Have a very Victorian Christmas
Dartmouth Mall shoppers were treated to live and reimagined renditions of Christmas songs, courtesy of the Very Merry Dickens Carolers.
Garbed in Victorian velvet gowns and bonnets, top hats and three-piece suits, the a capella quartet of Mike Marrapodi, Kelly Morrell, Lisa Babbitt and Rick Copeland wondered through the mall on Dec. 19, serenading shoppers as they bustled about.
Marrapodi is the group’s music director of two years. He’s been a part of the Carolers for three years, and he’s sung professionally for a number of years. Copeland is a freelance musician from the Boston area. Morrell has been performing in the Fall River area in various capacities from community theater to singing at nursing homes and music therapy. This is her first year in the Dickens Carolers.
“I’m a one-woman band,” Morrell said, laughing. “This is a really exciting thing to be joining in. It’s a great challenge for me to be joining the Carolers this year.”
On top of classics like “Deck the Halls” and “Little Drummer Boy,” the carolers performed an ambitious rendition of Mariah Carey’s iconic “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
The troupe is based in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and is on its tenth year. Owned by Louise Tetreault, the troupe is active every year from Thanksgiving through Christmas, said Marrapodi. This season, to date, they have performed over 150 times.
“We go wherever people would like to hear Christmas joy,” said Marrapodi. “We have performed from Maine to Manhattan, and just about everywhere in between.”
Though some shoppers may be too busy to stop and enjoy the caroling, the kids never fail to be entertained by the troupe. Several stopped not only to sing along but to request their favorite carols as well.
“One girl in particular, I think, was following us around,” Copeland joked.
Morrell was charmed by the senior citizens who join in the festivities by dancing along.