MDRF part otto
Oct. 19th, 2011 09:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradIts getting close to the end, but so much good stuff has been happening that I don’t want to forget. If you forgive the already shaky memory, please, sit back and read along with me.
NOT AGAIN
Friday was pouring. Well, most of the week had been partially wet, so I was nervous getting to site to drop stuff off. Amazingly, the roads were in great shape and cars weren’t on site, so it kept it looking natural and pristine. I even got to stop at Jezzard’s to have her look at my sad and mangled stick and figure out how to replace it. I leave site and the rain is appearing to be done for the day and the weekend. This bodes very well…though my constant and niggling cough does not. I have had it for 4 weeks, but it is just getting annoying now and a trifle worse. I work a bit late and head to bed a bit later than I would want, but I am ready for the weekend.
BRISK
I leave the house and it’s pretty chilly. I have 3 layers on top plus a coat and warm sweats on plus a scarf and gloves. I head to site stopping for brekkies and make it to the stage by 7:25. Once there, I am pleased to see no covers on the stage again and it is covered with leaves…it’s fall afterall. I clear a space and lay down to start stretching. The stage is a bit cold, but I just keep moving. I am beginning my vocal warm up when Richard Southwell arrives. It’s early for him and he vocalizes a bit with me as I get ready. Then, make up and hair and off I go to get props set. The costume house isn’t open yet, which makes me anxious, but it doesn’t have to be open any earlier, I am just moving well. As soon as it is opened, I head to get my props and run them out to the Gatehouse. On the way, I see my reader for the day and ask him if he is ready. Turns out, he hasn’t read the script yet and I let him know where it is so he is not left in the lurch when the show starts. At Gatehouse, I set my sign and stool on the stage and head back to get changed. I am out and moving to the White Hart for sound check at 9.
OOOOOH
Well, not exactly, I am a bit early because I had to stop off at one of the booths to check on a project that is being completed for closing day. It is half done and we needed to test some things to be able to finish it for the next weekend. It is AMAZING and after the tweaks are completed, I will be a very happy girl. I take part with me and leave the rest with them, then off to grab sound pieces and make a festival day.
CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME?
The new sound system is FINALLY in. It was there first weekend but pieces were missing and it was not usable. Today, it has been addressed and the sound is hot…I don’t mean sexy, I mean LOUD. I am standing 3 – 4 feet back from the mic and you can hear me all around the pub when speaking at normal volume, like general conversation volume. This is going to change some stuff for sure, because if you get too close or too loud, your sound cuts out. Welcome to the learning curve. We test the body mics and go from there. We have what we need for basics and head out to morning meeting.
AND IT GROWS
Last weekend was huge in numbers and this weather promises to make this weekend a great one as well. We are braced for more privy duty, line working and program handing out, but at least we know we will be doing what they need the most in the village. The Crimson Pirates are in for the weekend and I say hello and give and get hugs from many of them. At the meeting, we get clarification on last weekend’s numbers, which were huge, and make plans for this weekend as it also promises to be large with the great weather we are expecting to have. More notes, welcomes to special acts, a minor note deemed “pooh pooh” but overall a positive event. There is a question of morning dance and while initially it is said to be ok, after a second check, it is agreed it would be a bad idea and it is cancelled for the day. We BEEP and head our several ways.
I HEAR PIPES
Wolgemut is playing at gate today, so I hear loud German pipes as I stop for my morning privy break. I am not sure if there will be horses, so I set myself as if there will and am surprised to see them not entering. Before then, I stretch and have a brief chat about this and that with the powers that be. I get ready and throw on my face after showing another how it works. We BOOM and the crowd enters. It takes about 15 minutes for the first rush to die down, which tells me it won’t be as big this weekend as last one. Dinty has found other places to be and our tour is sorely lacking the basso profundo. One male voice, while helpful, is not as good as 2.
AAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK!
It is about time and there is a bit of a crowd at the stage already. I hawk for a few more people and then head down to the stage and…um, my props aren’t there. I had preset 3 things before I went to White Hart before we opened and now one prop is missing. I know that Gypsophillia had been working on some items after we opened, but they are not there now. I rush backstage and luckily they are there. I ask them if they know where it is and they say they thought it was left by accident and moved it. After a few frantic moments, we find it and I place it back where it needs to go. While not ideal, it was still a surprise during the reveal. They are apologetic and, well, since they know it should be there, I know it will be fine for next weekend.
THE BEST OF HELPERS
There is a group of maybe 10-14 African-American kids with a few adults that I met outside the show, but they have all joined me. They sit in the first 2 rows and are very vocal when I am not doing things right. Today, the Sheriff is joining me and seems unwilling to help me…even when I pout. He finally renigs and we move through the book. As he is still new to the information, he is very much reading the book. The kids and adults don’t seem to mind and they seem to be having fun. Bob is pretty good and he saves the day in the end. The show ends and all the kids in the front row want hugs and pictures. I am running out of time to clear and tell them I will come out to the back of the house as soon as I am done clearing. I do so and let Wolgemut know it’s safe for them to enter. I head to the back and there are a few more pictures before they head out to enjoy the show. I am told by another performer later in the day that they said that was their favorite part. I am really touched.
PUTTING OUT
I head backstage so as not to disturb the act on stage and pack up my props. I chat with Yasmin briefly before heading down to put my props away. I am warm from the show and the sun is out, so I don’t take out the scarf when I sit outside to hand out programs from my head. Today, I go through 12 stacks of 60 programs from my head in an hour. This is slower than last week, so I expect the crowd won’t be as bad. I finish after distributing the last programs from my feet by “taking a nap” when I am done. Napping for Stupina includes feet up in the air, sunbathing with arms outstretched or sleeping in an odd position. Some people comment I am drunk or dead…we clear that up right quick. After a few minutes of that, I head in. There are so many people about, I don’t have time to do more than chat with strangers or dust people. I do fall asleep on one patron at the fountain. It is always amusing to feel their reaction rather than see it. Most often, I feel the shaking of their laughter first. I have taken to also putting my hand across their face in my state of “sleep.” You do it in steps so that you don’t overwhelm the person right away, but instead see where their lines are drawn. I always hear in my mind the warnings of “that one’s safe”, “don’t go to that patron, they won’t be friendly” and sometimes I go against my gut, but my gut tends to be right.
COMING OUT
Backstage, I head down the hill after grabbing the new stick I needed from Jezzard’s. Down the hill, I choose the turquoise today and pull out costume pieces needed after putting away Stupina. I hit the privy and begin to switch. The room is a bit busy with Gertrude and Ophelia getting ready as well as a few other cast members fixing a costume or prop here or there. Once hair, makeup and everything else is adjusted, I get ready to head out after adding an extra layer, since it’s a bit chilly. Outside, I see Nikolai with his whip and ask to borrow it for a moment so I can do a crack or 3. I do my favorite trick then give it back to him and head up to get lunch. I have my bowl and once on street, I wander toward the food lines near the jousting field to see what isn’t too crowded. This is not an easy thing as there are lines everywhere. I head up Kenwood and notice that there is little to no line at the soup booth. PERFECT! I have my chicken with wild rice soup and head off to the food court to sit.
MAKING FRIENDS
I sit on the side of the court farthest from the food booths, again trusting instinct and sit between a couple in their 40-50’s and their daughter and another family. The second family isn’t very friendly; however, the others are quite talkative. The gentleman, albeit rough around the edges, has been to and loves the faire. His lady and her daughter are new. He has taken them to see Johnny Fox and wants to take them shopping. He says the sky is the limit. I mention the more expensive velvet dresses and his mouth drops a bit as he backs up to say he can’t afford that. Smiling I say there is plenty in all price ranges, but don’t promise your lady what you won’t be able to do so no one is disappointed. Why disappoint everyone when there is so much to enjoy? We talk of the shows, and he has a randy sense of humor. I am amused when patrons think they will get me or offend me. I am not phased by it and in the most tactful of ways, throw a comment back or two that make his lady laugh and gently put him back in his place. They say they are pleased to have met me and I felt much the same. Eventually, others come and go and it’s time for me to head to get a set list together.
LISTING IN A STILL TEMPEST
I grab the board and chalk and list and try to figure out what we are to do. The new sound system makes me a bit nervous, so I avoid our really naughty show until I see how the sound travels outside the pub. The steps are quiet today, oddly so. I suddenly realize why. Bartender Dave is drowning in customers. They were short staffed and new staffed at White Hart and the lines are getting long…REALLY long. The regulars who like to hang out in that spot have decided to give him some space to get his work done and for the first time, it’s totally clear to get in and out of there. The stairs are dry (unlike the prior weekend when a woman coughed till she puked on them, I do not know her state of inebriation, but I assume it was higher than she wanted to let on). I can only hope the rain cleared them up a bit. I sit down (still on the other side) and put the list together. Trinket arrives and I show her what I have. I pull the bodhran and we get set for the show
OH DEAR GOD
Well, it turns out that that long line was longer than I thought. Besides the one going out the side door, there is another line going into the audience…all the way up to the stage at the White Hart. This is bad for many reasons as they are blocking site lines and likely don’t want to be there. Bleah. We make our way through the crowd for the show and the energy is high and fun. Even those stuck in line seem to have an ok time. We cut the walking through the crowd song for the show as it just didn’t seem smart, but we riff a bit and get a trifle silly, which always amuses the crowd. Once the show ends, we don’t have anywhere near the back of the house to really stand, so our mingle time with the audience is cut short.
PRIVY CLEARING
Instead of going to get Baby Stupina, I head to the privies as I know they will need assistance. White Hart has a line and no one inside. I head in and start moving people in. Another person joins me and she takes the back while I take the line, give them my schpeil, and move them into the privies to open ones. A woman and her kids cut in line, which I didn’t realize until I sent the kids in. The patrons are pissed at her and she waits in line to go. We get a good rhythm going and we end up getting the line gone in about 20 minutes. I head up the hill to the slide line, which isn’t bad and with Horatio already working hard, we finish that line in about 10 minutes. I am rather amazed. I head out and realize that Baby Stupina and I will have time to get out. I grab a mask and head over to StubToe to get her.
WALKIES
I have missed taking her out so we head up StubToe. A little girl is quite enamored of her and thrilled when I tell her that Stupina can give her a hug. Another little boy looks depressed and his dad is trying to calm him a bit. I stop by and distract him by interacting with him. His distress goes away and he stares at her. As I leave, he is quiet and calm again. I become friends with some 20 somethings after one insults her and makes her cry until he apologizes. Soon enough, time is done and she walks back home after amusing and amazing a few people.
TWISTING THE DAY AWAY
I head back and in doing so I walk by Tudor Twister. For those of you who have not seen this, the town gambler has made a cloth board with circles for nobles, peasants and other levels and a spinner with “Right foot noble” etc. She has been holding tournaments for the various village characters. I wander by a game and am rather amused by the picture. Time enough and back to Stub Toe. Its just about time to do our show, so I hit the privy, fill up my water that fell and spilled, then write up the setlist. The lines are down for the beer and the regulars are back. Ethan, my own true love of perhaps 8 years old, seems to have moved on from me, but I will always have a soft spot for him. I suddenly realize that my pin, gifted to me by some of the most amazing fans, has evaporated. If anyone finds a ying/yang pink/blue pin with gold hearts on it, it’s mine. And you can buy ones with pink/blue hearts at Art of the Wood…but mine and Trinket’s were the first and I am sad it has gone missing. Sniff.
FULL AND NEW The audience is a lot of new people and now that the lines are down in the White Hart, we are able to walk through and welcome them in our own special way. We do another song with the bodhran in honor of a man in a kilt in the crowd and the audience seems to be having fun. Eventually, it’s time to be over and we break down the mics and get a couple minutes with friends and fans before we head over to the Pyrate encampment and the privies (not in that order) to get ready for pub sing. We are mid-show, so we go with another upbeat song, Itches in Me Britches. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love having other musicians in the back who jump in and fill the sound out so beautifully without our even asking. It makes me smile. The show ends after many musical numbers with mixes of other groups creating a glorious cacaophany of joy. The lights go out and I head to the closet to get my odds and ends.
A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
I get back and change in the costume house. A friend is having a gathering and this is the first year I can make it as the timing has never worked out before. I use the time to catch up with some and get to know others better. And the food was yummy too, even though the bowl of chocolates in front of me just sat there to taunt me. Soon enough, it was time for sleep and getting home. I crashed and slept relatively well.
READY AND RARING
The morning is a bit chillier, so I make sure I have enough layers on me before I leave. I stop for brekkies and end up on Gatehouse at7:25. Today, to make up for being early, Richard Southwell doesn’t even show up. I see one of the powers that be and they mention that the numbers were pretty good yesterday. I figured they were good, but not as crazy as the week before. I have places to be so I get down the hill a bit early and see the space isn’t ready, but when the Costume Lady arrives, I jump in behind her to go get my props. I set them and head back to get changed. I am moving quickly and am out and to the White Hart early. I get sound set and we test the basics, then I start to work with a few wonderful people on some wonderful things. I also get the Pub Sing set list and see that I am scheduled for a solo piece this evening.
BEEP IN BOP
I get to morning meeting just in time and pout till the person sitting in my seat slides over to squeeze me in. The meeting goes well and I hear numbers were different than what I thought I heard earlier, but they are still good. We make announcements about some up coming events and finally it is time to BEEP and head to the gate. I get over there, hit the privy and advise the Crimson Pirates, who are singing that morning, that they need to put their stuff on the far side of the fountain. I come back to see that Stupina’s face has disappeared. She got buried under their cases. I fix that quickly and hold her till they are able to come collect their stuff. I also give a preshow of the song I will be doing that night to their CD guys since they won’t be able to stay that late. The gates open and BOOM. In they all pour. Today, about 15 minutes of initial flood and they are in. I know it will be busy, but not as badly as the others. In the back, I see familiar faces and when they arrive, hug my assorted family members who head into the village not to be seen again until around 2:30. At least Mom comes back to see my show.
BRASSY OPENING
The wonderful tones of the Bayfield Brass are playing this morning before my show, so I know I need to be ready to get to the stage a few moments earlier to set props. I head down and get them ready as I have a pretty solid audience already. I also get ready to start and realize that my reader isn’t there yet. I step back out to see her arrive and go back to start the show. My Bob is not the most friendly, but he was the best option to be able to sit on the little stool next to me. He plays a bit, but he’s not happy. The show runs a bit long today, 28 minutes, but I clear pretty quickly and am able to pass the stage to Wolgemut with a minute to spare.
FAIR AND BALANCED PROGRAMS
I take the props down the hill then head back out with 6 stacks of programs. It’s not too busy, but there is a constant flow. Today, for the first time, I have someone walk into me for not looking. None of the programs hit the ground, but I was not pleased that the person was so oblivious. It’s the reason I try to keep my hands off the bricks. I really don’t want them stepped on. Once those were gone, in I went for another 6 stacks. I finished these as well, but they were leaving my head a bit slower. I even made the stack taller than before (over 2 full stacks) and felt them being a bit wobbly, but was impressed that I didn’t lose them. I started posing with my fingers in the ohm position and amused some. I have taken to calling the guides my “fair and balanced programs.” It got a very hearty laugh today from one who went as far to share the joke with another. Carmita and Nikolai are on the gate and I call her Carmelita, which she tries to correct me on. I correct her by saying she is sweet like Caramel, hence the new name. She falls for it. Don’t ever think Stupina can’t think on her feet when she needs to.
SWITCHING GEARS
I head in having made a decision to try to hide in trees today, but there is so much activity, I run out of time. I go to head in to change and am stopped by the Earl of Lennox who has been trying desperately to get me a secret admirer letter for the last 3-4 weeks. He hands it to me, and, since Stupina can’t read, I try to eat it. He stops me and one of the court ladies offers to read it to me. It is a sweet letter and I inform the lady who I had realized wrote it that I appreciate it when I see her later. With the kind words, I head down the hill to find Columbina. I pull out the costuming and makeup/hair items and begin the switch after hitting the privy before I corset up. I am ready in good time and head to the Lyric to find my mother for a brief lunch. I am there before her and am able to head to White Hart for an errand and be back in time to see part of the Renaissance Man’s show (which was going GREAT) and see my mom’s arrival. We head off with my bowl to grab lunch and head to a table to eat. We chat a little with the family next to us, but spend more time just catching up. I only get a little time with her, but direct her to more shops and places to find what she might want. Once done, we part ways for a little while (she, off to see Gypsophilia, and me, to get a set list ready).
FULL OF WIN
We do a slightly modified show 3 as that includes Captain’s Daughter and my brother has a soft spot for that song. I run to the privy and grab props and head to the stage. The show is a fun one with a special surprise from Moose Man, who I will have to now call Kangaroo Joe…or something of the sort. At least we know they are listening to our schtick. The lovely bouncer even had a pink bow for Trinket. We went off script a bit, but the audience was adoring it. We clear the stage in time for the Crimson Pirates and sign a few CD’s and hug some family goodbye before heading out on our separate missions. I head over to Bullseye 2 to see about fixing my now seeping bota bag. They say it can be fixed and I can pick it up in a few hours…which in working I forgot to do. I just hope they are open on Friday when I drop stuff off or early Saturday. My own fault, but yukka.
WALKIES AGAIN
I head over to check privy lines and there are none. Then, with mask, I go to Stub Toe to get my little girl. She and I go walking through the village stopping to dance for kids and bow to adults. A few are very fascinated by her. Others just walk by not noticed, because they never look up or down. It’s amazing what you miss when you close off from the world. I take her back after a healthy wander. Next, I find out that something I am waiting on should be ready next weekend…and am now feeling peckish. I wander to the banana booth and get my favorite, which is now coated in fluff. I enjoy it so much I don’t manage to get back to the Tavern without eating most of it anyway. I finish it, get the chalkboards and start up the list. We pull out show 1, still the good old reliable show, and the audience, which has turned to mostly regulars, has fun. We clear a bit early and quickly as the Surly Mermaids are on next and we want to give them as much time as possible.
CHANGING WAYS
The Pub Sing tonight is themed as a pajama party for Hamlet, you know “good night, Sweet Prince”? Exactly. So I forgot my pjs and had to think quickly. I lined a chemise, threw on pantaloons and had a wonderful man with a trilling accent braid my hair. I also had to put on some normal underpinnings in the closet hoping no one would come in. I change quickly to be sure. Once out, I head over and make sure I have the info and items I need. I get my blue blankie and my stuffed beaver animal. We head in and start a bit late. Because of acts not being able to attend and others not being able to arrive, I am moved up significantly in the setlist. This is fine. I sing the 3-minute Hamlet, in honor of our guests of honor and do it in 2:32. The audience had a great reaction and seemed to have fun with it. I am glad. I had started memorizing that the week BEFORE we opened the show, of course what threw me the most was when those timing me called out when the first minute passed. I bounced back though.
OOM PAH POOPED
There was much great music and I discovered that I can do a better back bend when I don’t wear a corset…funny that. After the show ends with warm words and other cuteness (like Louis removing most of his costume on stage) and the other silly pjs and the like, the lights go out and I head to gather my things. I have forgotten my key, again, and CDCB helps me get what I need. Back to the costume house, albeit a little limpy with soreness from the end of the day. I clean up and change, then pack my things. There is a crowd chatting, but not because of traffic, but because we want to. I head out with a group of friends to have German things, plot a little, get rid of someone’s headache, and enjoy the conversation. Finally, it’s after 10 and time go home. I drag my sorry, tired ass into my car and head on home.
There is only one more weekend left. I am sad for that, but at least there are two more days of the Stupina show and special shows for the Interpreters. Don’t miss:
Saturday, Rosencrantz AND Guildenstern reading the Girlie Book
Sunday, Richard Southwell, the Ying to Stupina’s Yang reading the book
And on Sunday,
2:30 The Interpreters “best of” show with some of our favorite songs
5:00 The Interpreters infamous Unscripted show. Much hilarity and other fun will be had, but none of it has been rehearsed or written down. Come watch the insanity!
NOT AGAIN
Friday was pouring. Well, most of the week had been partially wet, so I was nervous getting to site to drop stuff off. Amazingly, the roads were in great shape and cars weren’t on site, so it kept it looking natural and pristine. I even got to stop at Jezzard’s to have her look at my sad and mangled stick and figure out how to replace it. I leave site and the rain is appearing to be done for the day and the weekend. This bodes very well…though my constant and niggling cough does not. I have had it for 4 weeks, but it is just getting annoying now and a trifle worse. I work a bit late and head to bed a bit later than I would want, but I am ready for the weekend.
BRISK
I leave the house and it’s pretty chilly. I have 3 layers on top plus a coat and warm sweats on plus a scarf and gloves. I head to site stopping for brekkies and make it to the stage by 7:25. Once there, I am pleased to see no covers on the stage again and it is covered with leaves…it’s fall afterall. I clear a space and lay down to start stretching. The stage is a bit cold, but I just keep moving. I am beginning my vocal warm up when Richard Southwell arrives. It’s early for him and he vocalizes a bit with me as I get ready. Then, make up and hair and off I go to get props set. The costume house isn’t open yet, which makes me anxious, but it doesn’t have to be open any earlier, I am just moving well. As soon as it is opened, I head to get my props and run them out to the Gatehouse. On the way, I see my reader for the day and ask him if he is ready. Turns out, he hasn’t read the script yet and I let him know where it is so he is not left in the lurch when the show starts. At Gatehouse, I set my sign and stool on the stage and head back to get changed. I am out and moving to the White Hart for sound check at 9.
OOOOOH
Well, not exactly, I am a bit early because I had to stop off at one of the booths to check on a project that is being completed for closing day. It is half done and we needed to test some things to be able to finish it for the next weekend. It is AMAZING and after the tweaks are completed, I will be a very happy girl. I take part with me and leave the rest with them, then off to grab sound pieces and make a festival day.
CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME?
The new sound system is FINALLY in. It was there first weekend but pieces were missing and it was not usable. Today, it has been addressed and the sound is hot…I don’t mean sexy, I mean LOUD. I am standing 3 – 4 feet back from the mic and you can hear me all around the pub when speaking at normal volume, like general conversation volume. This is going to change some stuff for sure, because if you get too close or too loud, your sound cuts out. Welcome to the learning curve. We test the body mics and go from there. We have what we need for basics and head out to morning meeting.
AND IT GROWS
Last weekend was huge in numbers and this weather promises to make this weekend a great one as well. We are braced for more privy duty, line working and program handing out, but at least we know we will be doing what they need the most in the village. The Crimson Pirates are in for the weekend and I say hello and give and get hugs from many of them. At the meeting, we get clarification on last weekend’s numbers, which were huge, and make plans for this weekend as it also promises to be large with the great weather we are expecting to have. More notes, welcomes to special acts, a minor note deemed “pooh pooh” but overall a positive event. There is a question of morning dance and while initially it is said to be ok, after a second check, it is agreed it would be a bad idea and it is cancelled for the day. We BEEP and head our several ways.
I HEAR PIPES
Wolgemut is playing at gate today, so I hear loud German pipes as I stop for my morning privy break. I am not sure if there will be horses, so I set myself as if there will and am surprised to see them not entering. Before then, I stretch and have a brief chat about this and that with the powers that be. I get ready and throw on my face after showing another how it works. We BOOM and the crowd enters. It takes about 15 minutes for the first rush to die down, which tells me it won’t be as big this weekend as last one. Dinty has found other places to be and our tour is sorely lacking the basso profundo. One male voice, while helpful, is not as good as 2.
AAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK!
It is about time and there is a bit of a crowd at the stage already. I hawk for a few more people and then head down to the stage and…um, my props aren’t there. I had preset 3 things before I went to White Hart before we opened and now one prop is missing. I know that Gypsophillia had been working on some items after we opened, but they are not there now. I rush backstage and luckily they are there. I ask them if they know where it is and they say they thought it was left by accident and moved it. After a few frantic moments, we find it and I place it back where it needs to go. While not ideal, it was still a surprise during the reveal. They are apologetic and, well, since they know it should be there, I know it will be fine for next weekend.
THE BEST OF HELPERS
There is a group of maybe 10-14 African-American kids with a few adults that I met outside the show, but they have all joined me. They sit in the first 2 rows and are very vocal when I am not doing things right. Today, the Sheriff is joining me and seems unwilling to help me…even when I pout. He finally renigs and we move through the book. As he is still new to the information, he is very much reading the book. The kids and adults don’t seem to mind and they seem to be having fun. Bob is pretty good and he saves the day in the end. The show ends and all the kids in the front row want hugs and pictures. I am running out of time to clear and tell them I will come out to the back of the house as soon as I am done clearing. I do so and let Wolgemut know it’s safe for them to enter. I head to the back and there are a few more pictures before they head out to enjoy the show. I am told by another performer later in the day that they said that was their favorite part. I am really touched.
PUTTING OUT
I head backstage so as not to disturb the act on stage and pack up my props. I chat with Yasmin briefly before heading down to put my props away. I am warm from the show and the sun is out, so I don’t take out the scarf when I sit outside to hand out programs from my head. Today, I go through 12 stacks of 60 programs from my head in an hour. This is slower than last week, so I expect the crowd won’t be as bad. I finish after distributing the last programs from my feet by “taking a nap” when I am done. Napping for Stupina includes feet up in the air, sunbathing with arms outstretched or sleeping in an odd position. Some people comment I am drunk or dead…we clear that up right quick. After a few minutes of that, I head in. There are so many people about, I don’t have time to do more than chat with strangers or dust people. I do fall asleep on one patron at the fountain. It is always amusing to feel their reaction rather than see it. Most often, I feel the shaking of their laughter first. I have taken to also putting my hand across their face in my state of “sleep.” You do it in steps so that you don’t overwhelm the person right away, but instead see where their lines are drawn. I always hear in my mind the warnings of “that one’s safe”, “don’t go to that patron, they won’t be friendly” and sometimes I go against my gut, but my gut tends to be right.
COMING OUT
Backstage, I head down the hill after grabbing the new stick I needed from Jezzard’s. Down the hill, I choose the turquoise today and pull out costume pieces needed after putting away Stupina. I hit the privy and begin to switch. The room is a bit busy with Gertrude and Ophelia getting ready as well as a few other cast members fixing a costume or prop here or there. Once hair, makeup and everything else is adjusted, I get ready to head out after adding an extra layer, since it’s a bit chilly. Outside, I see Nikolai with his whip and ask to borrow it for a moment so I can do a crack or 3. I do my favorite trick then give it back to him and head up to get lunch. I have my bowl and once on street, I wander toward the food lines near the jousting field to see what isn’t too crowded. This is not an easy thing as there are lines everywhere. I head up Kenwood and notice that there is little to no line at the soup booth. PERFECT! I have my chicken with wild rice soup and head off to the food court to sit.
MAKING FRIENDS
I sit on the side of the court farthest from the food booths, again trusting instinct and sit between a couple in their 40-50’s and their daughter and another family. The second family isn’t very friendly; however, the others are quite talkative. The gentleman, albeit rough around the edges, has been to and loves the faire. His lady and her daughter are new. He has taken them to see Johnny Fox and wants to take them shopping. He says the sky is the limit. I mention the more expensive velvet dresses and his mouth drops a bit as he backs up to say he can’t afford that. Smiling I say there is plenty in all price ranges, but don’t promise your lady what you won’t be able to do so no one is disappointed. Why disappoint everyone when there is so much to enjoy? We talk of the shows, and he has a randy sense of humor. I am amused when patrons think they will get me or offend me. I am not phased by it and in the most tactful of ways, throw a comment back or two that make his lady laugh and gently put him back in his place. They say they are pleased to have met me and I felt much the same. Eventually, others come and go and it’s time for me to head to get a set list together.
LISTING IN A STILL TEMPEST
I grab the board and chalk and list and try to figure out what we are to do. The new sound system makes me a bit nervous, so I avoid our really naughty show until I see how the sound travels outside the pub. The steps are quiet today, oddly so. I suddenly realize why. Bartender Dave is drowning in customers. They were short staffed and new staffed at White Hart and the lines are getting long…REALLY long. The regulars who like to hang out in that spot have decided to give him some space to get his work done and for the first time, it’s totally clear to get in and out of there. The stairs are dry (unlike the prior weekend when a woman coughed till she puked on them, I do not know her state of inebriation, but I assume it was higher than she wanted to let on). I can only hope the rain cleared them up a bit. I sit down (still on the other side) and put the list together. Trinket arrives and I show her what I have. I pull the bodhran and we get set for the show
OH DEAR GOD
Well, it turns out that that long line was longer than I thought. Besides the one going out the side door, there is another line going into the audience…all the way up to the stage at the White Hart. This is bad for many reasons as they are blocking site lines and likely don’t want to be there. Bleah. We make our way through the crowd for the show and the energy is high and fun. Even those stuck in line seem to have an ok time. We cut the walking through the crowd song for the show as it just didn’t seem smart, but we riff a bit and get a trifle silly, which always amuses the crowd. Once the show ends, we don’t have anywhere near the back of the house to really stand, so our mingle time with the audience is cut short.
PRIVY CLEARING
Instead of going to get Baby Stupina, I head to the privies as I know they will need assistance. White Hart has a line and no one inside. I head in and start moving people in. Another person joins me and she takes the back while I take the line, give them my schpeil, and move them into the privies to open ones. A woman and her kids cut in line, which I didn’t realize until I sent the kids in. The patrons are pissed at her and she waits in line to go. We get a good rhythm going and we end up getting the line gone in about 20 minutes. I head up the hill to the slide line, which isn’t bad and with Horatio already working hard, we finish that line in about 10 minutes. I am rather amazed. I head out and realize that Baby Stupina and I will have time to get out. I grab a mask and head over to StubToe to get her.
WALKIES
I have missed taking her out so we head up StubToe. A little girl is quite enamored of her and thrilled when I tell her that Stupina can give her a hug. Another little boy looks depressed and his dad is trying to calm him a bit. I stop by and distract him by interacting with him. His distress goes away and he stares at her. As I leave, he is quiet and calm again. I become friends with some 20 somethings after one insults her and makes her cry until he apologizes. Soon enough, time is done and she walks back home after amusing and amazing a few people.
TWISTING THE DAY AWAY
I head back and in doing so I walk by Tudor Twister. For those of you who have not seen this, the town gambler has made a cloth board with circles for nobles, peasants and other levels and a spinner with “Right foot noble” etc. She has been holding tournaments for the various village characters. I wander by a game and am rather amused by the picture. Time enough and back to Stub Toe. Its just about time to do our show, so I hit the privy, fill up my water that fell and spilled, then write up the setlist. The lines are down for the beer and the regulars are back. Ethan, my own true love of perhaps 8 years old, seems to have moved on from me, but I will always have a soft spot for him. I suddenly realize that my pin, gifted to me by some of the most amazing fans, has evaporated. If anyone finds a ying/yang pink/blue pin with gold hearts on it, it’s mine. And you can buy ones with pink/blue hearts at Art of the Wood…but mine and Trinket’s were the first and I am sad it has gone missing. Sniff.
FULL AND NEW The audience is a lot of new people and now that the lines are down in the White Hart, we are able to walk through and welcome them in our own special way. We do another song with the bodhran in honor of a man in a kilt in the crowd and the audience seems to be having fun. Eventually, it’s time to be over and we break down the mics and get a couple minutes with friends and fans before we head over to the Pyrate encampment and the privies (not in that order) to get ready for pub sing. We are mid-show, so we go with another upbeat song, Itches in Me Britches. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love having other musicians in the back who jump in and fill the sound out so beautifully without our even asking. It makes me smile. The show ends after many musical numbers with mixes of other groups creating a glorious cacaophany of joy. The lights go out and I head to the closet to get my odds and ends.
A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
I get back and change in the costume house. A friend is having a gathering and this is the first year I can make it as the timing has never worked out before. I use the time to catch up with some and get to know others better. And the food was yummy too, even though the bowl of chocolates in front of me just sat there to taunt me. Soon enough, it was time for sleep and getting home. I crashed and slept relatively well.
READY AND RARING
The morning is a bit chillier, so I make sure I have enough layers on me before I leave. I stop for brekkies and end up on Gatehouse at7:25. Today, to make up for being early, Richard Southwell doesn’t even show up. I see one of the powers that be and they mention that the numbers were pretty good yesterday. I figured they were good, but not as crazy as the week before. I have places to be so I get down the hill a bit early and see the space isn’t ready, but when the Costume Lady arrives, I jump in behind her to go get my props. I set them and head back to get changed. I am moving quickly and am out and to the White Hart early. I get sound set and we test the basics, then I start to work with a few wonderful people on some wonderful things. I also get the Pub Sing set list and see that I am scheduled for a solo piece this evening.
BEEP IN BOP
I get to morning meeting just in time and pout till the person sitting in my seat slides over to squeeze me in. The meeting goes well and I hear numbers were different than what I thought I heard earlier, but they are still good. We make announcements about some up coming events and finally it is time to BEEP and head to the gate. I get over there, hit the privy and advise the Crimson Pirates, who are singing that morning, that they need to put their stuff on the far side of the fountain. I come back to see that Stupina’s face has disappeared. She got buried under their cases. I fix that quickly and hold her till they are able to come collect their stuff. I also give a preshow of the song I will be doing that night to their CD guys since they won’t be able to stay that late. The gates open and BOOM. In they all pour. Today, about 15 minutes of initial flood and they are in. I know it will be busy, but not as badly as the others. In the back, I see familiar faces and when they arrive, hug my assorted family members who head into the village not to be seen again until around 2:30. At least Mom comes back to see my show.
BRASSY OPENING
The wonderful tones of the Bayfield Brass are playing this morning before my show, so I know I need to be ready to get to the stage a few moments earlier to set props. I head down and get them ready as I have a pretty solid audience already. I also get ready to start and realize that my reader isn’t there yet. I step back out to see her arrive and go back to start the show. My Bob is not the most friendly, but he was the best option to be able to sit on the little stool next to me. He plays a bit, but he’s not happy. The show runs a bit long today, 28 minutes, but I clear pretty quickly and am able to pass the stage to Wolgemut with a minute to spare.
FAIR AND BALANCED PROGRAMS
I take the props down the hill then head back out with 6 stacks of programs. It’s not too busy, but there is a constant flow. Today, for the first time, I have someone walk into me for not looking. None of the programs hit the ground, but I was not pleased that the person was so oblivious. It’s the reason I try to keep my hands off the bricks. I really don’t want them stepped on. Once those were gone, in I went for another 6 stacks. I finished these as well, but they were leaving my head a bit slower. I even made the stack taller than before (over 2 full stacks) and felt them being a bit wobbly, but was impressed that I didn’t lose them. I started posing with my fingers in the ohm position and amused some. I have taken to calling the guides my “fair and balanced programs.” It got a very hearty laugh today from one who went as far to share the joke with another. Carmita and Nikolai are on the gate and I call her Carmelita, which she tries to correct me on. I correct her by saying she is sweet like Caramel, hence the new name. She falls for it. Don’t ever think Stupina can’t think on her feet when she needs to.
SWITCHING GEARS
I head in having made a decision to try to hide in trees today, but there is so much activity, I run out of time. I go to head in to change and am stopped by the Earl of Lennox who has been trying desperately to get me a secret admirer letter for the last 3-4 weeks. He hands it to me, and, since Stupina can’t read, I try to eat it. He stops me and one of the court ladies offers to read it to me. It is a sweet letter and I inform the lady who I had realized wrote it that I appreciate it when I see her later. With the kind words, I head down the hill to find Columbina. I pull out the costuming and makeup/hair items and begin the switch after hitting the privy before I corset up. I am ready in good time and head to the Lyric to find my mother for a brief lunch. I am there before her and am able to head to White Hart for an errand and be back in time to see part of the Renaissance Man’s show (which was going GREAT) and see my mom’s arrival. We head off with my bowl to grab lunch and head to a table to eat. We chat a little with the family next to us, but spend more time just catching up. I only get a little time with her, but direct her to more shops and places to find what she might want. Once done, we part ways for a little while (she, off to see Gypsophilia, and me, to get a set list ready).
FULL OF WIN
We do a slightly modified show 3 as that includes Captain’s Daughter and my brother has a soft spot for that song. I run to the privy and grab props and head to the stage. The show is a fun one with a special surprise from Moose Man, who I will have to now call Kangaroo Joe…or something of the sort. At least we know they are listening to our schtick. The lovely bouncer even had a pink bow for Trinket. We went off script a bit, but the audience was adoring it. We clear the stage in time for the Crimson Pirates and sign a few CD’s and hug some family goodbye before heading out on our separate missions. I head over to Bullseye 2 to see about fixing my now seeping bota bag. They say it can be fixed and I can pick it up in a few hours…which in working I forgot to do. I just hope they are open on Friday when I drop stuff off or early Saturday. My own fault, but yukka.
WALKIES AGAIN
I head over to check privy lines and there are none. Then, with mask, I go to Stub Toe to get my little girl. She and I go walking through the village stopping to dance for kids and bow to adults. A few are very fascinated by her. Others just walk by not noticed, because they never look up or down. It’s amazing what you miss when you close off from the world. I take her back after a healthy wander. Next, I find out that something I am waiting on should be ready next weekend…and am now feeling peckish. I wander to the banana booth and get my favorite, which is now coated in fluff. I enjoy it so much I don’t manage to get back to the Tavern without eating most of it anyway. I finish it, get the chalkboards and start up the list. We pull out show 1, still the good old reliable show, and the audience, which has turned to mostly regulars, has fun. We clear a bit early and quickly as the Surly Mermaids are on next and we want to give them as much time as possible.
CHANGING WAYS
The Pub Sing tonight is themed as a pajama party for Hamlet, you know “good night, Sweet Prince”? Exactly. So I forgot my pjs and had to think quickly. I lined a chemise, threw on pantaloons and had a wonderful man with a trilling accent braid my hair. I also had to put on some normal underpinnings in the closet hoping no one would come in. I change quickly to be sure. Once out, I head over and make sure I have the info and items I need. I get my blue blankie and my stuffed beaver animal. We head in and start a bit late. Because of acts not being able to attend and others not being able to arrive, I am moved up significantly in the setlist. This is fine. I sing the 3-minute Hamlet, in honor of our guests of honor and do it in 2:32. The audience had a great reaction and seemed to have fun with it. I am glad. I had started memorizing that the week BEFORE we opened the show, of course what threw me the most was when those timing me called out when the first minute passed. I bounced back though.
OOM PAH POOPED
There was much great music and I discovered that I can do a better back bend when I don’t wear a corset…funny that. After the show ends with warm words and other cuteness (like Louis removing most of his costume on stage) and the other silly pjs and the like, the lights go out and I head to gather my things. I have forgotten my key, again, and CDCB helps me get what I need. Back to the costume house, albeit a little limpy with soreness from the end of the day. I clean up and change, then pack my things. There is a crowd chatting, but not because of traffic, but because we want to. I head out with a group of friends to have German things, plot a little, get rid of someone’s headache, and enjoy the conversation. Finally, it’s after 10 and time go home. I drag my sorry, tired ass into my car and head on home.
There is only one more weekend left. I am sad for that, but at least there are two more days of the Stupina show and special shows for the Interpreters. Don’t miss:
Saturday, Rosencrantz AND Guildenstern reading the Girlie Book
Sunday, Richard Southwell, the Ying to Stupina’s Yang reading the book
And on Sunday,
2:30 The Interpreters “best of” show with some of our favorite songs
5:00 The Interpreters infamous Unscripted show. Much hilarity and other fun will be had, but none of it has been rehearsed or written down. Come watch the insanity!
