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Mr. Dickens’s Reading Stand

When Charles Dickens hit the road to read for the public he soon realized that he needed to create a set design that would work for him anywhere. He planned a backdrop, special gas lighting, minimal props and the focal point of his staging: a special Reading Stand designed by him.

He wanted something that was easy to transport, would hold up on the road and anchor him on stage-but not block him from his audience. After all, people were paying good money to see Dickens- so they wanted to SEE HIM! He’d had some experience early on in his reading career trying to perform behind pulpit type lecterns. Often, for a two hour reading the audience could see nothing but his head bobbing behind the pulpit. Boring!

Eventually the amateur actor (and showman) in him kicked into gear and Mr. Dickens designed and had constructed a solid piece of furniture that traveled with him to 400 plus readings throughout Europe and to the United States. It was open, functional and built from wood, using Dickens sketch and specifications. The Reading Stand was covered with a maroon fabric, decorated with fringe and the piece was so well built that what’s left of it resides at the Charles Dickens Museum in London.

There is a wonderful photograph of the Reading Stand as it looks now on the cover of Malcolm Andrews new book “Charles Dickens and His Performing Selves-Dickens and the Public Readings- (a must read for anyone trying to launch a one-person Dickens show) In his book Andrews writes about the advantages of the specially designed stand “with so much more of him visible, he could project himself physically, with arm gestures and body movement, just as he was learning to project his Readings vocally. The new desk enabled him to amplify his histrionic skills.”

Since Charles Dickens eventually had most of his public readings memorized, it begs the question: why would he even need a reading stand? Speculation by leading Dickens scholars is that while the author’s actor friends were huge fans of his readings, his literary friends and advisors were not. In fact literary types thought that Dickens selling himself as a “reader” was about the most vulgar, crass thing imaginable. In the mid 1800’s the acting profession was still considered a less than respectable occupation. As an “actor” Mr. Dickens probably would have loved nothing more than getting out there on stage and chewing up the scenery-he’d done it many, many times in dozens of amateur and semi-professional theatricals productions. However-the “literary genius” part of Charles Dickens was eager to maintain some kind of “class” and “decorum” and used the desk to make the readings something “other than theatre”.

Once behind the desk it didn’t much matter that the author was truly “acting up a storm” with his lines and gestures fully rehearsed, creating dozens of voices and spot on characterizations - breathing life into an endless cast of characters. As long as the desk was between him and the audience, what he was doing on the platform was considered “a reading”, and readings were more respectable compared to other 19th century more frivolous forms of live entertainment.

There were other more practical reasons for the desk. Early on in his career he used it for security, worrying that his knees might be knocking from his nerves. Standing behind something could help hide that. Also, though he eventually had his various readings memorized, in the beginning he was constantly changing and editing his performances and needed to have his prompt copies (scripts) close at hand.

Towards the end of his career, particularly during his stint in the United States, Dickens health was failing. He had circulation problems that often gave him trouble walking and standing for long periods of time. Following his visit to the U.S., while he was making his farewell tour, his stage manager and doctor were standing by during each reading to catch him when he came off stage. His Reading Stand at that point had become his on stage support.. When he needed to, he could lean against the stand and keep rolling along.

The stand became a star in it’s own right. Many of the critics` who came to see Charles Dickens LIVE on stage, would often fill up at least part of their reviews with detailed descriptions of the furniture. Here are a couple excerpts from Buffalo newspapers:

Buffalo Daily Courier Friday Morning March 13, 1868 p.2

the crimson of the handsome plush covered stand, with it's miniature book desk on the left, and it's projecting shelf on the right, for a decanter of water and tumbler, reflects the light agreeably and adds much to the warmth of the whole.

Buffalo Morning Express, March 13, 1868

At the rear as if to form a background to the picture in which Mr. Dickens was to be the principal figure, was a screen of maroon, before which stood the reading table covered with crimson velvet. On one corner was placed a desk which served to hold the book, while on the other side was a shelf containing a carafe of water and a glass.

MY READING STAND

It was kind of an obsession for me. As noted above Charles Dickens Reading Stand was the "anchor" for his performances-or to be dramatic...the “Alter” over which he "sacrificed" himself & resurrected the many characters he created for his adoring audiences. I knew early on that it would have to be the main set piece for my show and that I wanted to try to build the one-of-a-kind a replica myself. Having no woodworking experience, I knew there was only one person that I knew who could help me accomplish the goal.

Paul Santandreu is a woodworking genius. He owns Hangimals Inc. an instructional woodworking shop in Hamburg, NY. My son Ben had taken instruction with Paul years ago and was able to create some terrific wooden treasures.

I took my idea to Paul. (That's him on the left) Working from Dickens’s own sketch as well as artist renderings, photos and measurements we drew up the plans and the project was on its way.

We upsized the piece a bit to account for me being 6 foot three and Dickens being of medium height. Adding a few inches here and there I think the stand came out proportionally correct.

It was built from poplar wood. Not too heavy (because hopefully this will be transported to many shows for years to come) but solid. We weren’t concerned about using a wood with a nice grain, because as you can see from the photos the entire stand is covered with crimson/maroon velvet fabric. Once all the pieces were cut, the joints made, before assembling I used a 4 way stretch fabric and glued it down with fabric glue and trimmed the seams with red ribbon (my wife’s brainstorm) to finish it off.
The little shelf on the side is the only piece of the stand not covered-I wanted that to be strong enough to hold the 3 pound cut glass carafe-and water proof in case of spills. Mission accomplished!

I finished it in about four months, working a couple hours a week. Thanks to Paul Santandreu, and his wonderful teaching style I now know my way around a woodshop! I also know I have a wonderful centerpiece for my December production of “Charles Dickens Performs A Christmas Carol”.

My Dad was known as the woodworker in our family! He made shadow boxes; nick knack holders, bookcases and all kinds of handy household items. He even built a pop up trailer that we used for camping for years. Around 1974 when I landed my first “full-time” gig performing as Mark Twain at the Buffalo Showboat, Dad built me a beautiful lectern. Less than two years later I lost it in a theatre fire in Evansville, Indiana. My Father went to work and created another lectern for me, better than the first! The remake came apart in two pieces for easy transport to the many shows that I was to perform in the following years all across the country.

When Dad was well into his eighties, even though his health was failing-he graciously agreed to give the Twain stand a makeover. I had dragged that thing around for more than 20 years and it had gotten quite beat up. He rebuilt the base, which was rotting out and gave it a new coat of stain. He apologized for not being able to give it a better effort but he just wasn’t able to do things the way he liked to anymore because he “no longer had all the tools or the energy.” He did fine without either!

I really enjoyed working on the Dickens Reading Stand. At times it felt kind of like Dad was watching over my shoulder. Measuring, cutting, sanding and finishing gave me a little insight to the joy he must have felt; as he spent hour after hour in his make shift basement workshop. At the very least I know he would have gotten a huge kick out a project like this. He loved history and woodworking and like me, would have found the idea of building a period replica of Dickens Reading Stand almost irresistible!
Mike Randall May 2007