“We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.”
The words, from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, ring as true today as they did when the author penned them 170 years ago.
“The more things change the more they stay the same,” said Langley’s Rose Hominick.
“That was true in the 19th century and it’s certainly true in the 21st.
“You’d think we’d develop to the point where we’d have no more hungry and no more homeless,” she said.
“But we still have people who want and people who have so much.”
On Friday, Dec. 13, Rose and her husband, Eric, joined by a cast of five other readers and a collection of local musicians, will do their part to help people in Langley who find themselves struggling this holiday season, by presenting a dramatic recitation of A Christmas Carol, with an emphasis on giving.
The reading will be held at the Sharon United chapel in Murrayville, with proceeds from the event donated to the local food bank.
Though nearly two centuries have passed, the time and place in which the famous tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s sin and ultimate redemption is set, holds a special place in Rose Hominick’s heart.
“I have a great love for that time period,” she said.
Hominick holds degree in English literature with a major in Victorian poetry and prose, while Eric, is a musician.
The couple’s respective passions have found the perfect marriage in their upcoming evening of recitation and song.
In addition to the text, recited by seven performers in period costume, the evening will feature musical interludes played on harp and flute.
A family of young singers will carol in both the audience and the performers and Eric Hominick will be pulling double duty as both reader and musician.
“My husband is a very fine pianist and he will be playing for us,” said Rose.
The cast will perform in period costume, the musical interludes will be short and seasonal, and homemade mincemeat tarts and mulled cider will greet guests at Intermission.
All the performers will donate their time and talents and Sharon United has offered its chapel space at no charge.
The chapel is a smaller venue than the church itself, but the atmosphere in the 140-seat room is very much in keeping with the context of the presentation, Hominick said.
“We’re really grateful to be there,” she added.
Dickens himself used to give dramatic readings of the story, from text which he’d condensed from the original, explained Hominick.
“Reading aloud, it would take him about an hour and a half to tell his story.
“He recited from memory. We don’t do that,” she laughed.
Although the performers will read from the same text Dickens used, Hominick expects the Langley performance — complete with music and the intermission — to take about two hours.
This is the sixth time the couple has performed A Christmas Carol in this fashion, but the first time they’ve mounted the production in Langley.
The Hominicks moved to the community just last August, but the couple already feels quite at home here.
“We love living in Langley and we just wanted to do something for the community,” she said.
In other places where they’ve lived and performed, the local food bank was the couple’s charity of choice and this year will be no exception.
Admission to the show is by monetary donation.
Proceeds beyond the minimal cost of putting on the event will be donated to the Langley Food Bank.
Sharon United Church is located at 21562 Old Yale Rd. The presentation begins at 7 p.m.