MD part due...long long long...
Sep. 6th, 2007 10:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradCough Cough…sorry, been a long three days. I am just now crawling into bed and realize it will take far longer than through tonight to complete this recap…but we start. Same rules apply, times, order, people, and more will be forgotten. Hell, much of it is already forgotten in the dusts of the jousting field. Let’s see what I remember…
STARTS OF THE BEGININGS
Friday saw me going to site to set up costumes/props/supplies. I really enjoy stopping by and getting things ready before the faire starts. I have a brief chat with those there about the things that have happened behind the scenes in the last week. While drama is happily kept at a minimum, it likes to show it’s ugly head once in a while, but all was well. I head home, get some other work done, have Cluck-U-Chicken wings with the Lelios and head to bed.
AND SO IT BEGINS AGAIN
Up at 6:40 and heading to site. I think I am early, but Trinket has beat me to the stage. We stretch and warm up carefully with our voices as we are adding extra shows on top of a long three day weekend. We start to run lines again to make sure we are doing the right show and head off for our sound check. Sound works fine, from what we can tell and we try to punch it a bit, but it starts ringing back, which means we have to go back down again. Ah well, we shall see what extra bodies in the space do for it. Once we are set, we run up to chat with the Pyrates available and then back to the costume house to get ready. I set props, then get dressed. Then off to meeting I go.
SUMMER BREEZE
Thank god the weather is cooler this weekend. Morning meeting is a slightly longer affair, if you can call adding 2 minutes longer. Much to go over and then we head back to the front…as it were. I run for my last pee break and then get up on the fountain. The front gate show is mic’ed now, so we can hear some more of the lines. Makes all the difference on the actors wearing them and makes the others work so hard, but at least most of the event can be heard. The cannon makes a rather loud boom and all the gates open.
FLOODS OF PEOPLE
The gates open and the initial rush keeps coming and coming. It promises to be a very busy day. I have given up on my old spot this year for Stupina, so once it’s time to head farther into the village, I head deep past the White Hart to my old tree between the bead booth and Piland’s. I sit facing the bead booth and start to sing and chat with random people. Master Piland steps out and tries to romance Stupina, it doesn’t work, she hides and cries and doesn’t believe him. She’s a smart cookie that one is. She chats with patrons and then heads back to the front for the Stupina show.
STUPINA FLIES AGAIN…ALMOST
I take about five minutes or so backstage to let my face cool down and get water before the show starts. Before me are madrigal singers…I think Larksong actually. They turn the stage over to me and by the time I set it up, it’s time to go…so much for hawking. So remember when I said I thought I was missing a prop last week. I figured out what it was and had to remake it this past week. If anyone sees a neon green foam rock floating around Gatehouse, I would like my kryptonite back. Thanks. The show itself goes well with one of my favorite groups of regulars, sans 1. Turns out the older sister is home ill and could not make it in, which made me sad. I asked them to tell her that I wished her well. My reader is a bit quiet, but I think the jist of it gets across.
RECOUP AND REGROUP
After the show, I head backstage and repack props while Trinket reorganizes the rest. She heads down to the Costume House with me following a few moments after chatting with Bob…Magic Bob. For some reason, his name is easy to remember. ;-) I get out of the icky clothes and cool down while fixing hair and make up. Then, with the able hands of Mrs. Pugh and Trinket, I get dressed. Trinket and I split a cliff bar to hold out for after our show. We head out chatting with patrons and flirting with the men. We run into some regulars who have many wonderful things to say about our show. About 5 minutes before our time, we head toward the stage and turn ourselves on during the last Rogues Show. Yeah, most of the women use the Rogues to do it for them, but we are self-sufficient. Hee.
INTERPRETATION 1.1
The show starts with high energy, lots of fun and one of the Entertainment management in the house. The audience seems to really enjoy the show and there is much laughter. Our body mics aren’t seeming to get much sound, even when they are up on our faces. We get lots of laughs and take our bows. Afterwards, the EM person comes up and says the show was good, but no one could hear it in the center or the back. He offers suggestions for our mics and we plan on some changes for the next show. He also offers some rather evil extra jokes and notes how pleased he was to see us to “there” with them at a different point. It was nice to see the burgeoning excitement as the brainstorming happened. Some days are good.
LUNCHING WITH THE LOCALS
I end up heading to my favorite Steak booth to get lunch after a bout of mingling and dewiring. We have taken our mics with us to figure out how to rig them. I keep getting side tracked with ideas on who to ask, but no one has what we need. Finally, I get to the face casting booth and they do have the wire that will do the quick fix for us. Next door at Southern Exposure, then lend me wire cutters and I gather the materials I need. Now, I feel like I can eat lunch. Steak with strangers is always one of my favorite times of day. Today, I find a group of couples in their 50s or higher. We chat about he faire. I inevitably run into someone who has never been to the show. It makes me happy to welcome them. I rave about my favorite foods and offer recommendations throughout the festival grounds. Once done, I head back to make my new rigs.
TECHNO ON A DIME BUDGET
I head back to the costume house and gather Trinket’s mic system. With a minute amount of finaegeling, we are able to rig up mics that now wrap around our ears and sit by our mouths. We hope this will make a difference. Trinket packs the mics in her back and we head off our ways. She to perform in Elephant Child and me to watch it after doing some Goodbye Duty at the front gate, since opening day was no real judge on how good or bad they did on their own. I hear people in the audience chucking at the bird or the other physical choices. I am bummed that no one really notices the subtlety that the Crocodile uses. When you see the show, once he says hi to the croc, watch what the croc does. He does some really great puppetry work. Made me giggle maniacally every time. Now, I don’t think the audience notices. They all do great work, but he makes me giggle. Always a good thing.
WANDERLUST
After the show is over, I head back to pee and then out to the streets again. I start to notice the clouds of dust over the jousting field way. We are in for a hellacious dusty day. I start trying to pull out my handkerchief and clean my nose, OH DEAR GOD it’s black already. This is the thing I fear. This kind of dust is what kills my voice at faire. The Interpreters are doing double sets this weekend and I want to make sure I have a voice for the last sets. This makes me very nervous. I drink more water.
INTERPRETERS 1.2
It’s getting to be time for the show, so I head over toward White Hart to find a frantic Trinket searching the crowd for me. We have 15 minutes so we wire up and stay toward the back chatting. Once we are at about 5, we head toward the front to be visible and turn on again. We get to the stage and Trinket sounds great, but my system isn’t working at all, DAMMIT. Mid song I have to head back to the stage and spend the rest of the show in the stage mic’s to be heard. This is NOT what our plan was, but we figured that the batteries just died, so we have to hope that tomorrow will be better. Those that see the show, including Thomas Cromwell, Mother Love, and the Lelio’s seem to enjoy themselves, incognito. We are starting to synch better with the new material and this audience REALLY gets the jokes. It’s nice to see people singing along with us. The show is over and it’s time for us to pack up after introducing the cute French Canadian boys, L’ensemble Cercamon!
KATHUNK
We are tired. We clear the stage and pack up the sound system. We mingle our way out of the pub and slowly toward the costume shop. I am so tired. We get to the costume house, and change before the crowd shows. Boy I am pooped. We get out and decide to head out to California Pizza Kitchen before most everyone else has decided where to go. We go to the bar to sit immediately and order and eat within ½ hour. The other that were thinking about joining us arrive just after we paid the check and are heading out. We apologize, but we are falling asleep on the bar…even with the view of our favorite waiter. (really nice view)
TECHNO BABBLE 2
Back at the house, we start laundry and pull out the wireless mock ups. I pull out bandaids and begin to wrap them around the wire we had already set after we shape them. Once covered, they seem to hold up perfectly. The test will be the next day at the faire, but they look pretty decent and pale fleshy like us. Though even the band aids weren’t as fair as Trinket. Laundry into the dryer and we crashed to sleep before 10. All too soon, I woke and had to be back at faire,
TAKE TWO
We wake up and head to a take out breakfast before work. Quick protein/fat/carbs before the long day ahead. The day is still cool and lovely when we get to site. Cool enough that I had to add a layer cause I was chilly. We stretch, start makeup, run the lines we screwed up, and do a vocal warm up. Then off to sound check. The new mics are making a definitive difference ESPECIALLY now that I have batteries…it’s always sad when a woman is out of batteries. I feel much better now. We check and can be heard to the back of the pub, but of course, no one else is in there, so who knows.
SET UP AND SET OFF
So we head out to the costume house which is just opened. We are religious about not walking in before Stitch has opened it. Just bad as an overall choice. I get props up to the stage and set the extra pigs for Ms. Trinket to organize. Then, down to the costume house to change. I go to pour water into my bota and Boom! Water starts pouring everywhere. Turns out my bota has sprung a leak. I am not sure which side it’s on, but I am mostly unable to drink from it now. On this dusty a weekend, that’s not good. I grab extra lozenges to protect what I can and head to morning meeting.
READY, SET, GO!
We go over notes, have the normal laughs, have much info presented to us. Meeting is short, and we are done at least two minutes earlier this today. Some of the actors have already lost their voices or are losing them. I make a conscious effort to be more careful and avoid the jousting field area because it is the worst for dust. The final pee break and I get ready for the opening of the gates.
MAGIC LOST
Stupina has a special magic for some kids. Most days this year, so far, kids have come running up to me in Stupina so happy to see me again. There comes a time though, when they grow up. They like you, but that magic is lost. I try to avoid that moment as long as possible. It’s why I never unmask at MD. They know her only as her character, never as me, and it should be that way. Before gate, one of my regular audience members is brought up by her mom. She learned last year that Columbina and Stupina are the same person, but I am puttng on the mask, getting the costume ready, and the girl, though older now, is brought up to say hi. I meet her with no accent, no character…it feels wrong. There is something lost in that connection. I don’t think it will ever be back. She doesn’t hate me or anything, but that special magic she had won’t come back. It made me very sad.
HUGS FOR SALE…FREE
The cannon booms and the audience pours in again. Familiar faces, my little “brother,” and others from NCRF as Clan McCrack. I hug many and cheer goodbye. Suddenly, I see Dash coming down and we call him over. We ask him for a tour, we haven’t had one in years. The old gang, Mrs. Pugh, William Teller, Dash, and myself give a tour to the villagers piling in. It feels both new and comfortable. Off he goes and I, to save my voice a bit, pull out the Free Hugs sign I have had behind me. I go a bit past Robin Hood and hold up my sign. Plenty of people walk by, some laugh, others tell me I do need a hug, and many actually hug me. I love doing this. I am amazed at how starved for physical touch people are. All ages hug me. All types. Some are pushed, some come running. My ED asked if anyone ever got fresh…eh, as Stupina, they don’t think about it though some hugs are really intense.
UP UP AND AWAY
Next it was time to prep for Stupina. I headed backstage for a few minutes to cool down. I realized I don’t really get hawk time with the acts before me running 25or so minutes and me still needing to set up. Because of this, I decided to cool down early, then head out on the side for a few minutes to hawk before I have to set up. I get out and say hi, set up, and get Mr. Pig to welcome people with me. I am told it’s time to start, so I do. The show is good, but my audience member reader is not loud enough. This is a problem. During the show, I ask for a kid as a volunteer. While many hands go high wanting to help out, I know, without looking, that the little girl I mentioned before, has not raised her hand. I am glad the magic is there for others. I love to give that kind of joy to people.
REVOLUTION
Well, Re- evolving, or the like. I pack up props and head back to the costume house after greeting a few audience members. Backstage, still a bit drippy with sweat. I begin to change, cool down, and transform into Columbina. After a few false starts, I am able to head out. I have split a cliff bar with Trinket and we are ready to face the world. We wander toward the White Hart and I stop to chat or throw one liners at patrons as we wander. It’s reflex, and my job. We stop near O’Shucks and see a few regulars, we say some quick hellos and get to the other pub. We have time to wire up and get to the front of the stage area with a few minutes to spare. The Rogues pass the stage off to us and the crowd turns over slightly. I am amused that we already have regulars who rush the stage before we start to be up close to watch. Its kinda odd to have the beginnings of a fan club like that…but it makes me happy.
INTEPRETATION 2.1
The audience is really responsive to the new show. We are finally seeing what the material does, because with the new body mics we created the night before, and the new batteries, you can hear us REALLY well. We go through the crowd and flirt and sing and the audience can hear all the jokes. This makes us VERY happy. The show ends with a tender moment and we pass the stage over to the Pyrates Royale. We are stopped by numerous patrons who wish to ask questions, offer compliments, or want pictures. We get out of the way of the pirates as soon as we can, after joking about Skivee turning us off, with Hemloche’s retort. We are happy to not have to pull the sound systems as they get in the way of the meet and greet. In the crowd, I have seen Bobby, Bliss Goodbody’s husband. If he is here, so is she. I am now both excited and nervous. He says she is trying to see the show but missed this one and will come later, most likely. Breathe….
VARIATIONS
I head toward Bullseye with my bota to see if they would be able to fix it for me today so I have it for tomorrow. The lovely ladies greet me well, but sadly, the repair god is not around. Since I can use it in the morning for Stupina, I keep it. I head through the dust bowl to try a new lunch. I get a cold cut wrap and take it to my normal seats near O’shuck’s and the scales. I find two patron families and begin to chat. The group on my left is a bunch of older adults enjoying the day, the ones on the right are from the US and Belgium. They are living carefully on the road, but decided to stop here and splurge on whatever they wanted. Very different groups, both lovely conversations.
THE DUST SETTLES IN
Now what’s weird is I don’t remember much of what happened next. I know I wandered and I had to head to the backstage to fix the look that cracked on my bodice. That took time, that and the skirt hook repair. I know I chatted, I don’t think Baby Stupina came out. I KNOW I avoided the jousting field area like the plague, since I could see the wafting dust as it floated into my lungs. I apologize if we did something, if I chatted with you, or I had a moment…I can’t remember. I do remember KitteBlue telling me she was going to watch both show to figure out which one her dad would like. I remember her helping us plot EVILE, which I expect to learn more about later. Eventually, it’s time to start the next show.
INTERPRETATION PREPARATION
When I stop by the White Hart, one of the Rogues notes to me that they are getting the stage late. Their watch is 7 after, I pull out mine, it’s two after. I show him official Faire time, and we both acknowledge they are starting at a disadvantage. I wander out of their way to walk about the food court and chat. I get to the pub to see Trinket looking around panicked for me. I am still 15 early, but it’s later than she has seen me before. I head briefly to the Petting Zoo to find out how fast they sold out of their CD’s. Back in the White Hart we suit up and head toward the stage when it is only 2 till time. They finish and pass the stage to us. We lose some of the crowd to the diehard Rogue fans, but we have a good group of fans to see us, and since this show isn’t in the program, we are happy.
INTERPRETATION 2.2 – HOW TO HANDLE DRUNKS
So we go to start the new show and the crowd is much rowdier. We do have the elegant Dawntreader with a few other court members and RSTeachout. They, not the court members, have been drinking and they are much more vocal. We are in the middle of a song, and some patron in a purple mottled velvet cape walks toward the stage to take his cell phone call. We are about to start a new song, and I tell the man we will wait till he’s done to begin, as we don’t want to get in his way. He says we may proceed. Grand. We go to start and he steps up on the front corner of the White Hart and swings his cape in some weird version of a grand gesture over us and the mics and our mugs. Luckily, nothing falls. I say “wow, I remember my first beer.” Because there is really nothing else to say…or so I thought. Trinket follows me with “wow, I remembered to wear deodorant this morning.” While they cheered me, they were in awe of her. She won.
SITTING AT THE FEET OF THE MASTERS
Now Trinket has never met Bliss, not having ever been lucky enough to have been at faire when the Bawdy Balladeers or Full Measure exisited, so she had no idea what she looked like…I did. And in the back of the house, I see her. Breathe…We make MANY mistakes during the show, small things, lines, patter, but no one really seems to see how off we are. We each loose a note during the show. I hear the first crack of my voice. Sigh. After the show, we bring on Cercamon, clear our stuff from the stage, get French Canadian cheek kisses, and head off. A dear friend has some great pics that he shows Trinket, as I am a bit preoccupied. I head to Bliss. She liked the show. We made her laugh. I am VERY happy. She updates me on what is going on in her life. I have positive and strong thoughts for her and what she shared. Then, the pictures, which I hope to get soon.
FRENCH LESSONS
By the time we have packed up, chatted with those waiting for us, and drunk some more water, we have to head to Noblesse. Kitteblue has some evilness for us to review…we find the right piece and take it with us with the plans to make another piece or two.. We head back to the White Hart and Cercamon is done. We go to say hi and chat with Flo and gang. I also give some advice on where to find appropriate materials to a young lady. Cannon booms and we must go. I drag a reluctant Trinket away from the pub and to the costume house. We already have plans for the night, but we are not killing ourselves to leave immediately. We watch the French Canadians whip the ass of every American who tries to kick around the soccer ball with them. Americans sucked…French Canadians win. Time to head home and order Chinese.
PAST TIMES WITH GOOD COMPANY
At home, the Lelios and Trinket share hot tea, Chinese and good conversation. All too soon, we are ready to crash asleep again. I know I will need the rest but forgo the hot shower to clear the lungs. This proves to be a VERY bad choice, even with the saline spray I used to make sure I had a lubricated nose. I kept cleaning it all day, but it was always dirty again, scary dirty. I HATE faire nose. Sleep over takes me in amongst a few coughing fits.
HELLO, I CAN’T HEAR YOU
I wake up coughing more, feeling exhausted. My voice, which existed the night before, appears to be shot. I start using licorice root extract. I begin to plan silent activities for my street. Trinket and I stop and grab breakfast and even more than physical, I stress a breathing vocal warm up to try to wake up my throat from it’s stupor. I am only slightly successful. I have lost a section of my mid register…where almost every song I sing harmony sits. Joy. We try to work the keys to make sure we can sing everything, since again, today, we DO sing everything. We do a simple sound check and I mentally prepare to up my volume as much as possible. I am now thinking of how I can manage to keep the voice I have for my singing shows.
OUT OF ORDER
I go back to the costume house and set props, get the costume on and then do some quick touch ups on makeup, which I hadn’t gotten done yet. I head to the morning meeting after a quick stop at CAT and then over to the Lyric. Morning meeting is brief and unenergetic. We are all dragging in our boots and plans are being made to work out how to protect the voices of the major characters on stages. Licorice root extract for those without high blood pressure is shared. A unit is being offered, much to the amusement of the audience. The day is set to begin and BEEP we are off. We head to the front, I am cautious ot not reply to anyone who wants me to yell across the site. I take my final break and start to suit up When discussing my voice issues, the recommendation to speak to Dinty about his sound system is made. If I don’t have to yell, this would be a good thing. I ask him if I can borrow the system and he says yes, meet him at 11:15.
SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS
I can hear the actors struggling in the gate show and with a BOOM, we open. Another large crowd comes pouring in. I am waving, but not speaking until someone comes close. I stay for the first wave and get down with my sign. Stupina is offering Free Hugs again. Mostly, because I don’t have to say much to be very entertaining. Again, multiple hugs from surprising sources. Hugs range from the enthusiastic jump to the gentle wrap of arms around a little child. Some start shy when I stand, but when I squat down, they are very happy to stop and hug me. It’s Seniors Day, and most of my huggers today are over 65. They are all happily willing to share that human contact.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
I hug people until it’s time to go backstage and go over the system with Dinty. He sets up the system and shows me the basics then heads out. I mic up and head out into the house. Again, I only have moments to set up and start, so little to no hawking. Having the mic reminds me why like them. I can say things Sotto voce and they audience can hear it. I get a few different laughs because of it. I can tone down my voice a bit and just be more careful. My arch nemesis is sadly quiet and dead. Ironically, his son, who wants to be my sidekick is every bit as super energy as his dad is bland. The kid steals the show and I am happy for it. I finish the show and still have a voice. Ok, one down, 2 to go.
TRANSITIONS
Backstage I cool down and pack up while chatting with Bob. While at Gatehouse, I am treated to a lovely site down by the costume house. Red is emblazoned on my brain. I head down there and go to store props, pull the stuff to wash and head in to change. Trinket has friends in the village, so she fixes my hair for me and heads out while I complete getting changed. I am laced up by Mrs Pugh and head out to the pub. I am licoricing and try to get hold of Pyrate Lady early and miss her at the petting zoo. I get to the pre-show area and wire up.
INTERPRETATION 3.1
Again, our “stalkers” as they have termed themselves come running forward. Returing regulars are waiting in the back and rush forward to get seats. Regular faces and returning faces join us and even sit in the really sunny seats, blinding themselves for us. Also in the house are some dear friends who hadn’t been at faire yet and other who have been told to come see us. It’s a nice feeling. They audience is having fun. People sing along and I see one of the regulars singing along with the song that I wrote. It took a bit longer here than it did at NCRF, but I saw it, and it’s a weird rush. I hear my voice struggling a lot and the sound system is ringing a bit depending on where I stand…damn, I turn it back down when I can. I hear the voice struggling on the second to last song, but thanks to whomever, the last song sounds good, even if my speaking voice is shot. We bow and welcome the Pyrates to the stage.
MEDICINAL PRIORITIES
Skivee warns me to be quiet so I don’t fling parts of my lungs or throat on the crowd. Pyrate Lady tells me to go over to Terrible Turnip for some vocal remedy advice. I un-mic and after getting sidetracked, head over. She recommends I go buy some licorice root at the herbalist. You just chew on it and it helps your voice. I head over to get a stick and run into Beer Pam. Only a few cents later, I have my stick and try to bite it and chew and …EYWH, Bleah! Pieces of wood breaking off into my mouth and it tastes AWFUL! Bleak feh, icky bleacky. My next thought? How can I make this a bit? Yeah, it’s a sickness.
CATCHING UP
I run into Miranda Kali and her friend, who I sadly can’t remember the name of. Miranda has been around as long as me, if not longer, at faire, and she remembers the older days. She thanks me for bringing back the old “raunchiness” to faire grateful for the return to the music that inspired us and made us laugh so many years ago. After a short chat, I take my leave with my bota and licorice root.
MAKING ART OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL
I have taken to chewing the licorice root with the sourest face that I can possibly create. Each time I start to bite it, my face resembles either a pouting child or a cat that has something stuck on it’s tongue wiping the weird bark off my tongue. Ickly, bleah. When a patron asks me why I am eating it if I don’t like it. I take it as a chance to explain the how medicine in our time is roots and the like. You get pills and liquids, I get a stick. People laugh AND learn, the best kind of bit. I pout all the way to Bullseye and drop off my bota being told I can pick it up that afternoon (which I forget to do at the end of the day).
FOOD AND COMPANY
I go to get a steak on a stake, but they drop my first one on the ground. They end up giving me a new one, but it was sadly the grizzliest/fattiest steak I EVER had from that booth. Ah well. I enjoy it with a family on one side and an adult sister group on my other side. One sister turns out to be a pharmacist and we talk about my licorice root and how awful it is. The steak is better at least. We talk about their new glasses and other fun events of the day and eventually take our leave.
SHARING THE ….JOY
I head toward Kenwood eating my stick and pouting. I stop at Piland’s and whine more about my stick and get more water. with patrons, making faces. I am making people laugh as they offer other healing remedies. I stick with my ginger/sugar packets (thanks threefingered salute) the licorice extract and the root. The root sucked. Patrons stopped by and we amused them as well. I headed out and ran into Harry, Ursula and Hugh and realized I had missed the appointment to give them notes. Luckily, they were about to do it again, so I followed them down the hill to the board walk chewing and pouting. I sat and watched their bit. There was great potential, but it needed some editing, separating, and coaching. It already showed improvement by the time I left them to continue their work. Back up the hill to Noblesse to go over the evileness and get some wonderful prosciutto…much better than a stupid stick.
BLESSINGS FROM THE QUEEN
I step out of Noblesse and see the queen and her ladies sitting in Piland’s area. I walk over with my stick and ask if I may beg a boon. She says yes, but only if I can talk louder. Um, there is no way I can be louder. I look at her sadly for a moment and turn on my heel and start to leave. She stops me and calls me back. Lady Fitzwilliam agrees to translate, which includes yelling what I say after I say it. I tell her I have a licorice root to help my ailing voice, but it tastes horrible. Would she be willing to bless it, because with her sweetness, it is bound to taste better. She takes it, asks for honey (which I hand off to her), she honey’s the top of the stick and blesses it in latin, then hands it back to me. It does taste better…until I eat the honey off in chewing. I noted it must be because it is back in my hands that it is now bitter again. I thank her and head away.
TIME TO…SING?
I head back to the White Hart to get set up and run into a friend behind the bar. He tells me that his cat passed away the night before, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. I begin to cry for him as I loved playing with her at parties. Then, it dawns on me, that was the exact same day a year ago that Smudge passed away, and the tears come in earnest. Trinket arrives and looks at me and panic crosses her face. I explain and begin to dry my eyes, since I can’t look like I have been crying during the show. We mic up and head toward the stage, making friends along the way.
INTERPRETATION 3.2 – DESPARATION AND ROSES
So with all my work since the last show, the dust has been so awful and the medicinal techniques only going so far. I am really nervous about my notes. The first song is ROUGH, but I am somewhat melody, and the audience knows that part, so they listen to the chorus less, whew. The next few songs are ok, but the comedy is going well. I struggle badly through Old Maid in the Garrett. Personally, I thought it screamed suckage, but again, the song is all about the comedy, and we sold that. I pull it together for the final songs, being careful with volume, etc. It is one I am not “proud” of, but proud we got through professionally. Mid show, roses appear at our feet from a rose seller and a generous sweet friend.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?
After the show, we are again surrounded by people complimenting us and asking for pictures. We pose, chat, thank and stare a bit in surprise. We go to put props away and have a past history moment. Who remembers the Back Room of the Pig’s Butt. We go in and make noise and bang the door a bit…then another woman asks to come in. And we do it all over again. Once props are packed, we come out of the back room to the crowd waiting, breathing hard, straightening clothing, thanking each other . It was very amusing.
DO YOU WANNA DANCE?
The boys from Cercamon are still playing, so we stay to listen…ok, I listen, Trinket begins to contact juggle to the music. Heads start to watch her and multiple photographers take her pic. DreamTigress joins in and bellydances while Trinket does her thing. No worries about it stopping the boys from getting a good response to their music, They are asked for an encore and they oblige. For that one, even I stand up and dance a bit in the back. My moves are more isolations and angular moves, working muscles rather than just dance. Isolation are a real challenge in a bodice, let me tell you…but I am flexible and am able t do it. Trinket is still the star as everyone can’t stop staring at her and her work.
HOLDING ONTO MOMENTS
Once they are done, we join them and the regulars again keeping them company. We chat, prepare for Trinket’s birthday NEXT WEEKEND GANG…ok, it’s really Thursday, I believe we should celebrate her on Saturday, cause I am like that. The boys leave and we follow suit before the cannon booms. To the costume house and changed pretty much in a nice empty space. I am glad we finished our shows, I am glad the audiences enjoyed them, I am glad everyone is mostly healthy. We talk to people about dinner and end up with the small Teatro NCRF contingent at CPK again. No pretty waiter, but we have Scapino. At one point, they both get cell phone calls and I sit and am amused as I eat…then, ironically, I get a call to someone I forgot to call (sorry, dude). Timing is everything. Talking till the staff wanted to leave, we head out and hug our goodbyes. Trinket is pooped and decides to crash at the house. I end up staying up to late starting this, but finally get to bed.
It was a long and exhausting weekend. Now that it’s Thursday, my voice is back. We are up and ready for the weekend coming. Interpreters are only the 1:30 show this weekend, but as you all know, there is a Pub Sing. No, I don’t know if we will be performing in it, that’s not up to me. But I will be there singing along to be sure!
See you soon!
STARTS OF THE BEGININGS
Friday saw me going to site to set up costumes/props/supplies. I really enjoy stopping by and getting things ready before the faire starts. I have a brief chat with those there about the things that have happened behind the scenes in the last week. While drama is happily kept at a minimum, it likes to show it’s ugly head once in a while, but all was well. I head home, get some other work done, have Cluck-U-Chicken wings with the Lelios and head to bed.
AND SO IT BEGINS AGAIN
Up at 6:40 and heading to site. I think I am early, but Trinket has beat me to the stage. We stretch and warm up carefully with our voices as we are adding extra shows on top of a long three day weekend. We start to run lines again to make sure we are doing the right show and head off for our sound check. Sound works fine, from what we can tell and we try to punch it a bit, but it starts ringing back, which means we have to go back down again. Ah well, we shall see what extra bodies in the space do for it. Once we are set, we run up to chat with the Pyrates available and then back to the costume house to get ready. I set props, then get dressed. Then off to meeting I go.
SUMMER BREEZE
Thank god the weather is cooler this weekend. Morning meeting is a slightly longer affair, if you can call adding 2 minutes longer. Much to go over and then we head back to the front…as it were. I run for my last pee break and then get up on the fountain. The front gate show is mic’ed now, so we can hear some more of the lines. Makes all the difference on the actors wearing them and makes the others work so hard, but at least most of the event can be heard. The cannon makes a rather loud boom and all the gates open.
FLOODS OF PEOPLE
The gates open and the initial rush keeps coming and coming. It promises to be a very busy day. I have given up on my old spot this year for Stupina, so once it’s time to head farther into the village, I head deep past the White Hart to my old tree between the bead booth and Piland’s. I sit facing the bead booth and start to sing and chat with random people. Master Piland steps out and tries to romance Stupina, it doesn’t work, she hides and cries and doesn’t believe him. She’s a smart cookie that one is. She chats with patrons and then heads back to the front for the Stupina show.
STUPINA FLIES AGAIN…ALMOST
I take about five minutes or so backstage to let my face cool down and get water before the show starts. Before me are madrigal singers…I think Larksong actually. They turn the stage over to me and by the time I set it up, it’s time to go…so much for hawking. So remember when I said I thought I was missing a prop last week. I figured out what it was and had to remake it this past week. If anyone sees a neon green foam rock floating around Gatehouse, I would like my kryptonite back. Thanks. The show itself goes well with one of my favorite groups of regulars, sans 1. Turns out the older sister is home ill and could not make it in, which made me sad. I asked them to tell her that I wished her well. My reader is a bit quiet, but I think the jist of it gets across.
RECOUP AND REGROUP
After the show, I head backstage and repack props while Trinket reorganizes the rest. She heads down to the Costume House with me following a few moments after chatting with Bob…Magic Bob. For some reason, his name is easy to remember. ;-) I get out of the icky clothes and cool down while fixing hair and make up. Then, with the able hands of Mrs. Pugh and Trinket, I get dressed. Trinket and I split a cliff bar to hold out for after our show. We head out chatting with patrons and flirting with the men. We run into some regulars who have many wonderful things to say about our show. About 5 minutes before our time, we head toward the stage and turn ourselves on during the last Rogues Show. Yeah, most of the women use the Rogues to do it for them, but we are self-sufficient. Hee.
INTERPRETATION 1.1
The show starts with high energy, lots of fun and one of the Entertainment management in the house. The audience seems to really enjoy the show and there is much laughter. Our body mics aren’t seeming to get much sound, even when they are up on our faces. We get lots of laughs and take our bows. Afterwards, the EM person comes up and says the show was good, but no one could hear it in the center or the back. He offers suggestions for our mics and we plan on some changes for the next show. He also offers some rather evil extra jokes and notes how pleased he was to see us to “there” with them at a different point. It was nice to see the burgeoning excitement as the brainstorming happened. Some days are good.
LUNCHING WITH THE LOCALS
I end up heading to my favorite Steak booth to get lunch after a bout of mingling and dewiring. We have taken our mics with us to figure out how to rig them. I keep getting side tracked with ideas on who to ask, but no one has what we need. Finally, I get to the face casting booth and they do have the wire that will do the quick fix for us. Next door at Southern Exposure, then lend me wire cutters and I gather the materials I need. Now, I feel like I can eat lunch. Steak with strangers is always one of my favorite times of day. Today, I find a group of couples in their 50s or higher. We chat about he faire. I inevitably run into someone who has never been to the show. It makes me happy to welcome them. I rave about my favorite foods and offer recommendations throughout the festival grounds. Once done, I head back to make my new rigs.
TECHNO ON A DIME BUDGET
I head back to the costume house and gather Trinket’s mic system. With a minute amount of finaegeling, we are able to rig up mics that now wrap around our ears and sit by our mouths. We hope this will make a difference. Trinket packs the mics in her back and we head off our ways. She to perform in Elephant Child and me to watch it after doing some Goodbye Duty at the front gate, since opening day was no real judge on how good or bad they did on their own. I hear people in the audience chucking at the bird or the other physical choices. I am bummed that no one really notices the subtlety that the Crocodile uses. When you see the show, once he says hi to the croc, watch what the croc does. He does some really great puppetry work. Made me giggle maniacally every time. Now, I don’t think the audience notices. They all do great work, but he makes me giggle. Always a good thing.
WANDERLUST
After the show is over, I head back to pee and then out to the streets again. I start to notice the clouds of dust over the jousting field way. We are in for a hellacious dusty day. I start trying to pull out my handkerchief and clean my nose, OH DEAR GOD it’s black already. This is the thing I fear. This kind of dust is what kills my voice at faire. The Interpreters are doing double sets this weekend and I want to make sure I have a voice for the last sets. This makes me very nervous. I drink more water.
INTERPRETERS 1.2
It’s getting to be time for the show, so I head over toward White Hart to find a frantic Trinket searching the crowd for me. We have 15 minutes so we wire up and stay toward the back chatting. Once we are at about 5, we head toward the front to be visible and turn on again. We get to the stage and Trinket sounds great, but my system isn’t working at all, DAMMIT. Mid song I have to head back to the stage and spend the rest of the show in the stage mic’s to be heard. This is NOT what our plan was, but we figured that the batteries just died, so we have to hope that tomorrow will be better. Those that see the show, including Thomas Cromwell, Mother Love, and the Lelio’s seem to enjoy themselves, incognito. We are starting to synch better with the new material and this audience REALLY gets the jokes. It’s nice to see people singing along with us. The show is over and it’s time for us to pack up after introducing the cute French Canadian boys, L’ensemble Cercamon!
KATHUNK
We are tired. We clear the stage and pack up the sound system. We mingle our way out of the pub and slowly toward the costume shop. I am so tired. We get to the costume house, and change before the crowd shows. Boy I am pooped. We get out and decide to head out to California Pizza Kitchen before most everyone else has decided where to go. We go to the bar to sit immediately and order and eat within ½ hour. The other that were thinking about joining us arrive just after we paid the check and are heading out. We apologize, but we are falling asleep on the bar…even with the view of our favorite waiter. (really nice view)
TECHNO BABBLE 2
Back at the house, we start laundry and pull out the wireless mock ups. I pull out bandaids and begin to wrap them around the wire we had already set after we shape them. Once covered, they seem to hold up perfectly. The test will be the next day at the faire, but they look pretty decent and pale fleshy like us. Though even the band aids weren’t as fair as Trinket. Laundry into the dryer and we crashed to sleep before 10. All too soon, I woke and had to be back at faire,
TAKE TWO
We wake up and head to a take out breakfast before work. Quick protein/fat/carbs before the long day ahead. The day is still cool and lovely when we get to site. Cool enough that I had to add a layer cause I was chilly. We stretch, start makeup, run the lines we screwed up, and do a vocal warm up. Then off to sound check. The new mics are making a definitive difference ESPECIALLY now that I have batteries…it’s always sad when a woman is out of batteries. I feel much better now. We check and can be heard to the back of the pub, but of course, no one else is in there, so who knows.
SET UP AND SET OFF
So we head out to the costume house which is just opened. We are religious about not walking in before Stitch has opened it. Just bad as an overall choice. I get props up to the stage and set the extra pigs for Ms. Trinket to organize. Then, down to the costume house to change. I go to pour water into my bota and Boom! Water starts pouring everywhere. Turns out my bota has sprung a leak. I am not sure which side it’s on, but I am mostly unable to drink from it now. On this dusty a weekend, that’s not good. I grab extra lozenges to protect what I can and head to morning meeting.
READY, SET, GO!
We go over notes, have the normal laughs, have much info presented to us. Meeting is short, and we are done at least two minutes earlier this today. Some of the actors have already lost their voices or are losing them. I make a conscious effort to be more careful and avoid the jousting field area because it is the worst for dust. The final pee break and I get ready for the opening of the gates.
MAGIC LOST
Stupina has a special magic for some kids. Most days this year, so far, kids have come running up to me in Stupina so happy to see me again. There comes a time though, when they grow up. They like you, but that magic is lost. I try to avoid that moment as long as possible. It’s why I never unmask at MD. They know her only as her character, never as me, and it should be that way. Before gate, one of my regular audience members is brought up by her mom. She learned last year that Columbina and Stupina are the same person, but I am puttng on the mask, getting the costume ready, and the girl, though older now, is brought up to say hi. I meet her with no accent, no character…it feels wrong. There is something lost in that connection. I don’t think it will ever be back. She doesn’t hate me or anything, but that special magic she had won’t come back. It made me very sad.
HUGS FOR SALE…FREE
The cannon booms and the audience pours in again. Familiar faces, my little “brother,” and others from NCRF as Clan McCrack. I hug many and cheer goodbye. Suddenly, I see Dash coming down and we call him over. We ask him for a tour, we haven’t had one in years. The old gang, Mrs. Pugh, William Teller, Dash, and myself give a tour to the villagers piling in. It feels both new and comfortable. Off he goes and I, to save my voice a bit, pull out the Free Hugs sign I have had behind me. I go a bit past Robin Hood and hold up my sign. Plenty of people walk by, some laugh, others tell me I do need a hug, and many actually hug me. I love doing this. I am amazed at how starved for physical touch people are. All ages hug me. All types. Some are pushed, some come running. My ED asked if anyone ever got fresh…eh, as Stupina, they don’t think about it though some hugs are really intense.
UP UP AND AWAY
Next it was time to prep for Stupina. I headed backstage for a few minutes to cool down. I realized I don’t really get hawk time with the acts before me running 25or so minutes and me still needing to set up. Because of this, I decided to cool down early, then head out on the side for a few minutes to hawk before I have to set up. I get out and say hi, set up, and get Mr. Pig to welcome people with me. I am told it’s time to start, so I do. The show is good, but my audience member reader is not loud enough. This is a problem. During the show, I ask for a kid as a volunteer. While many hands go high wanting to help out, I know, without looking, that the little girl I mentioned before, has not raised her hand. I am glad the magic is there for others. I love to give that kind of joy to people.
REVOLUTION
Well, Re- evolving, or the like. I pack up props and head back to the costume house after greeting a few audience members. Backstage, still a bit drippy with sweat. I begin to change, cool down, and transform into Columbina. After a few false starts, I am able to head out. I have split a cliff bar with Trinket and we are ready to face the world. We wander toward the White Hart and I stop to chat or throw one liners at patrons as we wander. It’s reflex, and my job. We stop near O’Shucks and see a few regulars, we say some quick hellos and get to the other pub. We have time to wire up and get to the front of the stage area with a few minutes to spare. The Rogues pass the stage off to us and the crowd turns over slightly. I am amused that we already have regulars who rush the stage before we start to be up close to watch. Its kinda odd to have the beginnings of a fan club like that…but it makes me happy.
INTEPRETATION 2.1
The audience is really responsive to the new show. We are finally seeing what the material does, because with the new body mics we created the night before, and the new batteries, you can hear us REALLY well. We go through the crowd and flirt and sing and the audience can hear all the jokes. This makes us VERY happy. The show ends with a tender moment and we pass the stage over to the Pyrates Royale. We are stopped by numerous patrons who wish to ask questions, offer compliments, or want pictures. We get out of the way of the pirates as soon as we can, after joking about Skivee turning us off, with Hemloche’s retort. We are happy to not have to pull the sound systems as they get in the way of the meet and greet. In the crowd, I have seen Bobby, Bliss Goodbody’s husband. If he is here, so is she. I am now both excited and nervous. He says she is trying to see the show but missed this one and will come later, most likely. Breathe….
VARIATIONS
I head toward Bullseye with my bota to see if they would be able to fix it for me today so I have it for tomorrow. The lovely ladies greet me well, but sadly, the repair god is not around. Since I can use it in the morning for Stupina, I keep it. I head through the dust bowl to try a new lunch. I get a cold cut wrap and take it to my normal seats near O’shuck’s and the scales. I find two patron families and begin to chat. The group on my left is a bunch of older adults enjoying the day, the ones on the right are from the US and Belgium. They are living carefully on the road, but decided to stop here and splurge on whatever they wanted. Very different groups, both lovely conversations.
THE DUST SETTLES IN
Now what’s weird is I don’t remember much of what happened next. I know I wandered and I had to head to the backstage to fix the look that cracked on my bodice. That took time, that and the skirt hook repair. I know I chatted, I don’t think Baby Stupina came out. I KNOW I avoided the jousting field area like the plague, since I could see the wafting dust as it floated into my lungs. I apologize if we did something, if I chatted with you, or I had a moment…I can’t remember. I do remember KitteBlue telling me she was going to watch both show to figure out which one her dad would like. I remember her helping us plot EVILE, which I expect to learn more about later. Eventually, it’s time to start the next show.
INTERPRETATION PREPARATION
When I stop by the White Hart, one of the Rogues notes to me that they are getting the stage late. Their watch is 7 after, I pull out mine, it’s two after. I show him official Faire time, and we both acknowledge they are starting at a disadvantage. I wander out of their way to walk about the food court and chat. I get to the pub to see Trinket looking around panicked for me. I am still 15 early, but it’s later than she has seen me before. I head briefly to the Petting Zoo to find out how fast they sold out of their CD’s. Back in the White Hart we suit up and head toward the stage when it is only 2 till time. They finish and pass the stage to us. We lose some of the crowd to the diehard Rogue fans, but we have a good group of fans to see us, and since this show isn’t in the program, we are happy.
INTERPRETATION 2.2 – HOW TO HANDLE DRUNKS
So we go to start the new show and the crowd is much rowdier. We do have the elegant Dawntreader with a few other court members and RSTeachout. They, not the court members, have been drinking and they are much more vocal. We are in the middle of a song, and some patron in a purple mottled velvet cape walks toward the stage to take his cell phone call. We are about to start a new song, and I tell the man we will wait till he’s done to begin, as we don’t want to get in his way. He says we may proceed. Grand. We go to start and he steps up on the front corner of the White Hart and swings his cape in some weird version of a grand gesture over us and the mics and our mugs. Luckily, nothing falls. I say “wow, I remember my first beer.” Because there is really nothing else to say…or so I thought. Trinket follows me with “wow, I remembered to wear deodorant this morning.” While they cheered me, they were in awe of her. She won.
SITTING AT THE FEET OF THE MASTERS
Now Trinket has never met Bliss, not having ever been lucky enough to have been at faire when the Bawdy Balladeers or Full Measure exisited, so she had no idea what she looked like…I did. And in the back of the house, I see her. Breathe…We make MANY mistakes during the show, small things, lines, patter, but no one really seems to see how off we are. We each loose a note during the show. I hear the first crack of my voice. Sigh. After the show, we bring on Cercamon, clear our stuff from the stage, get French Canadian cheek kisses, and head off. A dear friend has some great pics that he shows Trinket, as I am a bit preoccupied. I head to Bliss. She liked the show. We made her laugh. I am VERY happy. She updates me on what is going on in her life. I have positive and strong thoughts for her and what she shared. Then, the pictures, which I hope to get soon.
FRENCH LESSONS
By the time we have packed up, chatted with those waiting for us, and drunk some more water, we have to head to Noblesse. Kitteblue has some evilness for us to review…we find the right piece and take it with us with the plans to make another piece or two.. We head back to the White Hart and Cercamon is done. We go to say hi and chat with Flo and gang. I also give some advice on where to find appropriate materials to a young lady. Cannon booms and we must go. I drag a reluctant Trinket away from the pub and to the costume house. We already have plans for the night, but we are not killing ourselves to leave immediately. We watch the French Canadians whip the ass of every American who tries to kick around the soccer ball with them. Americans sucked…French Canadians win. Time to head home and order Chinese.
PAST TIMES WITH GOOD COMPANY
At home, the Lelios and Trinket share hot tea, Chinese and good conversation. All too soon, we are ready to crash asleep again. I know I will need the rest but forgo the hot shower to clear the lungs. This proves to be a VERY bad choice, even with the saline spray I used to make sure I had a lubricated nose. I kept cleaning it all day, but it was always dirty again, scary dirty. I HATE faire nose. Sleep over takes me in amongst a few coughing fits.
HELLO, I CAN’T HEAR YOU
I wake up coughing more, feeling exhausted. My voice, which existed the night before, appears to be shot. I start using licorice root extract. I begin to plan silent activities for my street. Trinket and I stop and grab breakfast and even more than physical, I stress a breathing vocal warm up to try to wake up my throat from it’s stupor. I am only slightly successful. I have lost a section of my mid register…where almost every song I sing harmony sits. Joy. We try to work the keys to make sure we can sing everything, since again, today, we DO sing everything. We do a simple sound check and I mentally prepare to up my volume as much as possible. I am now thinking of how I can manage to keep the voice I have for my singing shows.
OUT OF ORDER
I go back to the costume house and set props, get the costume on and then do some quick touch ups on makeup, which I hadn’t gotten done yet. I head to the morning meeting after a quick stop at CAT and then over to the Lyric. Morning meeting is brief and unenergetic. We are all dragging in our boots and plans are being made to work out how to protect the voices of the major characters on stages. Licorice root extract for those without high blood pressure is shared. A unit is being offered, much to the amusement of the audience. The day is set to begin and BEEP we are off. We head to the front, I am cautious ot not reply to anyone who wants me to yell across the site. I take my final break and start to suit up When discussing my voice issues, the recommendation to speak to Dinty about his sound system is made. If I don’t have to yell, this would be a good thing. I ask him if I can borrow the system and he says yes, meet him at 11:15.
SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS
I can hear the actors struggling in the gate show and with a BOOM, we open. Another large crowd comes pouring in. I am waving, but not speaking until someone comes close. I stay for the first wave and get down with my sign. Stupina is offering Free Hugs again. Mostly, because I don’t have to say much to be very entertaining. Again, multiple hugs from surprising sources. Hugs range from the enthusiastic jump to the gentle wrap of arms around a little child. Some start shy when I stand, but when I squat down, they are very happy to stop and hug me. It’s Seniors Day, and most of my huggers today are over 65. They are all happily willing to share that human contact.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
I hug people until it’s time to go backstage and go over the system with Dinty. He sets up the system and shows me the basics then heads out. I mic up and head out into the house. Again, I only have moments to set up and start, so little to no hawking. Having the mic reminds me why like them. I can say things Sotto voce and they audience can hear it. I get a few different laughs because of it. I can tone down my voice a bit and just be more careful. My arch nemesis is sadly quiet and dead. Ironically, his son, who wants to be my sidekick is every bit as super energy as his dad is bland. The kid steals the show and I am happy for it. I finish the show and still have a voice. Ok, one down, 2 to go.
TRANSITIONS
Backstage I cool down and pack up while chatting with Bob. While at Gatehouse, I am treated to a lovely site down by the costume house. Red is emblazoned on my brain. I head down there and go to store props, pull the stuff to wash and head in to change. Trinket has friends in the village, so she fixes my hair for me and heads out while I complete getting changed. I am laced up by Mrs Pugh and head out to the pub. I am licoricing and try to get hold of Pyrate Lady early and miss her at the petting zoo. I get to the pre-show area and wire up.
INTERPRETATION 3.1
Again, our “stalkers” as they have termed themselves come running forward. Returing regulars are waiting in the back and rush forward to get seats. Regular faces and returning faces join us and even sit in the really sunny seats, blinding themselves for us. Also in the house are some dear friends who hadn’t been at faire yet and other who have been told to come see us. It’s a nice feeling. They audience is having fun. People sing along and I see one of the regulars singing along with the song that I wrote. It took a bit longer here than it did at NCRF, but I saw it, and it’s a weird rush. I hear my voice struggling a lot and the sound system is ringing a bit depending on where I stand…damn, I turn it back down when I can. I hear the voice struggling on the second to last song, but thanks to whomever, the last song sounds good, even if my speaking voice is shot. We bow and welcome the Pyrates to the stage.
MEDICINAL PRIORITIES
Skivee warns me to be quiet so I don’t fling parts of my lungs or throat on the crowd. Pyrate Lady tells me to go over to Terrible Turnip for some vocal remedy advice. I un-mic and after getting sidetracked, head over. She recommends I go buy some licorice root at the herbalist. You just chew on it and it helps your voice. I head over to get a stick and run into Beer Pam. Only a few cents later, I have my stick and try to bite it and chew and …EYWH, Bleah! Pieces of wood breaking off into my mouth and it tastes AWFUL! Bleak feh, icky bleacky. My next thought? How can I make this a bit? Yeah, it’s a sickness.
CATCHING UP
I run into Miranda Kali and her friend, who I sadly can’t remember the name of. Miranda has been around as long as me, if not longer, at faire, and she remembers the older days. She thanks me for bringing back the old “raunchiness” to faire grateful for the return to the music that inspired us and made us laugh so many years ago. After a short chat, I take my leave with my bota and licorice root.
MAKING ART OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL
I have taken to chewing the licorice root with the sourest face that I can possibly create. Each time I start to bite it, my face resembles either a pouting child or a cat that has something stuck on it’s tongue wiping the weird bark off my tongue. Ickly, bleah. When a patron asks me why I am eating it if I don’t like it. I take it as a chance to explain the how medicine in our time is roots and the like. You get pills and liquids, I get a stick. People laugh AND learn, the best kind of bit. I pout all the way to Bullseye and drop off my bota being told I can pick it up that afternoon (which I forget to do at the end of the day).
FOOD AND COMPANY
I go to get a steak on a stake, but they drop my first one on the ground. They end up giving me a new one, but it was sadly the grizzliest/fattiest steak I EVER had from that booth. Ah well. I enjoy it with a family on one side and an adult sister group on my other side. One sister turns out to be a pharmacist and we talk about my licorice root and how awful it is. The steak is better at least. We talk about their new glasses and other fun events of the day and eventually take our leave.
SHARING THE ….JOY
I head toward Kenwood eating my stick and pouting. I stop at Piland’s and whine more about my stick and get more water. with patrons, making faces. I am making people laugh as they offer other healing remedies. I stick with my ginger/sugar packets (thanks threefingered salute) the licorice extract and the root. The root sucked. Patrons stopped by and we amused them as well. I headed out and ran into Harry, Ursula and Hugh and realized I had missed the appointment to give them notes. Luckily, they were about to do it again, so I followed them down the hill to the board walk chewing and pouting. I sat and watched their bit. There was great potential, but it needed some editing, separating, and coaching. It already showed improvement by the time I left them to continue their work. Back up the hill to Noblesse to go over the evileness and get some wonderful prosciutto…much better than a stupid stick.
BLESSINGS FROM THE QUEEN
I step out of Noblesse and see the queen and her ladies sitting in Piland’s area. I walk over with my stick and ask if I may beg a boon. She says yes, but only if I can talk louder. Um, there is no way I can be louder. I look at her sadly for a moment and turn on my heel and start to leave. She stops me and calls me back. Lady Fitzwilliam agrees to translate, which includes yelling what I say after I say it. I tell her I have a licorice root to help my ailing voice, but it tastes horrible. Would she be willing to bless it, because with her sweetness, it is bound to taste better. She takes it, asks for honey (which I hand off to her), she honey’s the top of the stick and blesses it in latin, then hands it back to me. It does taste better…until I eat the honey off in chewing. I noted it must be because it is back in my hands that it is now bitter again. I thank her and head away.
TIME TO…SING?
I head back to the White Hart to get set up and run into a friend behind the bar. He tells me that his cat passed away the night before, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. I begin to cry for him as I loved playing with her at parties. Then, it dawns on me, that was the exact same day a year ago that Smudge passed away, and the tears come in earnest. Trinket arrives and looks at me and panic crosses her face. I explain and begin to dry my eyes, since I can’t look like I have been crying during the show. We mic up and head toward the stage, making friends along the way.
INTERPRETATION 3.2 – DESPARATION AND ROSES
So with all my work since the last show, the dust has been so awful and the medicinal techniques only going so far. I am really nervous about my notes. The first song is ROUGH, but I am somewhat melody, and the audience knows that part, so they listen to the chorus less, whew. The next few songs are ok, but the comedy is going well. I struggle badly through Old Maid in the Garrett. Personally, I thought it screamed suckage, but again, the song is all about the comedy, and we sold that. I pull it together for the final songs, being careful with volume, etc. It is one I am not “proud” of, but proud we got through professionally. Mid show, roses appear at our feet from a rose seller and a generous sweet friend.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?
After the show, we are again surrounded by people complimenting us and asking for pictures. We pose, chat, thank and stare a bit in surprise. We go to put props away and have a past history moment. Who remembers the Back Room of the Pig’s Butt. We go in and make noise and bang the door a bit…then another woman asks to come in. And we do it all over again. Once props are packed, we come out of the back room to the crowd waiting, breathing hard, straightening clothing, thanking each other . It was very amusing.
DO YOU WANNA DANCE?
The boys from Cercamon are still playing, so we stay to listen…ok, I listen, Trinket begins to contact juggle to the music. Heads start to watch her and multiple photographers take her pic. DreamTigress joins in and bellydances while Trinket does her thing. No worries about it stopping the boys from getting a good response to their music, They are asked for an encore and they oblige. For that one, even I stand up and dance a bit in the back. My moves are more isolations and angular moves, working muscles rather than just dance. Isolation are a real challenge in a bodice, let me tell you…but I am flexible and am able t do it. Trinket is still the star as everyone can’t stop staring at her and her work.
HOLDING ONTO MOMENTS
Once they are done, we join them and the regulars again keeping them company. We chat, prepare for Trinket’s birthday NEXT WEEKEND GANG…ok, it’s really Thursday, I believe we should celebrate her on Saturday, cause I am like that. The boys leave and we follow suit before the cannon booms. To the costume house and changed pretty much in a nice empty space. I am glad we finished our shows, I am glad the audiences enjoyed them, I am glad everyone is mostly healthy. We talk to people about dinner and end up with the small Teatro NCRF contingent at CPK again. No pretty waiter, but we have Scapino. At one point, they both get cell phone calls and I sit and am amused as I eat…then, ironically, I get a call to someone I forgot to call (sorry, dude). Timing is everything. Talking till the staff wanted to leave, we head out and hug our goodbyes. Trinket is pooped and decides to crash at the house. I end up staying up to late starting this, but finally get to bed.
It was a long and exhausting weekend. Now that it’s Thursday, my voice is back. We are up and ready for the weekend coming. Interpreters are only the 1:30 show this weekend, but as you all know, there is a Pub Sing. No, I don’t know if we will be performing in it, that’s not up to me. But I will be there singing along to be sure!
See you soon!
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Date: 2007-09-06 03:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 05:20 pm (UTC)*hugs* I understand EXACTLY how you feel - 18 years of watching them grow up & they're calling me for THEIR kids' shows. It was nice to see you in all your personas this weekend.
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Date: 2007-09-06 07:37 pm (UTC)Whuh?
P.S. --
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Date: 2007-09-06 09:14 pm (UTC)Backstage at the Costume House. They were kicking around a soccer ball. Each time an American tried to do it, they totally messed up. Each time the FC's got it, it was harmony in physical action. It was very amusing.
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Date: 2007-09-06 09:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 09:21 pm (UTC)thank you so much for posting your weekends, it's wonderful to see faire through performer's eyes!
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Date: 2007-09-06 11:59 pm (UTC)Doc
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Date: 2007-09-07 02:41 am (UTC)Stupina's Magic
Date: 2007-09-07 12:36 am (UTC)