Father Christmas, loves acting in Dickens Christmas. He’s been involved with the show for 30 years, and played Father Christmas for about 25 years. His favorite part? The children’s happiness when they come to see him. Their selflessness doesn’t go unnoticed by Pelletier.

“I’ve had several children already this year tell me, ‘I’ve got enough things, give something to someone who can’t afford it,’” Pelletier said.

Hilary Fenner, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce, has hosted the event for six years, including virtual shopping events during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a typical year, about 10,000 people come to Skaneateles for Dickens Christmas.

Dickens Christmas began because local merchants wanted to establish a winter event for Skaneateles. The town, recognized by HGTV and Oprah Magazine as one of the United States’ most charming towns, was quiet in the winter, and business owners wanted to get people out shopping.

Restaurants like Doug’s Fish Fry, and artisan shops like The Local Branch, are supported through the slow winter business season by Dickens Christmas. Their donations to the Chamber of Commerce help put on Dickens Christmas each year.

Initially, merchants dressed up and acted out the characters, but after a few years of simultaneously running the stores and acting, it became too difficult. Now, the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce handles sponsorships and funding for the event and Scarlett Rat Entertainment coordinates the actors.

Jim Greene not only owns Scarlett Rat, but he “(is) the company.” Greene, who plays Charles Dickens, starts planning the event with Fenner in May. Fenner’s role consists of fundraising, Greene’s of production.

People audition for the show in October, but Greene said it’s not an intense process. Usually, school kids and local adults interested in acting just come to do it, he said. After three weekends of rehearsals, as actors get the hang of improvisation in character, they’re good to go.

Improvisation is essential to Dickens Christmas, as part of the charm is these characters, wandering around and interacting with tourists on the fly, always with over-the-top Victorian accents.

Abbey Fitzpatrick | Staff Photographer

Charles Dickens and Jim Greene lead Christmas caroling in a gazebo featuring various traditional holiday songs.

To accomplish the ensemble’s cohesion, Greene breaks actors into groups, like the upper class characters or the pick-pockets, and has them rehearse and spend time together. Breaking into smaller groups allows the actors to build chemistry and play off each other.

Christmas isn’t necessarily a happy time of year for everybody, Greene acknowledges, and the actors are sensitive to that. The magic of their job? Look people in the eye and try to make them smile.

“That validates their existence, and it’s rewarding work,” Greene said. “You know you’ve impacted all these people, and it’s taken their mind off of their troubles for a few minutes.”

It’s surreal to see SUVs driving on Route 20, people taking pictures on smartphones and protesters in Victorian garb advocating for the prohibition of alcohol. The constable, Paddy O’Toole, played by Joe Asztalos, a 2003 graduate of Syracuse University, only issues “sigh-tations.” When an infraction, like jaywalking, takes place, O’Toole simply sighs.

“Her Majesty, the Queen, is visiting on this day, and I’m in charge of Her Majesty’s safety,” O’Toole said.

O’Toole might have been keeping an eye on the Queen’s safety, but he failed to notice the pickpocket characters standing on the corner, hawking stolen jewelry. When an aristocratic woman walked by, pointing out that the jewelry was hers, the thief immediately changed his tune.

“I found your necklace! That’s what I was telling these people,” the thief said.

How he found the necklace, as it was locked away in a chest in the woman’s house, remains a mystery.

Another observation — Queen Victoria was visiting town. Around 2 p.m., a crowd gathered at the gazebo at Clift Park, next to the lake, for caroling. The crowd chanted, “God save the Queen!” as the royals addressed the crowd.

Abbey Fitzpatrick | Staff Photographer

Queen Victoria and Princess Victoria parade around Skaneateles, New York in character.

Greene, who is a registered officiant, performed a wedding on Sunday, just after the show began. Greene officiated the wedding fully in character as Dickens, at the request of the couple.

Maybe Dickens could help Princess Victoria out.

“I am still looking for a husband!” Princess Victoria declared. The crowd laughed, but the Queen chided her daughter.

The royals, Dickens, Washington Irving and other characters led the crowd in singing several Christmas carols, such as “Deck the Halls” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” The crowd also sang the “12 Days of Christmas,” in groups for each day. One group formed a conga line to sing “Nine Ladies Dancing.”

The most enthusiastic crowd member received a silver teasel necklace from the Queen for his merriment. He leaped in the air to scream, “10 Lords a-leaping.”

When Dickens asked for requests, Scrooge had one.

“I request that you all keep silent!” Scrooge said.

“Oh, ‘Silent Night?’ Sure!” Dickens said, before leading the crowd in song. Scrooge groaned and grumpily meandered off the gazebo.

Each year, Greene looks forward to a woman and her dog who come for a photo with Greene (in costume) for her Christmas card. Little stuff like that is why he loves his job. It isn’t just a funny, silly oddity in a small central New York lake town, but a meaningful tradition to both tourists and actors.

“We do this because it fills a void in people’s lives,” Greene said. “I’m fortunate that’s how I make a living.”

Of course, Scrooge, the centerpiece of Dickens Christmas, doesn’t mind having a void in his life.

“It is better to be rich and miserable than poor and happy,” Scrooge said. “Emotions, they’ll keep you poor.”

Maybe Scrooge will change his mind come Dec. 25. After all, there’s nothing like supernatural intervention to set someone straight.

Published on December 12, 2024 at 1:46 am