MD part Quatro, Happy Days
Sep. 23rd, 2011 10:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradMd part quatro
Overall, it was a great weekend, but so much happened that I am bound to forget, misremember, misquote and mistake things. As long as you can accept that, we are good to go!
WHOSE THAT SLEEPING IN MY EXTRA BED
I had taken to housing the Dueling Fools for their last couple weekends and when I went to sleep, I left a light on for them, since they had quite a drive before they arrived. When I woke up, I saw the light was off, which meant they had made it safely. I gathered my things quietly and headed out leaving two quietly sleeping men with my cats. I headed off to site after stopping for a quick breakfast and arrived a few minutes early. I was at Gatehouse by 7:25 and stretching and warming up. I had enough time for a really solid stretch as well as a lovely warm up and felt really gung-ho that morning. I started my make up and eventually was joined by Richard Southwell and SMLiz. Again, there was a bit of a crowd backstage, but it all disappeared before we opened.
LAYERS
It was cold, for me, who works so hard to acclimate to the heat all summer, so days like this require me to add layers where most people wouldn’t. I head down to the costume house to drop off my things, pick up my props and set them for the show. Next, I begin to change. One of the ladies walks in with a leg cast as she hurt herself during the week. I happily hand her the “official MDRF Cast gimp cane” as I no longer need it, even if my foot is achy today. I wrap it before I go out, just in case, but it should be ok. There are many people hacking up lungs and I stay as far away from them as possible, even using cloth to open doors rather than my hands.
GRAND PREPARATIONS
Today is cold enough I am going to bring out the Free Hugs sign. It always warms me up on days like these. I grab the sign along with my other things and head out to the White Hart for sound check. Still waiting on parts, we work with the funky system. It seems ok, though levels are always odd. I drop off some fabric I received and a few other items. We are working on a new song, but we are missing some major things to make it successful. Hopefully, we can fix them in time. Sound is fine and I head off to Cast Call after a few morning hugs and kisses from friends.
NERVES
I check in and find a place for my sign. George Silber of the Dueling Fools comes up to go over some details as he is reading the girlie girl book today. He is concerned that he will overstep his bounds, but I assure him that he just needs to be himself and be willing to play, it will all be fine. Now, onward and upward. The weather is finally good for the audience but we have no idea how big the crowd will be. Notes run a bit long and as we BEEP we head immediately to the front gate. I stop for my ritual last bathroom break, stretch, fix my stage props so they are set when we open. Then I face up, they boom, and I await for the Royal Dismount. In they come and away we go.
FREE HUGS
It is always fascinating to me how people react to the Hugs sign. Teens and early 20-year-olds normally love it. Much older people love it…from 30-60, it all depends. Kids, well, it depends on what they think about me in the mask. I can be scary, so often I will try to get smaller so they aren’t threatened, or will just talk to them so they get a sense of normalcy before their parents try to thrust them on me. Sometimes I have to tell the parents no, because the child is scared. If I can pose without them seeing my face, or realizing I am there, it’s ok. Otherwise, I back off for the kid’s sake. Why spoil their day so early. I still get lines though, and that makes me happy.
LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME
There is a fine line between hawking your show and being rude and bullying people. I believe in letting the crowd come in first. After the first rush, if there are people coming in slowly or standing around, THOSE are the people that I hawk to. It means that I don’t really have an audience for the show until JUST before it starts. It’s unnerving. However, today, as we start, the house starts to build nicely and by the time I get moving, I have a nice group there. Today, the powers that be are watching the show. I am glad the crowd is responsive and having fun. When I cry for my book, George Silber comes up and tells me he can help as his mother gave him the same book as a child. I stare at him then the book…um, it’s called “The Delicate Guide to Girliness.” He then notes that his mother wanted a girl. It gets a great laugh. We begin and things are going well. At one point, I notice he isn’t reading, and when I look at him, he has burst out laughing and can’t continue. It is dangerous to watch me during the show, I know that. I don’t recommend it for the serious types. We continue and with only one misreading that confuses Bob and I, the show goes well. I thank Bob and George before sending them on their way. The powers that be meet me backstage to give me a few notes. They are helpful and things I thought about but never pushed doing. It also reminds me I need to go back to basics for my mask work. Working in a 360 medium changes your choices. Stages are really 180 and I have to start thinking that way again.
PACKING UP TO PLAY
I head to the costume house and let my face breathe a bit, or at least dry out. Even that chilly, my body temperature is up and I am sweating in the mask. I put away my props and pull out Mr. Hand Sock to greet the guests. Today, I wanted to try to see Johnathan Burns before he leaves; however, he is on stage at the exact same times I am, and the only other time is normally when I am doing my costume change, so I don’t really have much time. I decide to risk it and head off down through the sun bowl rout toward the Dragon Inn. I wander through the wedding reception and do get to see the bride and groom for a moment as well as chatting with Moose McQuinn and a few others I don’t often get time to say Hi to. I also find that Mr. Hand sock is a great hit with the late teens and even some older folks. I run into a table of 4 men, who, through conversation, I determine prefer men too. I recommend a few shows with some very pretty boys in them. I also run into some families and talk about their ham/turkey leg and listen to the little girl as she tells me about her face painting. Eventually, I am out of time and head toward the show, already in progress. I am met by a dear lady about to travel halfway across the world again, but we sit for a few moments and watch him contort. It’s amusing and he is acclimating to the medium very well. I am only able to stay for about 15 minutes or so, and I head back to find Columbina.
TRANSFORMATIONS
I begin the switch to Columbina. My favorite chemise received some burn marks from my dryer and I am sad that I don’t think it can be salvaged. Instead, I wear my blues. I pull out costuming and crazy glue to refix my broken tiara. I really need a new huge one. Then, makeup, hair, clothes and jewelry and I am a new Columbina. I grab my scarves and gloves as I know it will get cold later, and grab my bowl and fork so I can get lunch on the street. I head out after a few false starts and grab some pecans and cashews at the cinnamon nut booth and snack on a few before the show, since I have decided today is going to be my splurge of the season.
A MOMENT NECESSARY
A few of you know of my injury, lost voice and other issues that happened on the Monday of Labor Day weekend. Suffice to say it was by far the worst day I have ever had at faire and it will never happen again. Part of what made it awful was an encounter with a patron who without looking at me made a snap decision and kept me from my job, while I was trying to get by him on a cane with 5 minutes till showtime. Today, the father of that person came to me by the self-same closet and personally apologized to me. Given what that experience was for me, I did tear up a little at his words and I thanked him. He informed me that his son’s words would be forthcoming. Only time will tell. I did appreciate it being acknowledged. From that, I grabbed my things and got ready for the first show.
THE NEW STUFF
So a couple friends of ours are in the audience today and Trinket wants to make sure we do the new stuff for them. This means a revamped version of show 6 with parts of the upcoming 7…yeah, it confuses me too. I realize I don’t have my bodhran on this side of site and the House of Musical Traditions generously lends me one for a song or 2. During the week I posted to fans and asked them what songs they wanted to hear that we don’t do much. We got a request for the limericks song, which we have to heavily revamp as many acts are not there this season and others need to be addressed…so this week we did some rewriting and along with a little inspiration from some idiots, we came up with a whole bunch more limericks. I still miss not being able to do the Emrys and Sinnius ones, but one day we will do them again. Dinty wants us to rewrite his, and we may, but that one ws Trinket's baby, so it's up to her. This show is fun and very audience participatory (in a good sing-a-long way). Mid show, we get sprayed with enough sprinkles of rain that I cover the mics in protection. It does stop, and we finish JUST in time, play with the idiots a bit, then clear the stage.
BE STILL MY BEATING HEART
I go to return the bodhran and while hanging it up, hear my name. When I turn, I see a face I have not seen in years, and it literally makes me cry. I rush out and hug dear old George Boleyn/Aka Mr. Knapp who looks as lovely and wonderful as ever he did so many years ago when he and I played on these streets. I find out he is here for only one day, which saddens me, but I am grateful that we found each other for a moment. He introduces me to his love, a sweet man, who, unfortunately for him, asks me how to kiss a hand properly. I ask him if he is SURE he wants to know, and he says yes. As I start to back up and take my stance to gather the crowd, he realizes what my warning meant, and finds himself the star of a street bit wherein I teach him this very art. He does well and thanks me when it is done. A few moments later and I must take my leave. I let the dear one know where my shows are to be, but realize I will likely not see him there. At least I got this moment.
PIGGING OUT
So today, I have decided to splurge on my Canterbury pork pocket for the year. I save this for a chilly day, and this is that. I get it in my special way. Put fries in the bowl, put the pork directly on it, put cole slaw on that and add barbeque sauce. Then eat…mmmm. I take my rather large repast to the tables by the new bowling game and sit with a couple and their son…son being a deceiving title as he is easily in his 30s. Turns out these people have never been here before and the older couple play Mr. and Mrs. Claus down south at another place of amusement. We chat and I invite them to my show at 5:00, they are very charming people and we have a lovely discussion about weather, the interesting and fun shows at the festival, and a little smattering of history thrown in. Soon enough, it’s time for me to head back to the streets with a little gal.
BABY STUPINA WALKS AGAIN
I wash my bowl, return it to the closet and grab a mask to wear with the marionette. I decided this year to do this so the marionette gets more focus. I realize that it’s still a dynamic look, but keeping me less accessible makes people focus on Baby Stupina and only ask me questions if they are curious. It doesn’t mean I don’t talk, but it changes up the reality of the experience for the patrons. It’s an experiment and if anyone who has seen it both ways has a thought or two about it, let me know. Baby S and I wander up Stub Toe and head toward Piland area. I explain her dehydration and joke with adults. A little girl begins to have a very intense conversation with her, but I can only hear about half of it. I try to hear what little ones say so Stupina can react to them, but I can’t follow her. She doesn’t want to leave her though and before she goes, Stupina gets her first joyous hugs of the season. Time finally has run out and I head back.
WHO IS THAT MYSTERIOUS LADY
I head back toward the White Hart after dropping her off at her sleeping spot. I am getting rather intense responses from the mask and am forcing myself to make eye contact more. I didn’t realize how much I don’t, but with the mask, I am less me, so I can do this. It gets interesting reactions. I still don’t see my nepoti on street and hope we run into each other at some point. Back at the stage, I write up the setlist and get ready for the show. I am pleased to see Santa and gang in the audience. This one is mostly show 4 and again, in the middle of our set, the rain starts again. The ONLY 2 TIMES IT RAINED WERE ON MY SHOWS. Luckily, we use our body mics, but we do stop to cover the on stage mics with cups so they don’t get soaked and destroyed. By the end of our show, the water has stopped and we are ready to introduce Pub Sing.
IDIOTIC GOODBYES
Well, this is the last show for the Village Idiots at Pub Sing. They are pulled up for two songs which are both fun and the crowd loves them. Trinket and I get the crowd singing about 3 Jolly Coachmen and Louis brings down the house with his Sailor’s Prayer. We keep letting the Idiots know that that song is a special experience. I think it’s more fun from the front, but it’s still good as part of the choir. The guys join in and even on the final song of Auld Lang Syne, they fit in perfectly harmonizing with us all. We don’t actually call for the bells tonight, the cannon goes off at the best possible moment in Sailor’s Prayer, and that makes us happy. While up on the stage, I am handed a rose from a gentleman in the crowd, who didn’t get the chance to speak to me during the day. This is the first one I received this year not because of my birthday. It makes me smile. The festival ends and I grab what we need and head back to the costume house.
WHICH CHINESE SECRET
After some logistical negotiating, we end up going to the House of Shangrila. This is actually my first time there ever and the food is ok. Unfortunately, a chunk of our party didn’t get complete info and went to the other Chinese place, so we never met up. Pity. We did have fun and after clarification and discussion, I presented my first ear trick on M, a lovely lady who works with masks. As always, it causes amusement for the table. We also discuss how fun it would be to do something with the Italian/Blonde juxtaposition of the Dueling Fools and the Interpreters. A plan is hatched and much amusement is organized. Home we all head and I grab some tea and lovely conversation with two charming gentlemen before I head to sleep.
AGAIN!!!!
I wake up too early and head out the door without enough time to get the meds I didn’t get last night. Off to site I go after a quick breakfast stop. Once on site, I head to the stage and again get a really focused warm up and stretch. I am much tighter today muscularly, but the workout and the chill always does that. I fix hair, makeup, and set out props. I get the rest of the props from down the hills and head up to get everything ready. It’s a bit colder, so I choose to get Mr. Hand Sock as my prop of the day. It also makes a great scarf, but I add a second one. Off to sound check and see Trinket is not as buoyant this morning. Check goes fine, I say hello to Dave by the bar and see the final of the Piland custom piece that is now being built for me. It’s not something I will ever wear at site, since it’s not blue, but I am excited to see it done.
WINE-ING
At cast call, I touch base with a few people and am in good spirits overall. Notes go quickly, but again we end up with only a few minutes for people to head out to the gate. We BEEP and I head to the front for my ritual privy stop. Master Teller greets me for my hug and Nan and I review our game plan for the show. Eventually, they BOOM and we welcome the arriving crowd. The first rush normally takes 10-15 minutes, which it does again and I then begin to welcome some little girls and their families to watch. I start my circle and notice a little boy running all over the Gatehouse stage, his mother has just replaced my sign, incorrectly, after looking at it and the kid is dancing around and running to Wine and Alchemy’s drums to hit them. I get to the stage quickly and let the family know they should not be up there and the little one should not be allowed to touch these instruments as they belong to people. I also reset my sign at the proper location and angle. I think that I am more annoyed that the parents aren’t particularly plussed and continue to let the kid run. Luckily, he runs off the stage area.
MINDING YOUR MANNERS
I head back out and begin to hawk an audience. It’s decent when I start, but not huge; however, as the show progresses, the crowd grows. Santa and his family arrive again to see Stupina’s show and the difference between what I did yesterday and today. There are also two women who are giggling manaically through most of the show, which makes me happy. Nan Mannerly is my guest reader and she does a great job disapproving of Stupina but still playing along. The audience has a lot of fun, which is the most important part, and I use Santa’s son as my test subject. All in all, it was a great time.
GET YOUR PROGRAMS
I put away my props and head back out to the street. I see a lot of people still flowing in, so I take 3 stacks of programs and head out. I place them on my head for distribution. Above me, the Adventurers are calling to the crowd and encouraging them to dance as Wolgemut is playing. “Do you hear the music? Then why aren’t you dancing?” to which they begin dancing to show people how it’s done. It amuses me greatly. I finish those programs and go to get more, which are handed to me by a ticket lady. I finish those quickly and head in to get another 4 stacks. After a little while, those are gone. I have leaned sideways, laid down, shrunk and danced, all while not losing a one. This was a good program day…Faire and Balanced Programming. That’s what I give (Don’t hurt me).
TRANSLATION
I head backstage and begin to change into Columbina. I go with a different chemise, but it’s cold, so I layer a pajama top under the chemise. At least my arms are a bit warmer. After makeup, hair and girding up the loins, I am ready to head out. I grab my bowl and spoon as I am hearing a Huntsman’s potato calling me. Nathaniel Field is out of Denmark until the second act, so he escorts me for lunch. We get my potato and begin to chat. Once we sit, we converse with the patrons about us as well as convince him that Horatio isn’t paying him well and he needs to ask for more money. Hey Horatio….they all agreed with me! Hah! Take that! Ok, back to my story.
BEGINNINGS TO THE END
Nathaniel take his leave as my potato eating takes a while when I am talking to others. Once he leaves, we continue to chat and when my food is gone, I take my bowl, clean it, then stop at a bench and ask the entire group of people eating at the food court how their day is going…it’s a fun bit. I head over to get mic’ed up, make sure the camera is in the right place, and get the set list together. I haven’t seen Trinket and am getting a bit worried. She finally arrives having noted that she is exhausted and we gather our things and head to the stage. On the way, we are asked to stop by to see the Madame of the wench guild after our show to help with a prank. Up we go and have a fun show with a responsive audience and make booboo faces at the Idiots as we leave.
CURVACEOUS SURPRISES
We head to the back and pass off our instruments, etc. then head over to the ladies. We are informed of the plan, then wait for our cue. You can tell the guys know SOMETHING is up, you can even see the moment they hold for a slight second when they THINK we are going to come up on the stage, and don’t. VEG. They start Curvy Girls and Trinket runs up to try to show off some curves. The rest of the ladies stroll up, I pull Trinket out and replace her, and um, well, Bliss would be proud. I threw Lucky for a few moments since I was keeping rhythm with…um, not using my hands. We breathe and leave the stage. The other ladies stay for lunch and disturb the boys for the rest of the song, but I have places to go and people to see.
MASCHERE CON STUPINA
I put on the mask and head out to get my little gal. We wander and I find more kids fascinated with her and some women creeped out. I work hard to make sure that she makes eye contact with whoever waves at her. Others who met her in the morning are surprised to see her so dehydrated. I get some good time out, but it is a bit shorter than normal, because I have a place to go again. I take her back and say goodbye, turn in my mask, and head toward the Market Stage. I see Johnathan Burns on the way and share some positive thoughts with him. Then I find Noblesse’s crowd and bring Windi along with me to the show as she hadn’t seen the Fools yet and this is their last performance here.
TAKING A DEEP BREATH
The crowd is full, the energy is great, and Trinket is nowhere to be found. I am very distracted looking for her as the bit we discussed involves us both. It’s getting closer and closer and nothing. AACK. I see Rocco make eye contact with me in the back of the house as if to ask if I am coming up. I don’t know. I literally take a breath when the get to the line and I run up alone. They comment that if it’s a Tragedy, one of them must die, if it’s a comedy, one must get married. I bounce up saying “pick me pick me”. Then realize, well, one is Italian, like me, the other wears blue, like me. I ask the audience which I should choose and the cries of Blue, Italian make me go back and forth till I say “I can’t make up my mind, you two are on your own!” and storm off backstage. It gives them a clean capper and they close the show on a fun high note. Mission accomplished.
PLANNING FAREWELLS
I come back out and give my hugs to the boys after they address their fans. George grabs a key for me and I head back to the White Hart as my show is in 20 minutes. Once there, I grab the setlist and prep the show, but no Trinket. I am getting nervous. We don’t get SMDave until the last minute either, so I am planning on how to do a one woman show, worst case. Trinket shows, a trifle bleary-eyed and we get items set and get ready to hit the stage. I see a rose seller and grab him to send goodbyes/thank yous to the Village Idiots and Dueling Fools in hopes they haven’t quite left. I forgot that the Fools were helping out the Fight School boys and the delivery man never made it to them.
FESTIVE PERFORMANCE
In the audience, I see a friend from my youth with his wife and daughter. His daughter has totally gotten into the swing of things and is wearing a Moresca fairy outfit. Yeah, he’s gonna be in trouble with that one, if he’s not already. We have a fun show, though you can see the audience is tired from the long weekend. At least there has been no rain (knock on my head). We are having more fun off script these days, which is great, but also makes our shows run longer than I want. This show is not so long and we have time to throw a quick love song into it. Time enough and it’s over, we remind the crowd that it’s almost time for pub sing.
REGIFTING
I find out about the Fools and we both try to catch them at the FS show, but alas we are too late. Instead, I have him deliver them to a lady about to travel across the larger pond and a visiting friend, who is determinedly confused about who gave him the rose…silly boy. Coy is not normally my style. If you see it, it may very well be me. ;-) I head over to the Pub Sing prep area and we determine we will sing 5 Consummated Men. There is more talk in it than I would like at pub sing, but it is also a sing a long and lots of fun. I think we break some people. Pub sing is fun and energetic as the Drum Runners make their first appearance and my African dance training is dying to get out of that corset. I realize that might not be a great idea and tone my body down a bit. My hair has most of my fun since it’s down. We end sweetly and send everyone on their way with Trinket and I leaving with Nigel, the Henry impersonator, that charmer. I head to grab my stuff from the closet and rush back to the costume house to change.
THE GANG’S ALL HERE
We try to get a group together for Double T, but it appears that everyone else has the same idea. I am looking for Abby G as we had invited her, but while the rest of the group is leaving, I haven’t seen her yet and can’t get her directions on how to get there. I still feel crappy about that. I hope she had a good meal anyway. Dinner at Double T is a crowded affair with 5 or so large tables of rennies and others we know. It’s fun and enjoyable and we don’t’ want to leave, but we are starting to fall asleep at the table. We have many generations of faire performers there, from the Mongol Horde before my time to those who knew Bill, and those that never met him plus those who are just starting. It’s neat to share the history. Time must eventually take us away and we look forward to another one. I do manage to get those meds on the way home this time and all is well.
This weekend, Stupina gets help from Horatio De Vere on Saturday, and Matthew Stuart (who looks a lot like Scapino) on Sunday. Let’s get ready for a great weekend…Can’t wait to see you all, wet or dry.
Overall, it was a great weekend, but so much happened that I am bound to forget, misremember, misquote and mistake things. As long as you can accept that, we are good to go!
WHOSE THAT SLEEPING IN MY EXTRA BED
I had taken to housing the Dueling Fools for their last couple weekends and when I went to sleep, I left a light on for them, since they had quite a drive before they arrived. When I woke up, I saw the light was off, which meant they had made it safely. I gathered my things quietly and headed out leaving two quietly sleeping men with my cats. I headed off to site after stopping for a quick breakfast and arrived a few minutes early. I was at Gatehouse by 7:25 and stretching and warming up. I had enough time for a really solid stretch as well as a lovely warm up and felt really gung-ho that morning. I started my make up and eventually was joined by Richard Southwell and SMLiz. Again, there was a bit of a crowd backstage, but it all disappeared before we opened.
LAYERS
It was cold, for me, who works so hard to acclimate to the heat all summer, so days like this require me to add layers where most people wouldn’t. I head down to the costume house to drop off my things, pick up my props and set them for the show. Next, I begin to change. One of the ladies walks in with a leg cast as she hurt herself during the week. I happily hand her the “official MDRF Cast gimp cane” as I no longer need it, even if my foot is achy today. I wrap it before I go out, just in case, but it should be ok. There are many people hacking up lungs and I stay as far away from them as possible, even using cloth to open doors rather than my hands.
GRAND PREPARATIONS
Today is cold enough I am going to bring out the Free Hugs sign. It always warms me up on days like these. I grab the sign along with my other things and head out to the White Hart for sound check. Still waiting on parts, we work with the funky system. It seems ok, though levels are always odd. I drop off some fabric I received and a few other items. We are working on a new song, but we are missing some major things to make it successful. Hopefully, we can fix them in time. Sound is fine and I head off to Cast Call after a few morning hugs and kisses from friends.
NERVES
I check in and find a place for my sign. George Silber of the Dueling Fools comes up to go over some details as he is reading the girlie girl book today. He is concerned that he will overstep his bounds, but I assure him that he just needs to be himself and be willing to play, it will all be fine. Now, onward and upward. The weather is finally good for the audience but we have no idea how big the crowd will be. Notes run a bit long and as we BEEP we head immediately to the front gate. I stop for my ritual last bathroom break, stretch, fix my stage props so they are set when we open. Then I face up, they boom, and I await for the Royal Dismount. In they come and away we go.
FREE HUGS
It is always fascinating to me how people react to the Hugs sign. Teens and early 20-year-olds normally love it. Much older people love it…from 30-60, it all depends. Kids, well, it depends on what they think about me in the mask. I can be scary, so often I will try to get smaller so they aren’t threatened, or will just talk to them so they get a sense of normalcy before their parents try to thrust them on me. Sometimes I have to tell the parents no, because the child is scared. If I can pose without them seeing my face, or realizing I am there, it’s ok. Otherwise, I back off for the kid’s sake. Why spoil their day so early. I still get lines though, and that makes me happy.
LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME
There is a fine line between hawking your show and being rude and bullying people. I believe in letting the crowd come in first. After the first rush, if there are people coming in slowly or standing around, THOSE are the people that I hawk to. It means that I don’t really have an audience for the show until JUST before it starts. It’s unnerving. However, today, as we start, the house starts to build nicely and by the time I get moving, I have a nice group there. Today, the powers that be are watching the show. I am glad the crowd is responsive and having fun. When I cry for my book, George Silber comes up and tells me he can help as his mother gave him the same book as a child. I stare at him then the book…um, it’s called “The Delicate Guide to Girliness.” He then notes that his mother wanted a girl. It gets a great laugh. We begin and things are going well. At one point, I notice he isn’t reading, and when I look at him, he has burst out laughing and can’t continue. It is dangerous to watch me during the show, I know that. I don’t recommend it for the serious types. We continue and with only one misreading that confuses Bob and I, the show goes well. I thank Bob and George before sending them on their way. The powers that be meet me backstage to give me a few notes. They are helpful and things I thought about but never pushed doing. It also reminds me I need to go back to basics for my mask work. Working in a 360 medium changes your choices. Stages are really 180 and I have to start thinking that way again.
PACKING UP TO PLAY
I head to the costume house and let my face breathe a bit, or at least dry out. Even that chilly, my body temperature is up and I am sweating in the mask. I put away my props and pull out Mr. Hand Sock to greet the guests. Today, I wanted to try to see Johnathan Burns before he leaves; however, he is on stage at the exact same times I am, and the only other time is normally when I am doing my costume change, so I don’t really have much time. I decide to risk it and head off down through the sun bowl rout toward the Dragon Inn. I wander through the wedding reception and do get to see the bride and groom for a moment as well as chatting with Moose McQuinn and a few others I don’t often get time to say Hi to. I also find that Mr. Hand sock is a great hit with the late teens and even some older folks. I run into a table of 4 men, who, through conversation, I determine prefer men too. I recommend a few shows with some very pretty boys in them. I also run into some families and talk about their ham/turkey leg and listen to the little girl as she tells me about her face painting. Eventually, I am out of time and head toward the show, already in progress. I am met by a dear lady about to travel halfway across the world again, but we sit for a few moments and watch him contort. It’s amusing and he is acclimating to the medium very well. I am only able to stay for about 15 minutes or so, and I head back to find Columbina.
TRANSFORMATIONS
I begin the switch to Columbina. My favorite chemise received some burn marks from my dryer and I am sad that I don’t think it can be salvaged. Instead, I wear my blues. I pull out costuming and crazy glue to refix my broken tiara. I really need a new huge one. Then, makeup, hair, clothes and jewelry and I am a new Columbina. I grab my scarves and gloves as I know it will get cold later, and grab my bowl and fork so I can get lunch on the street. I head out after a few false starts and grab some pecans and cashews at the cinnamon nut booth and snack on a few before the show, since I have decided today is going to be my splurge of the season.
A MOMENT NECESSARY
A few of you know of my injury, lost voice and other issues that happened on the Monday of Labor Day weekend. Suffice to say it was by far the worst day I have ever had at faire and it will never happen again. Part of what made it awful was an encounter with a patron who without looking at me made a snap decision and kept me from my job, while I was trying to get by him on a cane with 5 minutes till showtime. Today, the father of that person came to me by the self-same closet and personally apologized to me. Given what that experience was for me, I did tear up a little at his words and I thanked him. He informed me that his son’s words would be forthcoming. Only time will tell. I did appreciate it being acknowledged. From that, I grabbed my things and got ready for the first show.
THE NEW STUFF
So a couple friends of ours are in the audience today and Trinket wants to make sure we do the new stuff for them. This means a revamped version of show 6 with parts of the upcoming 7…yeah, it confuses me too. I realize I don’t have my bodhran on this side of site and the House of Musical Traditions generously lends me one for a song or 2. During the week I posted to fans and asked them what songs they wanted to hear that we don’t do much. We got a request for the limericks song, which we have to heavily revamp as many acts are not there this season and others need to be addressed…so this week we did some rewriting and along with a little inspiration from some idiots, we came up with a whole bunch more limericks. I still miss not being able to do the Emrys and Sinnius ones, but one day we will do them again. Dinty wants us to rewrite his, and we may, but that one ws Trinket's baby, so it's up to her. This show is fun and very audience participatory (in a good sing-a-long way). Mid show, we get sprayed with enough sprinkles of rain that I cover the mics in protection. It does stop, and we finish JUST in time, play with the idiots a bit, then clear the stage.
BE STILL MY BEATING HEART
I go to return the bodhran and while hanging it up, hear my name. When I turn, I see a face I have not seen in years, and it literally makes me cry. I rush out and hug dear old George Boleyn/Aka Mr. Knapp who looks as lovely and wonderful as ever he did so many years ago when he and I played on these streets. I find out he is here for only one day, which saddens me, but I am grateful that we found each other for a moment. He introduces me to his love, a sweet man, who, unfortunately for him, asks me how to kiss a hand properly. I ask him if he is SURE he wants to know, and he says yes. As I start to back up and take my stance to gather the crowd, he realizes what my warning meant, and finds himself the star of a street bit wherein I teach him this very art. He does well and thanks me when it is done. A few moments later and I must take my leave. I let the dear one know where my shows are to be, but realize I will likely not see him there. At least I got this moment.
PIGGING OUT
So today, I have decided to splurge on my Canterbury pork pocket for the year. I save this for a chilly day, and this is that. I get it in my special way. Put fries in the bowl, put the pork directly on it, put cole slaw on that and add barbeque sauce. Then eat…mmmm. I take my rather large repast to the tables by the new bowling game and sit with a couple and their son…son being a deceiving title as he is easily in his 30s. Turns out these people have never been here before and the older couple play Mr. and Mrs. Claus down south at another place of amusement. We chat and I invite them to my show at 5:00, they are very charming people and we have a lovely discussion about weather, the interesting and fun shows at the festival, and a little smattering of history thrown in. Soon enough, it’s time for me to head back to the streets with a little gal.
BABY STUPINA WALKS AGAIN
I wash my bowl, return it to the closet and grab a mask to wear with the marionette. I decided this year to do this so the marionette gets more focus. I realize that it’s still a dynamic look, but keeping me less accessible makes people focus on Baby Stupina and only ask me questions if they are curious. It doesn’t mean I don’t talk, but it changes up the reality of the experience for the patrons. It’s an experiment and if anyone who has seen it both ways has a thought or two about it, let me know. Baby S and I wander up Stub Toe and head toward Piland area. I explain her dehydration and joke with adults. A little girl begins to have a very intense conversation with her, but I can only hear about half of it. I try to hear what little ones say so Stupina can react to them, but I can’t follow her. She doesn’t want to leave her though and before she goes, Stupina gets her first joyous hugs of the season. Time finally has run out and I head back.
WHO IS THAT MYSTERIOUS LADY
I head back toward the White Hart after dropping her off at her sleeping spot. I am getting rather intense responses from the mask and am forcing myself to make eye contact more. I didn’t realize how much I don’t, but with the mask, I am less me, so I can do this. It gets interesting reactions. I still don’t see my nepoti on street and hope we run into each other at some point. Back at the stage, I write up the setlist and get ready for the show. I am pleased to see Santa and gang in the audience. This one is mostly show 4 and again, in the middle of our set, the rain starts again. The ONLY 2 TIMES IT RAINED WERE ON MY SHOWS. Luckily, we use our body mics, but we do stop to cover the on stage mics with cups so they don’t get soaked and destroyed. By the end of our show, the water has stopped and we are ready to introduce Pub Sing.
IDIOTIC GOODBYES
Well, this is the last show for the Village Idiots at Pub Sing. They are pulled up for two songs which are both fun and the crowd loves them. Trinket and I get the crowd singing about 3 Jolly Coachmen and Louis brings down the house with his Sailor’s Prayer. We keep letting the Idiots know that that song is a special experience. I think it’s more fun from the front, but it’s still good as part of the choir. The guys join in and even on the final song of Auld Lang Syne, they fit in perfectly harmonizing with us all. We don’t actually call for the bells tonight, the cannon goes off at the best possible moment in Sailor’s Prayer, and that makes us happy. While up on the stage, I am handed a rose from a gentleman in the crowd, who didn’t get the chance to speak to me during the day. This is the first one I received this year not because of my birthday. It makes me smile. The festival ends and I grab what we need and head back to the costume house.
WHICH CHINESE SECRET
After some logistical negotiating, we end up going to the House of Shangrila. This is actually my first time there ever and the food is ok. Unfortunately, a chunk of our party didn’t get complete info and went to the other Chinese place, so we never met up. Pity. We did have fun and after clarification and discussion, I presented my first ear trick on M, a lovely lady who works with masks. As always, it causes amusement for the table. We also discuss how fun it would be to do something with the Italian/Blonde juxtaposition of the Dueling Fools and the Interpreters. A plan is hatched and much amusement is organized. Home we all head and I grab some tea and lovely conversation with two charming gentlemen before I head to sleep.
AGAIN!!!!
I wake up too early and head out the door without enough time to get the meds I didn’t get last night. Off to site I go after a quick breakfast stop. Once on site, I head to the stage and again get a really focused warm up and stretch. I am much tighter today muscularly, but the workout and the chill always does that. I fix hair, makeup, and set out props. I get the rest of the props from down the hills and head up to get everything ready. It’s a bit colder, so I choose to get Mr. Hand Sock as my prop of the day. It also makes a great scarf, but I add a second one. Off to sound check and see Trinket is not as buoyant this morning. Check goes fine, I say hello to Dave by the bar and see the final of the Piland custom piece that is now being built for me. It’s not something I will ever wear at site, since it’s not blue, but I am excited to see it done.
WINE-ING
At cast call, I touch base with a few people and am in good spirits overall. Notes go quickly, but again we end up with only a few minutes for people to head out to the gate. We BEEP and I head to the front for my ritual privy stop. Master Teller greets me for my hug and Nan and I review our game plan for the show. Eventually, they BOOM and we welcome the arriving crowd. The first rush normally takes 10-15 minutes, which it does again and I then begin to welcome some little girls and their families to watch. I start my circle and notice a little boy running all over the Gatehouse stage, his mother has just replaced my sign, incorrectly, after looking at it and the kid is dancing around and running to Wine and Alchemy’s drums to hit them. I get to the stage quickly and let the family know they should not be up there and the little one should not be allowed to touch these instruments as they belong to people. I also reset my sign at the proper location and angle. I think that I am more annoyed that the parents aren’t particularly plussed and continue to let the kid run. Luckily, he runs off the stage area.
MINDING YOUR MANNERS
I head back out and begin to hawk an audience. It’s decent when I start, but not huge; however, as the show progresses, the crowd grows. Santa and his family arrive again to see Stupina’s show and the difference between what I did yesterday and today. There are also two women who are giggling manaically through most of the show, which makes me happy. Nan Mannerly is my guest reader and she does a great job disapproving of Stupina but still playing along. The audience has a lot of fun, which is the most important part, and I use Santa’s son as my test subject. All in all, it was a great time.
GET YOUR PROGRAMS
I put away my props and head back out to the street. I see a lot of people still flowing in, so I take 3 stacks of programs and head out. I place them on my head for distribution. Above me, the Adventurers are calling to the crowd and encouraging them to dance as Wolgemut is playing. “Do you hear the music? Then why aren’t you dancing?” to which they begin dancing to show people how it’s done. It amuses me greatly. I finish those programs and go to get more, which are handed to me by a ticket lady. I finish those quickly and head in to get another 4 stacks. After a little while, those are gone. I have leaned sideways, laid down, shrunk and danced, all while not losing a one. This was a good program day…Faire and Balanced Programming. That’s what I give (Don’t hurt me).
TRANSLATION
I head backstage and begin to change into Columbina. I go with a different chemise, but it’s cold, so I layer a pajama top under the chemise. At least my arms are a bit warmer. After makeup, hair and girding up the loins, I am ready to head out. I grab my bowl and spoon as I am hearing a Huntsman’s potato calling me. Nathaniel Field is out of Denmark until the second act, so he escorts me for lunch. We get my potato and begin to chat. Once we sit, we converse with the patrons about us as well as convince him that Horatio isn’t paying him well and he needs to ask for more money. Hey Horatio….they all agreed with me! Hah! Take that! Ok, back to my story.
BEGINNINGS TO THE END
Nathaniel take his leave as my potato eating takes a while when I am talking to others. Once he leaves, we continue to chat and when my food is gone, I take my bowl, clean it, then stop at a bench and ask the entire group of people eating at the food court how their day is going…it’s a fun bit. I head over to get mic’ed up, make sure the camera is in the right place, and get the set list together. I haven’t seen Trinket and am getting a bit worried. She finally arrives having noted that she is exhausted and we gather our things and head to the stage. On the way, we are asked to stop by to see the Madame of the wench guild after our show to help with a prank. Up we go and have a fun show with a responsive audience and make booboo faces at the Idiots as we leave.
CURVACEOUS SURPRISES
We head to the back and pass off our instruments, etc. then head over to the ladies. We are informed of the plan, then wait for our cue. You can tell the guys know SOMETHING is up, you can even see the moment they hold for a slight second when they THINK we are going to come up on the stage, and don’t. VEG. They start Curvy Girls and Trinket runs up to try to show off some curves. The rest of the ladies stroll up, I pull Trinket out and replace her, and um, well, Bliss would be proud. I threw Lucky for a few moments since I was keeping rhythm with…um, not using my hands. We breathe and leave the stage. The other ladies stay for lunch and disturb the boys for the rest of the song, but I have places to go and people to see.
MASCHERE CON STUPINA
I put on the mask and head out to get my little gal. We wander and I find more kids fascinated with her and some women creeped out. I work hard to make sure that she makes eye contact with whoever waves at her. Others who met her in the morning are surprised to see her so dehydrated. I get some good time out, but it is a bit shorter than normal, because I have a place to go again. I take her back and say goodbye, turn in my mask, and head toward the Market Stage. I see Johnathan Burns on the way and share some positive thoughts with him. Then I find Noblesse’s crowd and bring Windi along with me to the show as she hadn’t seen the Fools yet and this is their last performance here.
TAKING A DEEP BREATH
The crowd is full, the energy is great, and Trinket is nowhere to be found. I am very distracted looking for her as the bit we discussed involves us both. It’s getting closer and closer and nothing. AACK. I see Rocco make eye contact with me in the back of the house as if to ask if I am coming up. I don’t know. I literally take a breath when the get to the line and I run up alone. They comment that if it’s a Tragedy, one of them must die, if it’s a comedy, one must get married. I bounce up saying “pick me pick me”. Then realize, well, one is Italian, like me, the other wears blue, like me. I ask the audience which I should choose and the cries of Blue, Italian make me go back and forth till I say “I can’t make up my mind, you two are on your own!” and storm off backstage. It gives them a clean capper and they close the show on a fun high note. Mission accomplished.
PLANNING FAREWELLS
I come back out and give my hugs to the boys after they address their fans. George grabs a key for me and I head back to the White Hart as my show is in 20 minutes. Once there, I grab the setlist and prep the show, but no Trinket. I am getting nervous. We don’t get SMDave until the last minute either, so I am planning on how to do a one woman show, worst case. Trinket shows, a trifle bleary-eyed and we get items set and get ready to hit the stage. I see a rose seller and grab him to send goodbyes/thank yous to the Village Idiots and Dueling Fools in hopes they haven’t quite left. I forgot that the Fools were helping out the Fight School boys and the delivery man never made it to them.
FESTIVE PERFORMANCE
In the audience, I see a friend from my youth with his wife and daughter. His daughter has totally gotten into the swing of things and is wearing a Moresca fairy outfit. Yeah, he’s gonna be in trouble with that one, if he’s not already. We have a fun show, though you can see the audience is tired from the long weekend. At least there has been no rain (knock on my head). We are having more fun off script these days, which is great, but also makes our shows run longer than I want. This show is not so long and we have time to throw a quick love song into it. Time enough and it’s over, we remind the crowd that it’s almost time for pub sing.
REGIFTING
I find out about the Fools and we both try to catch them at the FS show, but alas we are too late. Instead, I have him deliver them to a lady about to travel across the larger pond and a visiting friend, who is determinedly confused about who gave him the rose…silly boy. Coy is not normally my style. If you see it, it may very well be me. ;-) I head over to the Pub Sing prep area and we determine we will sing 5 Consummated Men. There is more talk in it than I would like at pub sing, but it is also a sing a long and lots of fun. I think we break some people. Pub sing is fun and energetic as the Drum Runners make their first appearance and my African dance training is dying to get out of that corset. I realize that might not be a great idea and tone my body down a bit. My hair has most of my fun since it’s down. We end sweetly and send everyone on their way with Trinket and I leaving with Nigel, the Henry impersonator, that charmer. I head to grab my stuff from the closet and rush back to the costume house to change.
THE GANG’S ALL HERE
We try to get a group together for Double T, but it appears that everyone else has the same idea. I am looking for Abby G as we had invited her, but while the rest of the group is leaving, I haven’t seen her yet and can’t get her directions on how to get there. I still feel crappy about that. I hope she had a good meal anyway. Dinner at Double T is a crowded affair with 5 or so large tables of rennies and others we know. It’s fun and enjoyable and we don’t’ want to leave, but we are starting to fall asleep at the table. We have many generations of faire performers there, from the Mongol Horde before my time to those who knew Bill, and those that never met him plus those who are just starting. It’s neat to share the history. Time must eventually take us away and we look forward to another one. I do manage to get those meds on the way home this time and all is well.
This weekend, Stupina gets help from Horatio De Vere on Saturday, and Matthew Stuart (who looks a lot like Scapino) on Sunday. Let’s get ready for a great weekend…Can’t wait to see you all, wet or dry.
