Md Part Uno, 2010
Sep. 1st, 2010 09:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradAnother season, another recap. Did you think I had forgotten you?....It’s been a whirlwind and time is getting away from me, so please forgive all my forgetfulness, wrong names, times and more. That being said, away we go!
A QUIET CELEBRATION
This year’s prep was spread over weeks so my last rehearsal was of Don Q where I rechecked the masks for damage and wear. It was also my birthday, so even though I had been a bit under the weather, I treated myself to a few snicker doodles as my birthday cake. The next day, I headed to site around noon to begin the final prep. I loaded into the costume house and headed to the White Hart for final rehearsal. Trinket and I ran our new show music and ran a few other show and bits while plotting out the shows for the weekend. It was far too distracting with friendly faces arriving, such as Kat Fairbanks with a tiny one in tow, a liar named Dinty, and a kind man on stilts, who introduced himself as “Sir Real, the puppet master.” Time was getting away from us, so we parted ways around 4ish and I ran to the mall to run more errands and get some special treats. Home just in time for work and last minute details as well as greeting my houseguest. Finally, a bit later than planned, I shower and get to bed. I take a little while to go to sleep, but get more rest than I usually do on an opening night.
AND SO IT BEGINS
In the morning, Cora and I head into site after a brief stop for brekkies. I am being a bit risky, but it has to happen sooner or later. She learns a few of my morning quirks and we walk onto site, she to the costume house and me to the gatehouse. Because of the rebuild, that most of you can’t see, I can’t walk through the stage to get to the front and have to walk around. Once there, I begin my daily ritual of stretching, warming up, and fixing hair and make up. My spritz bottle breaks and I have to pour my “stiff stuff” onto my hand and use my water to rinse my hand off afterwards. Bleah. Mark from Wine and Alchemy is setting up sound and we chat briefly as we are both preparing in different ways. Everything is like clockwork today and I am early to most things. It feels good and relaxed. Stitch arrives and we start all getting ready. I sneak some gifties to my little wenches and sneak money to Don for a rose delivery to some of the other newbies.
PATTERNS TO FALL INTO
I get dressed and show a few of the people where my kit of many amazing things is held. It becomes useful almost immediately. Once changed, I get my face/hood and bota and head to the White Hart for sound check. I am there a bit early and we start to check sound. It sounds amazing as there is little to no humidity. This is a good thing. Sadly, we do not know if it will stay that way, but for now, it’s lovely. Next, Trinket heads to breakfast and I to morning meeting. I am still super stiff. I keep trying to restretch, but I am just still too sore. While waiting, I get to see everyone in their finery. Old and new faces and I sit in my regular spot next to Robin and Marian. It’s home.
BEGINNING BEEP
We start the meeting and there are many announcements to make. The crowd is festive and the energy good, especially with the weather not being so hot this time. After all the notes and thank yous and kudos an instructions are handed out, we BEEP and head to gate. I take my morning pit stop, but it’s quieter here this year. See, this year, there isn’t a traditional gate show, it’s just music until 5 of when the king and court come in and the mayor welcomes them. This means, that all the villagers are outside the gates handing out programs and greeting guests. It’s just me and the ticket ladies. I give them some booming advice and realize there is no one to open the gate for Hengrave. I throw on Stupina and take care of that. As I walk back, I am greeted by a familiar face in blue, Master William Teller has returned and with a warm hug and friendly greeting, I am ready to start my day. Faces on and BOOM...the merriment begins.
WHERE’D THEY ALL GO
So everyone heads in for the morning dance and I greet the crowd. Copernicus jumps up with us and we have some fun. There are tons of regulars here to hug me and friendly faces with good wishes. I am happy and excited to see everyone. I even run into a few who haven’t met Stupina yet, and I befuddle them for a brief moment. As the rush passes, I lose most of those on the fountain with me, but I see huge lines outside. Today, everyone is buying tickets, so it’s pretty crowded. I have to head back in about 15 minutes, but I figure that gives me some time to take out some programs. I walk the lines offering them to those that want. I run out and come back in for more, then set them on my head and let people take them. Once that bunch is gone, it’s time to head into the village and to the Royal Pavilion.
WANDERING WITH PURPOSE
As I head into the village, I see the washerwomen and alert them to the empty front gate area, where they rush to entertain. Secure that the gate will be taken care of, I continue my way to the boardwalk. I greet people and run into patrons and vendors who are all happy to play. There is an air of frivolity today as everyone feels the joy of being “home.” I dust a few people and help a few with programs. I make my way to the White Hart to get my one prop then head to the big hill.
GUIDE OF THE STAIRS
I am a bit early, so I stop half way down the stairs and wait. When the next people come down the staircase, I greet them “Welcome to the bottom half of the stairs, I am your guide, please enjoy the rest of your walk in our village”...It gets a laugh, so I continue to do it. I greet those coming up the stairs with “Welcome to the top half of the stairs, please enjoy the rest of the stairs”. I do this for about 10 minutes or more. Sometimes having to talk one right on top of the other as traffic gets confusing. Finally, it’s time to go downstairs to take care of business.
STUPINA GETS SMART
So before the season opened, I had talked to the powers that be about creating an improv-ed show where if someone wanted to find Stupina, they could, but it would be a low key question and answer session rather than a highly scripted or staged show. We agreed that “Stupina Tells All” would be at the Royal Pavilion where I could curl up in the King’s throne and just chat with everyone. I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what is going to happen, so I just take it slowly. As the show starts, I realize a few things: 1, I need to have a few questions ready for when no one can think of anything to say, 2, I have to lay a few ground rules before I start, and 3, I have to remind people that they are not sheep and CAN speak up.
THE SWASHBUCKLERS
In the middle of the show, our new gang in red and black stop by, the Swashbucklers play a bit with me and are confused whenever I put the bota bag on my head, as they are convinced I am queen and they must bow. Even when they realize it’s me, they fight the instinct, but end up bowing again, much to the amusement of my guests. They wander on their way and I ask for more questions. We finally get going well and I get a great question asking how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. I liked the answer so much, I saved it as one of my back up questions. Eventually, my time is up and I say goodbye to my small gathering and head on my way.
STUPINA SEES REVEL GROVE
I begin to wander up the hill after welcoming a few people on the stairs. I wander back to White Hart to return my prop and see RE Piland who threatens me with a bauble or 2, which Stupina runs screaming from. She is not fond of baubles. Slowly, I make my way toward the front of the village, stopping at my favorite tree to sing a bit and say hello to a few people. After a while, it’s time for me to head back to my box and Stupina wanders to the backstage where I peel off my face and begin the transition.
COLUMBINA TAKES THE STAGE
The dressing rooms are switched again this year, and, while I have my corner, it’s a bit less organized space than last year, which I did enjoy. JOD is enjoying that benefit this year. As per my usual, I am most of the way out, and realize I forgot something and have to turn around. However, once I am blinged, coiffed and ready, I head to the streets.
THE ARCH NEMESIS
Now in rehearsals, Horatio De Vere and I established that we absolutely despise each other. This makes sense with rival acting troupes, though some years I get along with them; however, he wanted to usurp my status AND doesn’t like women performing. So it’s hatred this year. As I wander onto street, greeting patrons, who is the first person I see, but Horatio...we spit some venomous words to each other and go our separate ways. Not the most auspicious start, but it got her in her element. I chat with patrons and welcome them, flirt with a few regulars and wish a very happy birthday to another. Next, it’s time to head over to the White Hart and get ready for the show.
THE INTERPRETERS THE FIRST
I have forgotten the key for the cash bag, I have also forgotten my feathers. We figure out how to make do for the first show. The audience is great, the show is energetic and, as it’s the one we rehearsed, it goes well. One of the things we love to do is take the show we did one way last year and slightly adjust it for more comedy. Always leave the crowd listening and learning or laughing more. We pull out our beginning welcome song “Revel Grove, I am Coming Back Again” with Trinket’s new part. After the show, there are many questions about when the next CD is going to come out...we are trying gang, but venue and time and permissions have to happen first. We are pushing for before the end of this year if at all possible. We greet a few patrons and then I head over to get lunch.
AND IN BETWEEN
I eat my lunch of mashed potatoes on the way back to the costume house to get the things I forgot. Lunch finished and bowl washed, I am walking back, when who do I run into, but little Samuel Bellamy. He is played by a new actor on cast, who, well, hasn’t really seen Columbina full force yet. He and I have established that I knew him when he was a child and he calls me Auntie Columbina. We see each other on street and I ask him to show me what he has learned. His bow is lacking and I call him on it. He then...cough...decides to pull rank. “well, I am the deputy now, you should be giving obeisance to me”. The food tables by the scales that have heard this start to pay attention, especially as a few of them know Columbina. There is an “oooh” reaction as I very loudly proclaim how could I possibly have not given him proper obeisance, oh PLEASE FORGIVE ME...and slowly drop into a very deadly bow. And stay....until he lets me up, to which he says “Why do I feel like I still lost out here”. And I light into him. How dare he be so cruel to me when he used to hide under my skirts. He says the people watching don’t want to hear about that....so I ask them. “Would you like to hear about the time that he was frightened by a potato with 3 eyes” and the crow cheers... “Or would you like to hear about the time that he came crying to me because his father was mean to him “ and they cheer. I assure him the DO want to know all about them. And he has learned to not cross Columbina. The crowd is highly amused as he rushes away to a “commitment”. I, amused, head to my second show.
MORE PREPARED
Now, we are able to straighten out some money issues, get wired up and head to the stage. This year, the White Hart is more slots open, so we have some preshow time to play, which I really like. We don’t have to cut schtick and can give the audience a solid show. This makes me happy. The audience is smaller, but the stage has more shade, which is great. We finish and as Trinket has to rush off to become Katherine Howard, she doesn’t stay long at all. I finish clean up with the other gents SMMirth and CDCB. I make plans with our older CDCB to return to help us film the new show the next day and head out.
BABY STUPINA
I head over to Baby Stupina’s home and wander about on Stub Toe Lane and around the Globe. I get a glimpse of the 6 wives show, which is fascinating and I do recommend it as the ladies do a great job. I find two little kids who are totally enamored of Baby Stupina and they hug her many times over. I do love those days. I continue to wander about and shake hands and walk about. After a while, I am getting hungry and thirsty, so it is time to bring her back.
CRINGING MEN
I go to get myself some water and while pouring am accosted by the swashbucklers, with one terrified swashbuckler hiding behind the others. Eventually, Samuel Bellamy is pulled out and FINALLY apologizes to Columbina. She is happy with him again and all is well. I see that the roses I have set up for delivery are STILL not in their hands yet...sigh. Poor Don has been looking for them amongst his other duties and they keep passing him by. I found them 5 times over. Ah well. I am also approached by another who has changed his lot in life and am questioned on it...there is much to think on. I am also regaled with the tale of the falling May Pole and the brave lady who slowed it down and kept from hitting a kid...or so the story goes...last time I heard, it was up to 5 kids and their family dog or the like...gotta love rumors.
SUP WITH GUESTS
I find the chicken teriyaki (this time one thick skewer rather than 2 smaller ones) with rice and sit with patrons to enjoy the treat. We talk about their days and what they say. One group is new to faire and the other has been there many times over. I make sure to show them where many acts are on new stages doing different shows this year. They are interested about the changes. Suddenly, it’s 5:30 and I must head to the encampment to prep for Pub Sing
THE GATHERING STORM
Well, the gathering musicians. While in the encampment, I see the boys with their roses, Nate smelling his every few steps. It made me smile. We muster, talk over a few minimal notes, the women rush to remember what their opening song lyrics are and soon enough, it is places and we are off to sing. The Pub Sing is high energy and a lot of fun. We sing Captains Daughter and Parting Glass along with singing and dancing along with everyone else’s songs. The audience is happy, the king announces Tiddington won today, and he has his bride Katherine Parr with him. All is right with the world. We sing Wild Mountain Thyme and sound the cannon. Day the first is done.
OUCH OUCH
I am hobbling back a bit as the hill by O’Shucks is making me over extend my feet and pulls an already sore set of tootsies. I limp a bit to the costume house and the energy is still boisterous. I hear about the good and bad things, the excitement and the familiar. We all pack up and a group of us decides to meet for dinner. Once there, we ask the new performers about their experience and what performing was like. I ask them each their favorite moment of the day. I am glad to hear that things that we had only started to work on blossomed on street for my wenches and everyone is in good spirits. Exhausted, I bring my wench and one other back to my house for AC and sleep. Sleep too late it seems, but ah well.
LOUD LOUD LOUD
The alarm rings bright and early and I am up, dressed and out the door by 7 am. I stop for brekkies on the way and am on gatehouse by 7:30 to stretch, this time alone. No Mark even...just me and my peaceful quiet. I sing a bit as I warm up. I love that time of morning. Once prepped, I head to the costume house and in just a short while, I am in getting dressed and ready. I grab everything I need and head to the White Hart for sound check. We sing some of the new songs and are still fumbling a bit on lyrics, but we know we will get there...by 3rd weekend. Its more humid today and will be warmer, so I am glad I got my replacement allen wrench from HMT for my bodhran. After warming up, I head over to try to get the drum, but the doors make no sense to my brain and I will be running late, I figure I will get it later and head to cast call.
BEEPING AGAIN
Everyone, while tired, is in good spirits about the day. More talk about the fallen maypole with appropriately inappropriate jokes thrown in afterwards. Numbers, while not specific, are good for the day and we are ready to tackle #2. There are still some housekeeping notes, including a request from me to check back at front gate after morning dance to see if there are lines in the morning, and eventually we beep and run. Today’s music is Wine and Alchemy, yesterday was the Rogues. I am looking forward to seeing who and what appears each day. As the music stops, I see Master Teller for my hug after chatting with ex SM-Kristen, suit up and am ready for the boom!
MORE AND LESS OF THE SAME
The initial crowd is heavy and I think that everyone has taken my word to heart as I see a number of characters at the gate. I have to remind them “hey, morning dance” and they run off. After the dance guys, AFTER....ironically, there are no lines today and when people come out to help, there isn’t really a need, but it is nice for the to see someone at the fountain as they enter. After a while, I start to wander in to the village to the Pavilion. I have seen some of my regulars who are VERY happy to see Stupina in a show again.
WOOING OF STUPINA...NOT
One of our swashbucklers sees me as I wander in and tells me I am lovely. I am confused. Sam and Nate bet each other that Nate couldn’t woo me. Nate thinks he can and pulls out some of his most flowery language. Somewhere in it, he says how he wants to hold me in his eyes. He then looks at me as my eyes are crossing and stressed. He asks me what I am doing and I tell him I am trying to hold him with my eyes and it can’t be done. He says it’s a figure of speech, but I am still trying to hug him with my eyes. I give up and give him my 3-limbed hug. He hands the money over to Sam saying that he believes that HE has been wooed today, not me. I wander away as they laugh with each other.
NEW QUESTIONS
I head to get my prop and to the Royal Pavilion. I guide the stairs for a few minutes and then wander to my throne. I am informed on the way that when the father of my regulars asked if she wanted to wander a bit before the show, she said no, she just wanted to see Stupina. THAT, my dear friends, is love. Once there, the house fills quickly and all seats are taken along with some standing room. Today, I have a little more format in the intro and a couple questions ready, but this crowd is quite good and comes up with a great number of questions, including “where do babies come from?” I borrow from one of Trinket’s lines and say “Well, when a man and woman love each other...he says “hey honey, here is a beer’ and she drinks it...then he says ‘here is another beer’ and she drinks that one too, and after about 5 or 6 of these, POOF there’s a baby.” One riddles me about the similarity between a Raven and a Writing Desk....but of course Edgar wasn’t born yet, so I had to give my answer vaguely. Lastly, someone asked if I was smart enough to see the future. I tell him I am...I think for a moment, laugh and decide not to tell them about that part, then tell them what I do see. I see bad stuff, like people hitting each other and some good stuff, but one word keeps echoing in my head and I don’t know why....”Plastics”. It gets a laugh.
MOVING ON
The Lord Lisle arrives and tries to ask me a question. I ask him to reformat it in the proper way and when he does, he tells me that the nobility need the chair for the upcoming ceremony. I sadly leave, but the audience laughs and applauds and I head on my way while the lords and ladies prepare for knighting. I greet the potential queen on the streets and meet the love of her life, who looks remarkably like Scapino, then head back into the village chatting with patrons. I go to grab the bodhran and drop it off at the White Hart. On the way, I see Patch Adams and a lovely young lady with him. Yes, the real one. He comes every year as he loves the faire and is dressed to the nines each time. I stop and chat with them about my drum briefly and we part our separate ways. It makes me happy and I drop of the bodhran then head toward the front. I stop at my tree again for a few moments and greet patrons wandering by. Soon enough, it’s time to head back in and find Columbina. I still hate that hill at O’Shucks.
BRIGHT BLUE
Today I wear the blues and have new bling I am hoping will work. I expect I will have to trim some inches off, but after being laced up and dressed properly, I realize, with the help of the ladies in the dressing room, that it is perfect as is and there needs to be no work done to it. Once dressed and completely prepared, I head up to the street along with the pending queen. As I go to enter, Robin, Marian and Mrs. Trusspot are trying to exit. We chat briefly and I step out into the world. I chat with patrons and say hello as I wander down to the White Hart. I feel the heat and sun a bit more today and have forgotten the sunscreen...joy. I am getting lots of compliments on the outfit today. I stop and sit with a few patrons and ask them about their day and what their plans are. Soon enough, it’s time to head to the White Hart. Trinket is running from another show, so I don’t see her immediately, but I start setting up. The audience cheers when you come to the stage, which is always fun.
BACK TO BASICS
The 1:30 show is our first show, meaning the first one we wrote. It’s always good to do this one first weekend as it clearly establishes our relationship and dynamic and...most of the songs are on the CD. I see some new, but familiar faces, and even, Mr. Adams in attendance. Somehow, this makes me more nervous than normal, but it’s a good show and the audience enjoys those quirks that make Trinket and Columbina who they are. After the show, we greet a few patrons and chat, then we both head our ways to lunch. I get mashed potatoes again and risk the pork chop. Tasty for sure but the plate spills on me when I chat with patrons and I have to use up my water to clean the dress. Ah well. I chat with two very amusing groups of patrons and help them find new shows to see.
SHOW THE SECOND
Today is much hotter than the day before and I have been sweating more, though likely not enough. Trinket and I want to run one more new song and bother RE Piland's for a moment to sing on their platform. It is well received. I get more water and we start the second show. This is the new one and CDCB arrives in time to set up and record it. Both Trinket and I have a mini cheat sheet with us and I have nu-skinned my fingers for the sweat. The show goes very well. We almost didn’t have enough men at the start, but just in the nick of time, they arrived and everything was perfect. The bodhran playing went great, the audience responded to the new songs and it was short enough that we had time for a request. Rather than pick a song ourselves, Trinket asks for a request and gets the one song she hates doing...Sir Eglamore. It’s a lot of words for her and we hadn’t practiced it yet since it wasn’t in a show, but we did it and she got it perfectly! The audience was happy as were we. We finish with Parting Glass and cleared the stage for the Strums.
SLOW TIME
The heat is catching up with me and I don’t have the energy to bring Baby Stupina out. I go to Stub Toe though and sit on the tree area and greet patrons. I see the crowd who loves Stupina so much who were at both an Interpreters and the Stupina show and we catch up. They are surprised I remembered them, but they were such a hoot last year. I explain the finer points of flirting to them and regret it when I realize they have been drinking quite a lot. The next group of patrons are a bit quieter, but still enjoying themselves. After a short while and some trumpet fanfare, I head over to visit Noblesse Oblige. I learn that their area has become the Tiddington Embassy every morning, which amuses me. We chat history and with patrons and I take my wandering leave.
BANANAS AND TALENTED MEN
Not as exciting as it sounds. I have not seen Sam all day, which is the way of faire, and am wondering what he would come up with to not have me berate him today. I have all but given up on running into him. I head to the friar’s fritters booth and get a frozen banana with butterscotch and am about to walk away when I hear my name very loudly. I turn and there is Sam, all bravado and confidence. He bows, appropriately “woos” me and kisses my hand. Once done, he smiles impishly and states “how was that?” “MUCH BETTER! You have been learning!” He is very relieved to not be on my bad side. We chat a bit and wander toward the food court with the Sheriff and his other men and Cora as they are to play a game of cards. I help them find a group of ladies to play with and make my way, banana gone, to pub sing prep.
PUB SING 2
We run through the set list and I touch up with some licorice root then we are off to the show. Everyone is more tired and while I can’t say it shows, when you aren’t “on” you are very off. Even the crowd is just regulars who just can’t bear to leave. Tonight we sing Come Together and after a short change of plans, Red is the Rose. O’Danny’s sing a rather amusingly filthy song and some Troubadorables get the crowd happy and energized for a song. We are surprised by an early entrance of the king and assure him that today is just dress rehearsal and that the pub sing doesn’t start till 6:30. Once he leaves, we kick in and play for the evening. Cannon is sounded during the last song and while it’s still light, no one wants to leave, but it’s time. I gather my things and hobble to the costume house to change.
WIPED BUT SOCIAL
We are all exhausted and some of the new actors are literally falling asleep on their feet. Poor things will get more acclimated soon enough, but it was a tough and active weekend. They are all happy though. I change, grab my stuff touch base with some others who want to get food. We direct one new person who runs a bit late and gets locked out, but we didn’t realize till too late. Next time. The first weekend ended well with great company and happy stories. I think this year promises to be quite amazing. Hope you can all join us.
Until next time...
A QUIET CELEBRATION
This year’s prep was spread over weeks so my last rehearsal was of Don Q where I rechecked the masks for damage and wear. It was also my birthday, so even though I had been a bit under the weather, I treated myself to a few snicker doodles as my birthday cake. The next day, I headed to site around noon to begin the final prep. I loaded into the costume house and headed to the White Hart for final rehearsal. Trinket and I ran our new show music and ran a few other show and bits while plotting out the shows for the weekend. It was far too distracting with friendly faces arriving, such as Kat Fairbanks with a tiny one in tow, a liar named Dinty, and a kind man on stilts, who introduced himself as “Sir Real, the puppet master.” Time was getting away from us, so we parted ways around 4ish and I ran to the mall to run more errands and get some special treats. Home just in time for work and last minute details as well as greeting my houseguest. Finally, a bit later than planned, I shower and get to bed. I take a little while to go to sleep, but get more rest than I usually do on an opening night.
AND SO IT BEGINS
In the morning, Cora and I head into site after a brief stop for brekkies. I am being a bit risky, but it has to happen sooner or later. She learns a few of my morning quirks and we walk onto site, she to the costume house and me to the gatehouse. Because of the rebuild, that most of you can’t see, I can’t walk through the stage to get to the front and have to walk around. Once there, I begin my daily ritual of stretching, warming up, and fixing hair and make up. My spritz bottle breaks and I have to pour my “stiff stuff” onto my hand and use my water to rinse my hand off afterwards. Bleah. Mark from Wine and Alchemy is setting up sound and we chat briefly as we are both preparing in different ways. Everything is like clockwork today and I am early to most things. It feels good and relaxed. Stitch arrives and we start all getting ready. I sneak some gifties to my little wenches and sneak money to Don for a rose delivery to some of the other newbies.
PATTERNS TO FALL INTO
I get dressed and show a few of the people where my kit of many amazing things is held. It becomes useful almost immediately. Once changed, I get my face/hood and bota and head to the White Hart for sound check. I am there a bit early and we start to check sound. It sounds amazing as there is little to no humidity. This is a good thing. Sadly, we do not know if it will stay that way, but for now, it’s lovely. Next, Trinket heads to breakfast and I to morning meeting. I am still super stiff. I keep trying to restretch, but I am just still too sore. While waiting, I get to see everyone in their finery. Old and new faces and I sit in my regular spot next to Robin and Marian. It’s home.
BEGINNING BEEP
We start the meeting and there are many announcements to make. The crowd is festive and the energy good, especially with the weather not being so hot this time. After all the notes and thank yous and kudos an instructions are handed out, we BEEP and head to gate. I take my morning pit stop, but it’s quieter here this year. See, this year, there isn’t a traditional gate show, it’s just music until 5 of when the king and court come in and the mayor welcomes them. This means, that all the villagers are outside the gates handing out programs and greeting guests. It’s just me and the ticket ladies. I give them some booming advice and realize there is no one to open the gate for Hengrave. I throw on Stupina and take care of that. As I walk back, I am greeted by a familiar face in blue, Master William Teller has returned and with a warm hug and friendly greeting, I am ready to start my day. Faces on and BOOM...the merriment begins.
WHERE’D THEY ALL GO
So everyone heads in for the morning dance and I greet the crowd. Copernicus jumps up with us and we have some fun. There are tons of regulars here to hug me and friendly faces with good wishes. I am happy and excited to see everyone. I even run into a few who haven’t met Stupina yet, and I befuddle them for a brief moment. As the rush passes, I lose most of those on the fountain with me, but I see huge lines outside. Today, everyone is buying tickets, so it’s pretty crowded. I have to head back in about 15 minutes, but I figure that gives me some time to take out some programs. I walk the lines offering them to those that want. I run out and come back in for more, then set them on my head and let people take them. Once that bunch is gone, it’s time to head into the village and to the Royal Pavilion.
WANDERING WITH PURPOSE
As I head into the village, I see the washerwomen and alert them to the empty front gate area, where they rush to entertain. Secure that the gate will be taken care of, I continue my way to the boardwalk. I greet people and run into patrons and vendors who are all happy to play. There is an air of frivolity today as everyone feels the joy of being “home.” I dust a few people and help a few with programs. I make my way to the White Hart to get my one prop then head to the big hill.
GUIDE OF THE STAIRS
I am a bit early, so I stop half way down the stairs and wait. When the next people come down the staircase, I greet them “Welcome to the bottom half of the stairs, I am your guide, please enjoy the rest of your walk in our village”...It gets a laugh, so I continue to do it. I greet those coming up the stairs with “Welcome to the top half of the stairs, please enjoy the rest of the stairs”. I do this for about 10 minutes or more. Sometimes having to talk one right on top of the other as traffic gets confusing. Finally, it’s time to go downstairs to take care of business.
STUPINA GETS SMART
So before the season opened, I had talked to the powers that be about creating an improv-ed show where if someone wanted to find Stupina, they could, but it would be a low key question and answer session rather than a highly scripted or staged show. We agreed that “Stupina Tells All” would be at the Royal Pavilion where I could curl up in the King’s throne and just chat with everyone. I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what is going to happen, so I just take it slowly. As the show starts, I realize a few things: 1, I need to have a few questions ready for when no one can think of anything to say, 2, I have to lay a few ground rules before I start, and 3, I have to remind people that they are not sheep and CAN speak up.
THE SWASHBUCKLERS
In the middle of the show, our new gang in red and black stop by, the Swashbucklers play a bit with me and are confused whenever I put the bota bag on my head, as they are convinced I am queen and they must bow. Even when they realize it’s me, they fight the instinct, but end up bowing again, much to the amusement of my guests. They wander on their way and I ask for more questions. We finally get going well and I get a great question asking how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. I liked the answer so much, I saved it as one of my back up questions. Eventually, my time is up and I say goodbye to my small gathering and head on my way.
STUPINA SEES REVEL GROVE
I begin to wander up the hill after welcoming a few people on the stairs. I wander back to White Hart to return my prop and see RE Piland who threatens me with a bauble or 2, which Stupina runs screaming from. She is not fond of baubles. Slowly, I make my way toward the front of the village, stopping at my favorite tree to sing a bit and say hello to a few people. After a while, it’s time for me to head back to my box and Stupina wanders to the backstage where I peel off my face and begin the transition.
COLUMBINA TAKES THE STAGE
The dressing rooms are switched again this year, and, while I have my corner, it’s a bit less organized space than last year, which I did enjoy. JOD is enjoying that benefit this year. As per my usual, I am most of the way out, and realize I forgot something and have to turn around. However, once I am blinged, coiffed and ready, I head to the streets.
THE ARCH NEMESIS
Now in rehearsals, Horatio De Vere and I established that we absolutely despise each other. This makes sense with rival acting troupes, though some years I get along with them; however, he wanted to usurp my status AND doesn’t like women performing. So it’s hatred this year. As I wander onto street, greeting patrons, who is the first person I see, but Horatio...we spit some venomous words to each other and go our separate ways. Not the most auspicious start, but it got her in her element. I chat with patrons and welcome them, flirt with a few regulars and wish a very happy birthday to another. Next, it’s time to head over to the White Hart and get ready for the show.
THE INTERPRETERS THE FIRST
I have forgotten the key for the cash bag, I have also forgotten my feathers. We figure out how to make do for the first show. The audience is great, the show is energetic and, as it’s the one we rehearsed, it goes well. One of the things we love to do is take the show we did one way last year and slightly adjust it for more comedy. Always leave the crowd listening and learning or laughing more. We pull out our beginning welcome song “Revel Grove, I am Coming Back Again” with Trinket’s new part. After the show, there are many questions about when the next CD is going to come out...we are trying gang, but venue and time and permissions have to happen first. We are pushing for before the end of this year if at all possible. We greet a few patrons and then I head over to get lunch.
AND IN BETWEEN
I eat my lunch of mashed potatoes on the way back to the costume house to get the things I forgot. Lunch finished and bowl washed, I am walking back, when who do I run into, but little Samuel Bellamy. He is played by a new actor on cast, who, well, hasn’t really seen Columbina full force yet. He and I have established that I knew him when he was a child and he calls me Auntie Columbina. We see each other on street and I ask him to show me what he has learned. His bow is lacking and I call him on it. He then...cough...decides to pull rank. “well, I am the deputy now, you should be giving obeisance to me”. The food tables by the scales that have heard this start to pay attention, especially as a few of them know Columbina. There is an “oooh” reaction as I very loudly proclaim how could I possibly have not given him proper obeisance, oh PLEASE FORGIVE ME...and slowly drop into a very deadly bow. And stay....until he lets me up, to which he says “Why do I feel like I still lost out here”. And I light into him. How dare he be so cruel to me when he used to hide under my skirts. He says the people watching don’t want to hear about that....so I ask them. “Would you like to hear about the time that he was frightened by a potato with 3 eyes” and the crow cheers... “Or would you like to hear about the time that he came crying to me because his father was mean to him “ and they cheer. I assure him the DO want to know all about them. And he has learned to not cross Columbina. The crowd is highly amused as he rushes away to a “commitment”. I, amused, head to my second show.
MORE PREPARED
Now, we are able to straighten out some money issues, get wired up and head to the stage. This year, the White Hart is more slots open, so we have some preshow time to play, which I really like. We don’t have to cut schtick and can give the audience a solid show. This makes me happy. The audience is smaller, but the stage has more shade, which is great. We finish and as Trinket has to rush off to become Katherine Howard, she doesn’t stay long at all. I finish clean up with the other gents SMMirth and CDCB. I make plans with our older CDCB to return to help us film the new show the next day and head out.
BABY STUPINA
I head over to Baby Stupina’s home and wander about on Stub Toe Lane and around the Globe. I get a glimpse of the 6 wives show, which is fascinating and I do recommend it as the ladies do a great job. I find two little kids who are totally enamored of Baby Stupina and they hug her many times over. I do love those days. I continue to wander about and shake hands and walk about. After a while, I am getting hungry and thirsty, so it is time to bring her back.
CRINGING MEN
I go to get myself some water and while pouring am accosted by the swashbucklers, with one terrified swashbuckler hiding behind the others. Eventually, Samuel Bellamy is pulled out and FINALLY apologizes to Columbina. She is happy with him again and all is well. I see that the roses I have set up for delivery are STILL not in their hands yet...sigh. Poor Don has been looking for them amongst his other duties and they keep passing him by. I found them 5 times over. Ah well. I am also approached by another who has changed his lot in life and am questioned on it...there is much to think on. I am also regaled with the tale of the falling May Pole and the brave lady who slowed it down and kept from hitting a kid...or so the story goes...last time I heard, it was up to 5 kids and their family dog or the like...gotta love rumors.
SUP WITH GUESTS
I find the chicken teriyaki (this time one thick skewer rather than 2 smaller ones) with rice and sit with patrons to enjoy the treat. We talk about their days and what they say. One group is new to faire and the other has been there many times over. I make sure to show them where many acts are on new stages doing different shows this year. They are interested about the changes. Suddenly, it’s 5:30 and I must head to the encampment to prep for Pub Sing
THE GATHERING STORM
Well, the gathering musicians. While in the encampment, I see the boys with their roses, Nate smelling his every few steps. It made me smile. We muster, talk over a few minimal notes, the women rush to remember what their opening song lyrics are and soon enough, it is places and we are off to sing. The Pub Sing is high energy and a lot of fun. We sing Captains Daughter and Parting Glass along with singing and dancing along with everyone else’s songs. The audience is happy, the king announces Tiddington won today, and he has his bride Katherine Parr with him. All is right with the world. We sing Wild Mountain Thyme and sound the cannon. Day the first is done.
OUCH OUCH
I am hobbling back a bit as the hill by O’Shucks is making me over extend my feet and pulls an already sore set of tootsies. I limp a bit to the costume house and the energy is still boisterous. I hear about the good and bad things, the excitement and the familiar. We all pack up and a group of us decides to meet for dinner. Once there, we ask the new performers about their experience and what performing was like. I ask them each their favorite moment of the day. I am glad to hear that things that we had only started to work on blossomed on street for my wenches and everyone is in good spirits. Exhausted, I bring my wench and one other back to my house for AC and sleep. Sleep too late it seems, but ah well.
LOUD LOUD LOUD
The alarm rings bright and early and I am up, dressed and out the door by 7 am. I stop for brekkies on the way and am on gatehouse by 7:30 to stretch, this time alone. No Mark even...just me and my peaceful quiet. I sing a bit as I warm up. I love that time of morning. Once prepped, I head to the costume house and in just a short while, I am in getting dressed and ready. I grab everything I need and head to the White Hart for sound check. We sing some of the new songs and are still fumbling a bit on lyrics, but we know we will get there...by 3rd weekend. Its more humid today and will be warmer, so I am glad I got my replacement allen wrench from HMT for my bodhran. After warming up, I head over to try to get the drum, but the doors make no sense to my brain and I will be running late, I figure I will get it later and head to cast call.
BEEPING AGAIN
Everyone, while tired, is in good spirits about the day. More talk about the fallen maypole with appropriately inappropriate jokes thrown in afterwards. Numbers, while not specific, are good for the day and we are ready to tackle #2. There are still some housekeeping notes, including a request from me to check back at front gate after morning dance to see if there are lines in the morning, and eventually we beep and run. Today’s music is Wine and Alchemy, yesterday was the Rogues. I am looking forward to seeing who and what appears each day. As the music stops, I see Master Teller for my hug after chatting with ex SM-Kristen, suit up and am ready for the boom!
MORE AND LESS OF THE SAME
The initial crowd is heavy and I think that everyone has taken my word to heart as I see a number of characters at the gate. I have to remind them “hey, morning dance” and they run off. After the dance guys, AFTER....ironically, there are no lines today and when people come out to help, there isn’t really a need, but it is nice for the to see someone at the fountain as they enter. After a while, I start to wander in to the village to the Pavilion. I have seen some of my regulars who are VERY happy to see Stupina in a show again.
WOOING OF STUPINA...NOT
One of our swashbucklers sees me as I wander in and tells me I am lovely. I am confused. Sam and Nate bet each other that Nate couldn’t woo me. Nate thinks he can and pulls out some of his most flowery language. Somewhere in it, he says how he wants to hold me in his eyes. He then looks at me as my eyes are crossing and stressed. He asks me what I am doing and I tell him I am trying to hold him with my eyes and it can’t be done. He says it’s a figure of speech, but I am still trying to hug him with my eyes. I give up and give him my 3-limbed hug. He hands the money over to Sam saying that he believes that HE has been wooed today, not me. I wander away as they laugh with each other.
NEW QUESTIONS
I head to get my prop and to the Royal Pavilion. I guide the stairs for a few minutes and then wander to my throne. I am informed on the way that when the father of my regulars asked if she wanted to wander a bit before the show, she said no, she just wanted to see Stupina. THAT, my dear friends, is love. Once there, the house fills quickly and all seats are taken along with some standing room. Today, I have a little more format in the intro and a couple questions ready, but this crowd is quite good and comes up with a great number of questions, including “where do babies come from?” I borrow from one of Trinket’s lines and say “Well, when a man and woman love each other...he says “hey honey, here is a beer’ and she drinks it...then he says ‘here is another beer’ and she drinks that one too, and after about 5 or 6 of these, POOF there’s a baby.” One riddles me about the similarity between a Raven and a Writing Desk....but of course Edgar wasn’t born yet, so I had to give my answer vaguely. Lastly, someone asked if I was smart enough to see the future. I tell him I am...I think for a moment, laugh and decide not to tell them about that part, then tell them what I do see. I see bad stuff, like people hitting each other and some good stuff, but one word keeps echoing in my head and I don’t know why....”Plastics”. It gets a laugh.
MOVING ON
The Lord Lisle arrives and tries to ask me a question. I ask him to reformat it in the proper way and when he does, he tells me that the nobility need the chair for the upcoming ceremony. I sadly leave, but the audience laughs and applauds and I head on my way while the lords and ladies prepare for knighting. I greet the potential queen on the streets and meet the love of her life, who looks remarkably like Scapino, then head back into the village chatting with patrons. I go to grab the bodhran and drop it off at the White Hart. On the way, I see Patch Adams and a lovely young lady with him. Yes, the real one. He comes every year as he loves the faire and is dressed to the nines each time. I stop and chat with them about my drum briefly and we part our separate ways. It makes me happy and I drop of the bodhran then head toward the front. I stop at my tree again for a few moments and greet patrons wandering by. Soon enough, it’s time to head back in and find Columbina. I still hate that hill at O’Shucks.
BRIGHT BLUE
Today I wear the blues and have new bling I am hoping will work. I expect I will have to trim some inches off, but after being laced up and dressed properly, I realize, with the help of the ladies in the dressing room, that it is perfect as is and there needs to be no work done to it. Once dressed and completely prepared, I head up to the street along with the pending queen. As I go to enter, Robin, Marian and Mrs. Trusspot are trying to exit. We chat briefly and I step out into the world. I chat with patrons and say hello as I wander down to the White Hart. I feel the heat and sun a bit more today and have forgotten the sunscreen...joy. I am getting lots of compliments on the outfit today. I stop and sit with a few patrons and ask them about their day and what their plans are. Soon enough, it’s time to head to the White Hart. Trinket is running from another show, so I don’t see her immediately, but I start setting up. The audience cheers when you come to the stage, which is always fun.
BACK TO BASICS
The 1:30 show is our first show, meaning the first one we wrote. It’s always good to do this one first weekend as it clearly establishes our relationship and dynamic and...most of the songs are on the CD. I see some new, but familiar faces, and even, Mr. Adams in attendance. Somehow, this makes me more nervous than normal, but it’s a good show and the audience enjoys those quirks that make Trinket and Columbina who they are. After the show, we greet a few patrons and chat, then we both head our ways to lunch. I get mashed potatoes again and risk the pork chop. Tasty for sure but the plate spills on me when I chat with patrons and I have to use up my water to clean the dress. Ah well. I chat with two very amusing groups of patrons and help them find new shows to see.
SHOW THE SECOND
Today is much hotter than the day before and I have been sweating more, though likely not enough. Trinket and I want to run one more new song and bother RE Piland's for a moment to sing on their platform. It is well received. I get more water and we start the second show. This is the new one and CDCB arrives in time to set up and record it. Both Trinket and I have a mini cheat sheet with us and I have nu-skinned my fingers for the sweat. The show goes very well. We almost didn’t have enough men at the start, but just in the nick of time, they arrived and everything was perfect. The bodhran playing went great, the audience responded to the new songs and it was short enough that we had time for a request. Rather than pick a song ourselves, Trinket asks for a request and gets the one song she hates doing...Sir Eglamore. It’s a lot of words for her and we hadn’t practiced it yet since it wasn’t in a show, but we did it and she got it perfectly! The audience was happy as were we. We finish with Parting Glass and cleared the stage for the Strums.
SLOW TIME
The heat is catching up with me and I don’t have the energy to bring Baby Stupina out. I go to Stub Toe though and sit on the tree area and greet patrons. I see the crowd who loves Stupina so much who were at both an Interpreters and the Stupina show and we catch up. They are surprised I remembered them, but they were such a hoot last year. I explain the finer points of flirting to them and regret it when I realize they have been drinking quite a lot. The next group of patrons are a bit quieter, but still enjoying themselves. After a short while and some trumpet fanfare, I head over to visit Noblesse Oblige. I learn that their area has become the Tiddington Embassy every morning, which amuses me. We chat history and with patrons and I take my wandering leave.
BANANAS AND TALENTED MEN
Not as exciting as it sounds. I have not seen Sam all day, which is the way of faire, and am wondering what he would come up with to not have me berate him today. I have all but given up on running into him. I head to the friar’s fritters booth and get a frozen banana with butterscotch and am about to walk away when I hear my name very loudly. I turn and there is Sam, all bravado and confidence. He bows, appropriately “woos” me and kisses my hand. Once done, he smiles impishly and states “how was that?” “MUCH BETTER! You have been learning!” He is very relieved to not be on my bad side. We chat a bit and wander toward the food court with the Sheriff and his other men and Cora as they are to play a game of cards. I help them find a group of ladies to play with and make my way, banana gone, to pub sing prep.
PUB SING 2
We run through the set list and I touch up with some licorice root then we are off to the show. Everyone is more tired and while I can’t say it shows, when you aren’t “on” you are very off. Even the crowd is just regulars who just can’t bear to leave. Tonight we sing Come Together and after a short change of plans, Red is the Rose. O’Danny’s sing a rather amusingly filthy song and some Troubadorables get the crowd happy and energized for a song. We are surprised by an early entrance of the king and assure him that today is just dress rehearsal and that the pub sing doesn’t start till 6:30. Once he leaves, we kick in and play for the evening. Cannon is sounded during the last song and while it’s still light, no one wants to leave, but it’s time. I gather my things and hobble to the costume house to change.
WIPED BUT SOCIAL
We are all exhausted and some of the new actors are literally falling asleep on their feet. Poor things will get more acclimated soon enough, but it was a tough and active weekend. They are all happy though. I change, grab my stuff touch base with some others who want to get food. We direct one new person who runs a bit late and gets locked out, but we didn’t realize till too late. Next time. The first weekend ended well with great company and happy stories. I think this year promises to be quite amazing. Hope you can all join us.
Until next time...
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Date: 2010-09-02 04:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-02 06:55 pm (UTC)