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Md part Quatro, 2010
MD part quarto 2010
Well, my lungs are better though the dust still was biting at me this past weekend. While tired, I am not comatose, so I might actually remember some of the details, but no promises. Names, order, things and more are all subject to my faulty memory....caveats in place? Here we go.
STARTING LATE - SCORE
I had some houseguests this weekend and one arrived early, while the other arrived late. They had errands to run and by the time they were back, I was in bed getting ready to sleep. That didn’t happen of course and I was up later than I wanted as stories needed to be shared and more. I head to real sleep and am up early and out the door by 7:00 am. I stop for a quick meal and am on Gatehouse by 7:30 beginning my warm up. I do, however, get the best ever parking spot only 3 spots from the gate…in the first row. Not sure how I lucked out there, but WOW, that was great at the end of the day. There was some rain on Thursday, so I am pleased that the worst of the dust is down for now. On stage I begin my warm up but have issues laying down as my cough, that had gone away during the week has started back up. But it’s not awful and I am ready and down at the costume house when M&J get there to let us in. it’s quiet enough that I am changed and out before anyone else even steps inside the ladies side. I realize others may not need the exra time, but I do to do this and get to cast call.
SOUNDING OFF
I head to sound check and SMDave is running a bit late, seems the weather has put many things behind schedule, but we are able to do everything we need and even have Skivvy come up and futz a bit with it to try to get some tin out of it. Once done, I head to the Lyric for morning meeting. There are many announcements and the warning that we expect large crowds for the weekend. The Hermit is nowhere to be found as Zach Rackham is making a brief appearance to say hello with the Swashbucklers (he matches). This seems to cause great confusion amongst the cast and more amongst the vendors. I just makes me amused as I see one and then the next stare at him and get confused. I share news with him that a good friend is coming to visit today, but give him the wrong name…his. Ironically, he actually knows who I meant rather than who I said. This is funny enough. We go over notes and other details, we BEEP and off we go.
IRISH LASSES
Today, the O’Danny’s are doing the sing along for the morning and it’s amusing. She calls for her Huzzah and I hear the size of the crowd cheer back, YIKES! I grab a villager, some programs and tell him “start handing these out!” Out he goes to do my bidding…muhahahaha. I touch base with a charming courtesean, but soon enough I face up, hug the man with lovely blue eyes, then boom and there we go to greet the crowd. Today, I have Mr. Hand Sock as I wanted to keep my throat warm. I also have a bag of surprises for later in the morning. I wave goodbye and we give a tour or two, as the crowd is rather huge. There are hugs, and Interpreters Tshirt coming in, and more overall fun as people enter and ask for or take pics. I am greeted by a group of 8-10 Asian men and women with amazing cameras, who start clicking at me like I am a fashion model on the runway…so Stupina poses. It’s odd but amusing. All the others start to leave, but seeing how heavy the traffic flow is coming in, I get two stacks of programs and sit outside. My head isn’t as flat today, so I lose them a few times, but eventually get my posture right and let people take them off my head. It goes relatively quickly as I make jokes, offer them, and watch people react. I slide down and over for smaller kids to more easily get a program. It’s amusing.
GREETING THE NOBILITY
I head back in and begin chatting with others. I take a few minutes in FG’s chair as she isn’t in yet and greet people and pose. Soon enough, it’s time to head to WH to get my hat and go to the hill. I meet up with Lady Agnes Southwell who will be my special guest today. She is at the top of the hill and says she will be available shortly. I wonder what she means as I meander down. I start to greet people on the steps when I hear a scream and see her sliding down the slide. Richard in a panic calls to her to make sure she is alright because she is having too much fun with that scream. I laugh inside and soon it’s time to head down and take my seat.
AGNES PLAYS
I love it when ideas I have work out. After giving the rules and taking a question or two, I invite Agnes to join me and we begin to chat. I ask questions of her, her husband objects, the other audience members get into it and start asking both of us questions. It is rather successful and we are at a good stopping point when Lady Whitetonge is ready for the space. We say our goodbyes and begin to head out. I hug Sir Richard a few times and remind him it’s his turn tomorrow…he is not very thrilled (though inside, he is bouncing for joy ready for more Stupina hugs). Up the hill I go and greet patrons along the way. I turn in my hat and pull out the great chain of being
THE GREAT CHAIN
I number of weeks ago, some of you might have seen my questions about barrels of monkeys in wood or other materials not plastic. I got one gentleman to offer to make them in steel. They were gifted to me last weekend and this weekend, they were ready to play with. I begin to show them to people explaining that the great chain of being is how no one is of the same rank and that one person always has more status. I start with God being the biggest monkey, since he is always on the top and add the king, then Catherine Parr, then Thomas Seymour…wait, no, God, king, Edward Seymorr, Lord Lisle…wait, no, God, king…wait, God, Me, King, Catherine Parr, Sheriff, washer woman, pub wench and the hermit. When asked why I am up top, I explain that I am very close to God and talk to him all the time…just don’t tell the king.
SHARING RELIGIOUS VARIATIONS
I show this to one of the old cast members who is visiting and once done, he says “But I am Catholic”…ok, God, Pope, Cardinals, everybody else…since they don’t matter. He is hiding the fact he is smiling. I wander with two versions of the chain now hanging on the same God monkey. One side is God, Me, King, Catherine Parr, the other side is God, Pope, Cardinals, Everyone else. Patrons are actually interested in the great chain and my explanation of what it means. This may be quite a hit…I am just waiting on another prop. They are greatly amused and this makes me happy. Soon enough, it’s time to go find Columbina and the Monkeys and I leave the street.
SWITCHING GEARS
Down at the costume house, I switch into my “tartan” again. This means I have a thicker shirt and can sit outside to fix hair and makeup. I enjoy the time where I can catch up with others while making the transformation. Some parts need me to be inside and I head in to finish the other parts of the changing, get my jewels, feathers and other props, and head out to the street. I am done a bit early, which is nice, and head back up to the street. There, I run into a number of patrons and invite them to the show, once I am sure that they are of an adult age. Some are obviously so and seem interested. I get to the White Hart, whose schedule is booked this weekend, and Trinket and I pick our shows and set up the first set list. . I have to keep re-asking the name of the group performing before us, as their name is Gaelic and not easily remember-able. I thank them and after we begin I realize I forgot to pack a prop on stage and this makes a difference when I realize we can’t do the song we were about to. Trinket grabs CDCB and he runs out to find it while we stall, we almost start a new song, then don’t as he comes up with the thing I need and I stuff it in my bodice. We start Scotsman and the show goes mostly as normal, though we lost any extra time we normally have because of the technical snafu. We clear the stage just in time and head out to the back to chat with our patrons.
LUNCHING AROUND
After we greet people I head out to get myself some lunch. I have trouble making up my mind but end up back at the Steak on a stake booth. I find some patrons to sit with and chat about their day. One of the group is new and I invite them to the next show as none of them has seen us before. As I head back to the stage, I meet up with some regulars and a woman with a note pad. She is asking questions and says she is a writer, but does not have a specific paper she works with. She asks for a picture of my mug and doesn’t ask much at all, but given the charmingly dressed nature of the men I am standing with, we are asked by many others for photographs. They are not at all camera shy and pose. It’s amusing. They, who have never sat through one of my shows before, swear they will see the show…uh-huh…right. I head to the stage.
WONDER OF WONDERS
Trinket and I prep our lists, I hack up a lung, then we head to the stage. At the start of the next show, The act before us is the O’Danny Girls. Before they leave, I point out to the audience that we are not the same group, see, we are on the stage at the same time and don’t look the same. People are amused. I see the lunch patrons in the audience. This makes me happy. Lo and behold, at the start of the show, the well-dressed men appear in the front row and actually stay for a full show. This is unheard of and makes me very happy. They are very complimentary afterwards as well. The show goes well and we clear in time for the Rogues to take the stage. We clear, say a few hellos, then Trinket heads to become royal while I take my stones to a man with a plan.
MY JEWELS ARE MY OWN
I head to my friend and show him my stones so we can discuss something to be made out of them. All were gifts over the years, but they do no good not being used, so I use them. Um, I find out from him what they are actually worth…wow….someone is going to be hit for being this generous. I know they weren’t that big a deal where they were gotten, but damn. I leave them with him and some instructions and head on my merry way. On street, I head toward baby Stupina and we go for some walkies. I start to walk her to the slide line because of the crowd and see…oh hell, the privy line. I walk baby Stupina in and holding her start moving the line, People don’t realize how heavy she is, so my arm is a bit tired hanging her as a dead weight. I begin to move people who just want to stay at the entrance and not come in until they know there’s a door, I assure them that is a bad idea and move them in and get rid of the line in 15 or so minutes.
LINING UP
I head next to the slide line and baby Stupina and I chat with the people there. I walk slowly down the line making sure those having been there longest are entertained and working down to those just joining. I have finished the line and don’t see anyone else on cast nearby. I can’t just keep re-entertaining them and the kids there are rather handsy with Stupina, which can be risky for her if I can’t get her away from them grabbing at strings, so I take her home and go looking for another cast member to send over. I find Nathaniel Butler getting a snack. I ask him if he is on break, which he was, but he finishes his muffin, and takes his coffee and walks with me to the line. Together, we start to work the new line and he plays games with them such as “are you smarter than a swashbuckler” with one boy and lets him win. He gifts him with a game token and the next child wins a swashbuckler’s coin. It is great to watch him work with the kids as he really blossoms with them. It is time for me to head off to prep for pub sing and he says he will finish the line before he moves on. I know he will be fine.
PUBSING CROWDS
It’s Irish Weekend, so Irish Rose is back and running her sing-along. There is one new song she has asked a number of us to learn but I was sick and unable to get to some of it so I can ooh in harmony more than anything. The group gathers to sing and is large, so it’s a bit of a crowd in the camp, but there is nothing to do this time. Once done, we head out to the sing, choose our tables and get ready. There is table dancing and other silliness. A patron tries to join us on the table with Rose and we yell no a number of times before we can get her off the table. We are covered for falling, she is not and we are sober, we have no clue about her….rules is rules. Triinket and I sing “Stretched out on your Grave” which was amazing when the group of wonderfully deep voices began to sing back up for us and fill the space…wow. Can we have them at all our shows? That was great!!!! The huge song doesn’t space out well and some sounds are overpowering others. Live and learn. Overall the energy is fun and silly and people seem to enjoy it. The cannons boom and it’s time to go home after a shelaighly threatening. I grab my props, drum and such and head back to the costume house.
SLOW POKE
I am one of the later ones in the room and find it is taking me forever to change. Not sure why, but I am slow today. I am asked to lock up, but concerned about a guest that is waiting for me outside. Turns out it didn’t matter and no one was going anywhere for a while and I was done before they were ready to leave. We finish, pick a place for dinner and head out calling my friend who has learned why you don’t wear leather pants at faire when it’s warm. At dinner, we find multiple groups of faire folk eating there. I sit at one table that slowly turns into a deep analysis of Star Trek and it’s various incarnations, including ones I never watched. I rush to our other table and am greeted by Dr. Who conversations, which makes me run to a third table, which is good, but they leave after 5 minutes, so I turn to a different table of playtrons who are in regular clothes now. Eventually, the bill comes and I head back to the group to pay and head home. I get some time to chat with my friend and other house guests show some cool stuff on youtube and get to sleep.
WARMER STARTING
Today, I get up early and hear my other non-sleeping houseguest in the other room. We talk as I get ready and he drives home as I drive to site. I stop for brekkies and get to the stage at 7:30. Stretching is tough today as my muscles are super tight and I am not sure why. Well, other than just being stiff and working hard and not stretching at night and and and…you get the idea. Vocals are easier, though the dust was hell and the netipot pressure thing wasn’t enough to go through the clog…but rather down my throat, bleah. We stopped that. Finish make up, and other stuff leaving on my layers as it is a bit chilly this morning, but a bit moister. I know today is to be warmer, but it’s not quite there yet. At the costume house, it’s moments there before we can go in and I get dressed in mostly quiet. A few come in before I leave, but not many. I head for sound check and we share the checking with Pyrates and a Strum who are doing different things with their sound this weekend. We double check when and what is being changed so SMDave is ready when we get up there.
CALLING CAST
Next to cast call and morning hi’s. People are in mostly good spirits. Near the end of cast call, we BEEP and the ED announces we have passed the 1/2way point…um, not actually. The upcoming Saturday is the 1/2way point, but it’s not worth making a big deal of it. I just know we have 11 more days left including today. Off to gate and my last pee of the morning, hand sanitizing, a feeble check for the clip clock with the blue stone that disappeared on site (if anyone finds a silver clip clock with a big light blue stone…please let me know and return it, it was a gift I lost on opening day and I miss it). I hear the crowd this morning, but it doesn’t sound QUITE as big. Once the king enters, I face up and BOOM, am ready for the crowd. I am wearing the warm scarf today as my throat was a bit chilled in the am. I know I won’t need it for long, but for now it’s good. I get compliments on it (TCHWRTR!!!! READING?). The normal greetings and hugs and other silliness continues and I re-meet the relocated Coloradoan and parents. After the crowd dissipates, I head out with programs and give out two stacks again, though it takes a trifle longer and I lose them about 3 times in the process. I do move more today though as it’s fun to bend and not drop them. Once they are gone, I head inside. I see the king and play hide and seek with him as he is greeting others. He smiles and I know I am caught, so I move on.
TORTURNING STUPINA
Near O’Shucks, I see the wenches and swashbucklers alone with SMDave. Someone compliments my scarf and SMDave comments to me that they had to skin a muppet to make the fuzzy blue parts of my scarf. I begin to cry…loudly…like at the top of my lungs screaming. I think I startled some birds let alone the people there. Kitty assures me that muppets are not skinned, but shorn, like sheep. I find out later someone else notes you don’t want to see them in the spring when they are all bare as it’s not pretty. Stupina is calmed and leaves sticking her tongue at SMDave and petting her scarf. She does proceed to share this story with all the other patrons she sees and explains that it is only shorn, not skinned, and that she believes this scarf was made from Grover. It gets a number of laughs.
CHEER WITH RICHARD SOUTHWELL
Today, my guest star on Stupina’s show is Richard Southwell…SIR Richard Southwell. I know this will be amusing as they are like oil and water together. I get my hat and head down a bit faster as I am running late. The wenches get to see my stair greeting skills and eventually understand what is happening. Soon enough, I head to the stage hearing Agnes again screaming down the slide and Sir Richard running down the steps to protect her. I get to my chair and there are a few regulars there. Richard immediately comes and sits in the other chair and Stupina gets very sad and quiet. This amuses the group. By the end, he has had her crawling out of her chair in fear hugging him and laughing, and upside down, where they realized that indeed, Stupina and Sir Richard were Yin and Yang to each other…Richard wears black and grey and sat upright, Stupina was in cream/white and was upside down…it was amusing. The questions were perfect and the audience had quite a number laughs all the way around. One patron mentioned afterwards that you could see Richard admirably trying not to break up in hysterical laughter a few times. This is the good stuff.
WANDERINGS
I am amused when I discover we were going so well that the Knighting Ceremony people didn’t come to stop us until almost 20 after. We also play with her making her say “Hey Stupina” too many times then playing catch up with her. It was all and all a silly and fun show. I head up the hill, return the hat and begin to chat with patrons. I find one group who is greatly amused and I find out one of them used to be in an acrobatic troupe that performed here years ago when he was a kid. I remember the troupe, though not him specifically, but we are amused and pleased to reminisce about the hoop of fire, which is no more. I greet other patrons who are being equally goofy to me and welcome them to sit under my tree with me, but they demur. I go and sit for a little while and sing to people as well as have some people sit with me for pictures. Time flies and I head back to the costume house to find Columbina
SWITCHAROONIE
Backstage I am preparing and in the same tartan…not that anyone could tell. I complete the transformation and head out to the street. It’s always interesting to me how I have to adjust how I approach people from the Stupina to Columbina time. Both for my protection and for their relationships. If I approach men with women, I have to ask for specific needs or talk to her…for his sake. As Stupina, it is often the opposite. Start with the man as he will feel the least threatened spacially. I am always good approaching kids, but in Columbina, even that changes some so as not to upset parents. Not that it’s a big deal most often, but you never know. That being said, I head out to the street and redress my patterns. I meet some couples near O’Shucks and invite them to hear naughty music. I wend my way and am escorted by a charming gentleman. I leave him to his way and head to the pub. There, I wire up, decide on shows, and wander a bit more before we start as our stairs have been claimed by two VERY drunk patrons. Once it’s time to start, I again ask for the new acts name to make sure I can pronounce it and thank them before we start the show. We pull out one of the older shows today and have great energy and lots of fun with the audience. The sun is hotter and brighter and I am grateful for those on house right in the sunspots who stay despite being blinded. After the show, we head to the back and greet people.
HUNTING FOR LUNCH
Both Trinket and I are hungry and are both craving potatoes, despite the heat. She goes to sit down and I head my way discovering SMDave there and not sure which potato to get. I order mine with less cheese and no sour cream. I see the atm line, but am holding food and a drink and need to eat. I sit down near the line on a bench and try to chat up the line while eating, but it just doesn’t work. I walk away and head to the food court tables to find another couple groups to chat with. I expect, on sitting, to chat with one group, but find the others are more interested. That is of interest to me but I enjoy the conversation nonetheless. Once done, I rinse my bowl and head back to the White Hart. I am there earlier and set up the set list, which is mostly unheard of (you should see my writing) and am ready once Trinket arrives. We mic up and head to the stage post O’Danny show. We give them one more shout out and begin our show. This is our filthy show and the people are amused. The “13” shows up on the sign and that always gets a laugh. The CDCB schtick has been morphing a bit this year and that is amusing as well.
NEW MOMENTS
After the show, Trinket heads out and I pack up some things and get ready to head out. I see a little boy sitting on the back wall and join him for a few moments to see how his day was going. His parents are in a group nearby and I make sure he and I know where they are. I eventually go to head out when I see a man in green and gold wandering out of the pub. Um, Your Majesty? Seems his entire retinue was sick or otherwise involved and hie is walking alone. As it would be inappropriate for him to be unescorted, I offer to wander with him. My feet are miserable at the moment, so I ask him if he would be willing to stop and chat with a patron or two. We sit and chat with a couple about his impending marriage hopefully with Katherine Parr and how if she turns him down, he might be looking at Italy. I assure him that I would be appropriate for a dalliance at best, but not to be queen, as I am only an actress. The couple laughs. We head out to the streets to chat more and head toward the kissing bridge. Along the way, people bow to him and he has them rise. At one point, I ask him, may I? and he lets me tell them to rise up. I am giddy as I never get to do that being at the bottom of the great chain of being (well, I do, but Columbina was having a blast with the power rush).
NOT KISSING
We head up on the bridge and become the instant photo op. We pose with people or just as ourselves. Eventually, Lord Seymour stops by and I turn his majesty over to more noble hands. I wander back to the front area after grabbing a plum and enjoying a juicy fruit. Its time for Pub sing and I get to camp to check what we are doing, look at the order and sit a moment. Soon enough, I head out and turn into the pub. I have to find a new table as the one I was on is now being used by rose as the cast table is um, not stable. I end up in a blank section of a bench which I miss foot in the first step and get back up. I finish ok, but I know I am looking at my feet more than up, which isn’t the best choice. Ah well. Today we sing “Old Maid in the Garrett” and get our running exit which is always fun. The song is redone tonight and has fewer voices. There is some amusement and our swashbucklers blow us away with a fabulous drinking song. We are pleased. The last song is Mist covered mountains and we end up on a quiet happy note. I grab stuff from the back and head back to the costume house.
WIPED
I change a bit faster today and get some things done for Trinket as well. A group of us pick a dinner spot and slowly head out. There, we table hop and are silly. We close the place down and slowly head our merry ways after a fun and exciting weekend. My nose is clogged and I am tired, but we had so much fun and with a little rinsing, I will be fine.
This weekend, Stupina will have William Teller joining me on Saturday and I think a Pyrate or two should arrive on Sunday if all goes as planned. See you in the Grove!
Well, my lungs are better though the dust still was biting at me this past weekend. While tired, I am not comatose, so I might actually remember some of the details, but no promises. Names, order, things and more are all subject to my faulty memory....caveats in place? Here we go.
STARTING LATE - SCORE
I had some houseguests this weekend and one arrived early, while the other arrived late. They had errands to run and by the time they were back, I was in bed getting ready to sleep. That didn’t happen of course and I was up later than I wanted as stories needed to be shared and more. I head to real sleep and am up early and out the door by 7:00 am. I stop for a quick meal and am on Gatehouse by 7:30 beginning my warm up. I do, however, get the best ever parking spot only 3 spots from the gate…in the first row. Not sure how I lucked out there, but WOW, that was great at the end of the day. There was some rain on Thursday, so I am pleased that the worst of the dust is down for now. On stage I begin my warm up but have issues laying down as my cough, that had gone away during the week has started back up. But it’s not awful and I am ready and down at the costume house when M&J get there to let us in. it’s quiet enough that I am changed and out before anyone else even steps inside the ladies side. I realize others may not need the exra time, but I do to do this and get to cast call.
SOUNDING OFF
I head to sound check and SMDave is running a bit late, seems the weather has put many things behind schedule, but we are able to do everything we need and even have Skivvy come up and futz a bit with it to try to get some tin out of it. Once done, I head to the Lyric for morning meeting. There are many announcements and the warning that we expect large crowds for the weekend. The Hermit is nowhere to be found as Zach Rackham is making a brief appearance to say hello with the Swashbucklers (he matches). This seems to cause great confusion amongst the cast and more amongst the vendors. I just makes me amused as I see one and then the next stare at him and get confused. I share news with him that a good friend is coming to visit today, but give him the wrong name…his. Ironically, he actually knows who I meant rather than who I said. This is funny enough. We go over notes and other details, we BEEP and off we go.
IRISH LASSES
Today, the O’Danny’s are doing the sing along for the morning and it’s amusing. She calls for her Huzzah and I hear the size of the crowd cheer back, YIKES! I grab a villager, some programs and tell him “start handing these out!” Out he goes to do my bidding…muhahahaha. I touch base with a charming courtesean, but soon enough I face up, hug the man with lovely blue eyes, then boom and there we go to greet the crowd. Today, I have Mr. Hand Sock as I wanted to keep my throat warm. I also have a bag of surprises for later in the morning. I wave goodbye and we give a tour or two, as the crowd is rather huge. There are hugs, and Interpreters Tshirt coming in, and more overall fun as people enter and ask for or take pics. I am greeted by a group of 8-10 Asian men and women with amazing cameras, who start clicking at me like I am a fashion model on the runway…so Stupina poses. It’s odd but amusing. All the others start to leave, but seeing how heavy the traffic flow is coming in, I get two stacks of programs and sit outside. My head isn’t as flat today, so I lose them a few times, but eventually get my posture right and let people take them off my head. It goes relatively quickly as I make jokes, offer them, and watch people react. I slide down and over for smaller kids to more easily get a program. It’s amusing.
GREETING THE NOBILITY
I head back in and begin chatting with others. I take a few minutes in FG’s chair as she isn’t in yet and greet people and pose. Soon enough, it’s time to head to WH to get my hat and go to the hill. I meet up with Lady Agnes Southwell who will be my special guest today. She is at the top of the hill and says she will be available shortly. I wonder what she means as I meander down. I start to greet people on the steps when I hear a scream and see her sliding down the slide. Richard in a panic calls to her to make sure she is alright because she is having too much fun with that scream. I laugh inside and soon it’s time to head down and take my seat.
AGNES PLAYS
I love it when ideas I have work out. After giving the rules and taking a question or two, I invite Agnes to join me and we begin to chat. I ask questions of her, her husband objects, the other audience members get into it and start asking both of us questions. It is rather successful and we are at a good stopping point when Lady Whitetonge is ready for the space. We say our goodbyes and begin to head out. I hug Sir Richard a few times and remind him it’s his turn tomorrow…he is not very thrilled (though inside, he is bouncing for joy ready for more Stupina hugs). Up the hill I go and greet patrons along the way. I turn in my hat and pull out the great chain of being
THE GREAT CHAIN
I number of weeks ago, some of you might have seen my questions about barrels of monkeys in wood or other materials not plastic. I got one gentleman to offer to make them in steel. They were gifted to me last weekend and this weekend, they were ready to play with. I begin to show them to people explaining that the great chain of being is how no one is of the same rank and that one person always has more status. I start with God being the biggest monkey, since he is always on the top and add the king, then Catherine Parr, then Thomas Seymour…wait, no, God, king, Edward Seymorr, Lord Lisle…wait, no, God, king…wait, God, Me, King, Catherine Parr, Sheriff, washer woman, pub wench and the hermit. When asked why I am up top, I explain that I am very close to God and talk to him all the time…just don’t tell the king.
SHARING RELIGIOUS VARIATIONS
I show this to one of the old cast members who is visiting and once done, he says “But I am Catholic”…ok, God, Pope, Cardinals, everybody else…since they don’t matter. He is hiding the fact he is smiling. I wander with two versions of the chain now hanging on the same God monkey. One side is God, Me, King, Catherine Parr, the other side is God, Pope, Cardinals, Everyone else. Patrons are actually interested in the great chain and my explanation of what it means. This may be quite a hit…I am just waiting on another prop. They are greatly amused and this makes me happy. Soon enough, it’s time to go find Columbina and the Monkeys and I leave the street.
SWITCHING GEARS
Down at the costume house, I switch into my “tartan” again. This means I have a thicker shirt and can sit outside to fix hair and makeup. I enjoy the time where I can catch up with others while making the transformation. Some parts need me to be inside and I head in to finish the other parts of the changing, get my jewels, feathers and other props, and head out to the street. I am done a bit early, which is nice, and head back up to the street. There, I run into a number of patrons and invite them to the show, once I am sure that they are of an adult age. Some are obviously so and seem interested. I get to the White Hart, whose schedule is booked this weekend, and Trinket and I pick our shows and set up the first set list. . I have to keep re-asking the name of the group performing before us, as their name is Gaelic and not easily remember-able. I thank them and after we begin I realize I forgot to pack a prop on stage and this makes a difference when I realize we can’t do the song we were about to. Trinket grabs CDCB and he runs out to find it while we stall, we almost start a new song, then don’t as he comes up with the thing I need and I stuff it in my bodice. We start Scotsman and the show goes mostly as normal, though we lost any extra time we normally have because of the technical snafu. We clear the stage just in time and head out to the back to chat with our patrons.
LUNCHING AROUND
After we greet people I head out to get myself some lunch. I have trouble making up my mind but end up back at the Steak on a stake booth. I find some patrons to sit with and chat about their day. One of the group is new and I invite them to the next show as none of them has seen us before. As I head back to the stage, I meet up with some regulars and a woman with a note pad. She is asking questions and says she is a writer, but does not have a specific paper she works with. She asks for a picture of my mug and doesn’t ask much at all, but given the charmingly dressed nature of the men I am standing with, we are asked by many others for photographs. They are not at all camera shy and pose. It’s amusing. They, who have never sat through one of my shows before, swear they will see the show…uh-huh…right. I head to the stage.
WONDER OF WONDERS
Trinket and I prep our lists, I hack up a lung, then we head to the stage. At the start of the next show, The act before us is the O’Danny Girls. Before they leave, I point out to the audience that we are not the same group, see, we are on the stage at the same time and don’t look the same. People are amused. I see the lunch patrons in the audience. This makes me happy. Lo and behold, at the start of the show, the well-dressed men appear in the front row and actually stay for a full show. This is unheard of and makes me very happy. They are very complimentary afterwards as well. The show goes well and we clear in time for the Rogues to take the stage. We clear, say a few hellos, then Trinket heads to become royal while I take my stones to a man with a plan.
MY JEWELS ARE MY OWN
I head to my friend and show him my stones so we can discuss something to be made out of them. All were gifts over the years, but they do no good not being used, so I use them. Um, I find out from him what they are actually worth…wow….someone is going to be hit for being this generous. I know they weren’t that big a deal where they were gotten, but damn. I leave them with him and some instructions and head on my merry way. On street, I head toward baby Stupina and we go for some walkies. I start to walk her to the slide line because of the crowd and see…oh hell, the privy line. I walk baby Stupina in and holding her start moving the line, People don’t realize how heavy she is, so my arm is a bit tired hanging her as a dead weight. I begin to move people who just want to stay at the entrance and not come in until they know there’s a door, I assure them that is a bad idea and move them in and get rid of the line in 15 or so minutes.
LINING UP
I head next to the slide line and baby Stupina and I chat with the people there. I walk slowly down the line making sure those having been there longest are entertained and working down to those just joining. I have finished the line and don’t see anyone else on cast nearby. I can’t just keep re-entertaining them and the kids there are rather handsy with Stupina, which can be risky for her if I can’t get her away from them grabbing at strings, so I take her home and go looking for another cast member to send over. I find Nathaniel Butler getting a snack. I ask him if he is on break, which he was, but he finishes his muffin, and takes his coffee and walks with me to the line. Together, we start to work the new line and he plays games with them such as “are you smarter than a swashbuckler” with one boy and lets him win. He gifts him with a game token and the next child wins a swashbuckler’s coin. It is great to watch him work with the kids as he really blossoms with them. It is time for me to head off to prep for pub sing and he says he will finish the line before he moves on. I know he will be fine.
PUBSING CROWDS
It’s Irish Weekend, so Irish Rose is back and running her sing-along. There is one new song she has asked a number of us to learn but I was sick and unable to get to some of it so I can ooh in harmony more than anything. The group gathers to sing and is large, so it’s a bit of a crowd in the camp, but there is nothing to do this time. Once done, we head out to the sing, choose our tables and get ready. There is table dancing and other silliness. A patron tries to join us on the table with Rose and we yell no a number of times before we can get her off the table. We are covered for falling, she is not and we are sober, we have no clue about her….rules is rules. Triinket and I sing “Stretched out on your Grave” which was amazing when the group of wonderfully deep voices began to sing back up for us and fill the space…wow. Can we have them at all our shows? That was great!!!! The huge song doesn’t space out well and some sounds are overpowering others. Live and learn. Overall the energy is fun and silly and people seem to enjoy it. The cannons boom and it’s time to go home after a shelaighly threatening. I grab my props, drum and such and head back to the costume house.
SLOW POKE
I am one of the later ones in the room and find it is taking me forever to change. Not sure why, but I am slow today. I am asked to lock up, but concerned about a guest that is waiting for me outside. Turns out it didn’t matter and no one was going anywhere for a while and I was done before they were ready to leave. We finish, pick a place for dinner and head out calling my friend who has learned why you don’t wear leather pants at faire when it’s warm. At dinner, we find multiple groups of faire folk eating there. I sit at one table that slowly turns into a deep analysis of Star Trek and it’s various incarnations, including ones I never watched. I rush to our other table and am greeted by Dr. Who conversations, which makes me run to a third table, which is good, but they leave after 5 minutes, so I turn to a different table of playtrons who are in regular clothes now. Eventually, the bill comes and I head back to the group to pay and head home. I get some time to chat with my friend and other house guests show some cool stuff on youtube and get to sleep.
WARMER STARTING
Today, I get up early and hear my other non-sleeping houseguest in the other room. We talk as I get ready and he drives home as I drive to site. I stop for brekkies and get to the stage at 7:30. Stretching is tough today as my muscles are super tight and I am not sure why. Well, other than just being stiff and working hard and not stretching at night and and and…you get the idea. Vocals are easier, though the dust was hell and the netipot pressure thing wasn’t enough to go through the clog…but rather down my throat, bleah. We stopped that. Finish make up, and other stuff leaving on my layers as it is a bit chilly this morning, but a bit moister. I know today is to be warmer, but it’s not quite there yet. At the costume house, it’s moments there before we can go in and I get dressed in mostly quiet. A few come in before I leave, but not many. I head for sound check and we share the checking with Pyrates and a Strum who are doing different things with their sound this weekend. We double check when and what is being changed so SMDave is ready when we get up there.
CALLING CAST
Next to cast call and morning hi’s. People are in mostly good spirits. Near the end of cast call, we BEEP and the ED announces we have passed the 1/2way point…um, not actually. The upcoming Saturday is the 1/2way point, but it’s not worth making a big deal of it. I just know we have 11 more days left including today. Off to gate and my last pee of the morning, hand sanitizing, a feeble check for the clip clock with the blue stone that disappeared on site (if anyone finds a silver clip clock with a big light blue stone…please let me know and return it, it was a gift I lost on opening day and I miss it). I hear the crowd this morning, but it doesn’t sound QUITE as big. Once the king enters, I face up and BOOM, am ready for the crowd. I am wearing the warm scarf today as my throat was a bit chilled in the am. I know I won’t need it for long, but for now it’s good. I get compliments on it (TCHWRTR!!!! READING?). The normal greetings and hugs and other silliness continues and I re-meet the relocated Coloradoan and parents. After the crowd dissipates, I head out with programs and give out two stacks again, though it takes a trifle longer and I lose them about 3 times in the process. I do move more today though as it’s fun to bend and not drop them. Once they are gone, I head inside. I see the king and play hide and seek with him as he is greeting others. He smiles and I know I am caught, so I move on.
TORTURNING STUPINA
Near O’Shucks, I see the wenches and swashbucklers alone with SMDave. Someone compliments my scarf and SMDave comments to me that they had to skin a muppet to make the fuzzy blue parts of my scarf. I begin to cry…loudly…like at the top of my lungs screaming. I think I startled some birds let alone the people there. Kitty assures me that muppets are not skinned, but shorn, like sheep. I find out later someone else notes you don’t want to see them in the spring when they are all bare as it’s not pretty. Stupina is calmed and leaves sticking her tongue at SMDave and petting her scarf. She does proceed to share this story with all the other patrons she sees and explains that it is only shorn, not skinned, and that she believes this scarf was made from Grover. It gets a number of laughs.
CHEER WITH RICHARD SOUTHWELL
Today, my guest star on Stupina’s show is Richard Southwell…SIR Richard Southwell. I know this will be amusing as they are like oil and water together. I get my hat and head down a bit faster as I am running late. The wenches get to see my stair greeting skills and eventually understand what is happening. Soon enough, I head to the stage hearing Agnes again screaming down the slide and Sir Richard running down the steps to protect her. I get to my chair and there are a few regulars there. Richard immediately comes and sits in the other chair and Stupina gets very sad and quiet. This amuses the group. By the end, he has had her crawling out of her chair in fear hugging him and laughing, and upside down, where they realized that indeed, Stupina and Sir Richard were Yin and Yang to each other…Richard wears black and grey and sat upright, Stupina was in cream/white and was upside down…it was amusing. The questions were perfect and the audience had quite a number laughs all the way around. One patron mentioned afterwards that you could see Richard admirably trying not to break up in hysterical laughter a few times. This is the good stuff.
WANDERINGS
I am amused when I discover we were going so well that the Knighting Ceremony people didn’t come to stop us until almost 20 after. We also play with her making her say “Hey Stupina” too many times then playing catch up with her. It was all and all a silly and fun show. I head up the hill, return the hat and begin to chat with patrons. I find one group who is greatly amused and I find out one of them used to be in an acrobatic troupe that performed here years ago when he was a kid. I remember the troupe, though not him specifically, but we are amused and pleased to reminisce about the hoop of fire, which is no more. I greet other patrons who are being equally goofy to me and welcome them to sit under my tree with me, but they demur. I go and sit for a little while and sing to people as well as have some people sit with me for pictures. Time flies and I head back to the costume house to find Columbina
SWITCHAROONIE
Backstage I am preparing and in the same tartan…not that anyone could tell. I complete the transformation and head out to the street. It’s always interesting to me how I have to adjust how I approach people from the Stupina to Columbina time. Both for my protection and for their relationships. If I approach men with women, I have to ask for specific needs or talk to her…for his sake. As Stupina, it is often the opposite. Start with the man as he will feel the least threatened spacially. I am always good approaching kids, but in Columbina, even that changes some so as not to upset parents. Not that it’s a big deal most often, but you never know. That being said, I head out to the street and redress my patterns. I meet some couples near O’Shucks and invite them to hear naughty music. I wend my way and am escorted by a charming gentleman. I leave him to his way and head to the pub. There, I wire up, decide on shows, and wander a bit more before we start as our stairs have been claimed by two VERY drunk patrons. Once it’s time to start, I again ask for the new acts name to make sure I can pronounce it and thank them before we start the show. We pull out one of the older shows today and have great energy and lots of fun with the audience. The sun is hotter and brighter and I am grateful for those on house right in the sunspots who stay despite being blinded. After the show, we head to the back and greet people.
HUNTING FOR LUNCH
Both Trinket and I are hungry and are both craving potatoes, despite the heat. She goes to sit down and I head my way discovering SMDave there and not sure which potato to get. I order mine with less cheese and no sour cream. I see the atm line, but am holding food and a drink and need to eat. I sit down near the line on a bench and try to chat up the line while eating, but it just doesn’t work. I walk away and head to the food court tables to find another couple groups to chat with. I expect, on sitting, to chat with one group, but find the others are more interested. That is of interest to me but I enjoy the conversation nonetheless. Once done, I rinse my bowl and head back to the White Hart. I am there earlier and set up the set list, which is mostly unheard of (you should see my writing) and am ready once Trinket arrives. We mic up and head to the stage post O’Danny show. We give them one more shout out and begin our show. This is our filthy show and the people are amused. The “13” shows up on the sign and that always gets a laugh. The CDCB schtick has been morphing a bit this year and that is amusing as well.
NEW MOMENTS
After the show, Trinket heads out and I pack up some things and get ready to head out. I see a little boy sitting on the back wall and join him for a few moments to see how his day was going. His parents are in a group nearby and I make sure he and I know where they are. I eventually go to head out when I see a man in green and gold wandering out of the pub. Um, Your Majesty? Seems his entire retinue was sick or otherwise involved and hie is walking alone. As it would be inappropriate for him to be unescorted, I offer to wander with him. My feet are miserable at the moment, so I ask him if he would be willing to stop and chat with a patron or two. We sit and chat with a couple about his impending marriage hopefully with Katherine Parr and how if she turns him down, he might be looking at Italy. I assure him that I would be appropriate for a dalliance at best, but not to be queen, as I am only an actress. The couple laughs. We head out to the streets to chat more and head toward the kissing bridge. Along the way, people bow to him and he has them rise. At one point, I ask him, may I? and he lets me tell them to rise up. I am giddy as I never get to do that being at the bottom of the great chain of being (well, I do, but Columbina was having a blast with the power rush).
NOT KISSING
We head up on the bridge and become the instant photo op. We pose with people or just as ourselves. Eventually, Lord Seymour stops by and I turn his majesty over to more noble hands. I wander back to the front area after grabbing a plum and enjoying a juicy fruit. Its time for Pub sing and I get to camp to check what we are doing, look at the order and sit a moment. Soon enough, I head out and turn into the pub. I have to find a new table as the one I was on is now being used by rose as the cast table is um, not stable. I end up in a blank section of a bench which I miss foot in the first step and get back up. I finish ok, but I know I am looking at my feet more than up, which isn’t the best choice. Ah well. Today we sing “Old Maid in the Garrett” and get our running exit which is always fun. The song is redone tonight and has fewer voices. There is some amusement and our swashbucklers blow us away with a fabulous drinking song. We are pleased. The last song is Mist covered mountains and we end up on a quiet happy note. I grab stuff from the back and head back to the costume house.
WIPED
I change a bit faster today and get some things done for Trinket as well. A group of us pick a dinner spot and slowly head out. There, we table hop and are silly. We close the place down and slowly head our merry ways after a fun and exciting weekend. My nose is clogged and I am tired, but we had so much fun and with a little rinsing, I will be fine.
This weekend, Stupina will have William Teller joining me on Saturday and I think a Pyrate or two should arrive on Sunday if all goes as planned. See you in the Grove!
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how does it work for them being the guest? do they help drive the audience questions? or does Stupina drive the audience to ask the guest the questions?
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