MR. DICKENS GOES
TO WASHINGTON
written & directed by Anna Baardsen
2 Episodes
9/19/09 - 9/26/09
Frank Capra didn't see it coming either.
CAST
Michael Holmes
Charles Dickens
(Eps. 1-2)
Colin Willkie
Governor Hopper
(Ep. 1)
Jaime Robledo
Hopper's Elder Son
(Ep. 1)
C.M. Gonzalez
Hopper's Younger Son
(Ep. 1)
Scott Leggett
James Taylor
(Ep. 1)
JJ Mayes
Senator Paine
(Ep. 1)
Victor Isaac
Clarence
(Ep. 1)
Megan Crockett
Susan Paine
(Ep. 2)
Julia Griswold
Clarissa Saunders
(Ep. 2)
Corey Klemow
Diz Moore
(Ep. 2)
Natasha Norman
Marianne Davis
Terry Tocantins
Tourists
(Ep. 2)
Choreography by
Natasha Norman
(Ep. 2)
PHOTOS
EPISODE ONE (9/19/09) Photos this week by Aaron Francis
Mr. Charles Dickens (Michael Holmes), the greatest writer in
America,
holds up his likeness in case you didn't recognize him.
Soon, Mr. Dickens
will be sent to Congress, where his idealism and innocence will
be sorely tested.
Gov. Hubert Hopper (Colin Willkie) is informed that
Senator Foley has died, and a replacement must be found.
His children (Jaime Robledo & C.M. Gonzalez) suggest Charles
Dickens,
who writes the most clever stories, and loves the little
children.
Hopper's cronies, Senator Paine (JJ Mayes) and the corrupt
James Taylor (Scott Leggett) love the idea of appointing a
political naif,
who won't realize the chicanery they're getting up to in
Congress.
After a halting speech, the children,
led by Clarence (Victor Isaac),
gift Mr. Dickens with a briefcase.
EPISODE TWO (9/26/09) Photos this week by
C.M. Gonzalez
Susan
Paine (Megan Crockett), daughter of Senator Paine,
waits for Mr. Dickens' arrival at the Washington train station.
Mr.
Dickens is briefly beguiled by the flirty Susan,
but he's distracted by the sight of the Capitol Dome,
and rushes off on an impromptu tour of the nation's capital.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dickens' secretary-to-be, Clarissa Saunders
(Julia Griswold)
awaits his arrival in the company of her friend and would-be
suitor, reporter Diz Moore (Corey Klemow).
A distraught Susan arrives, upset not so much at Mr. Dickens'
unknown whereabouts as his resistance to her charms.
Mr. Dickens' inspirational patriotic tour of the capital.
He dreams of establishing a National Children's Library.
Saunders
ponders the merits of working for a writer.
Mr. Dickens arrives at his office at last, quite late at night.
His good spirits are quickly dampened by Saunders'
mordant mockery of his obliviousness to his lateness.
Mr. Dickens
worries that he's already alienated
everybody he's met in Washington, but...
"Perhaps to prevent you from spending the night at the
Smithsonian Institute, it would be best if we shared a cab."
"Was it
possible that in this mercilessly mordacious
woman, I had found an ally after all?"
