C#

public static string Serialize(object obj)
{
    using (MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream())
    using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(memoryStream))
    {
        DataContractSerializer serializer = new DataContractSerializer(obj.GetType());
        serializer.WriteObject(memoryStream, obj);
        memoryStream.Position = 0;
        return reader.ReadToEnd();
    }
}

 public static object Deserialize(string xml, Type toType)
{
    using (Stream stream = new MemoryStream())
    {
        byte[] data = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(xml);
        stream.Write(data, 0, data.Length);
        stream.Position = 0;
        DataContractSerializer deserializer = new DataContractSerializer(toType);
        return deserializer.ReadObject(stream);
    }
}

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;

public interface IViewModel
{
    string VName { get; }

    Action<Control> VMouseDown { set; get; }
}

public interface IControl : IViewModel
{
   // no problem over-riding with 'new here ...
   new Action<Control, Point> VMouseDown { set; get; }
}

// use example:

public class MyStupidControl : IControl
{
    public string VName { get; private set; }

    // can be public because it implements IControl (implicit)
    public Action<Control, Point> VMouseDown { set; get; }

    // explicit implementation essentially "hides" from "outside"
    Action<Control> IViewModel.VMouseDown { set; get; }
}