MD part tres, dusty dusty dusty
Sep. 11th, 2013 01:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradOk, I am still hacking up a lung, so much of this weekend may have just blown away in the wind forever to be covered in dust. I WILL forget names, orders of events and events in their entirety…but let’s see what is still there.
PREPARATIONS
I loaded in on Friday and had a quiet evening including sleep…which was lovely. Saturday morning I was up and out a bit early and to the stage, stiff as a board and stretching. Richard shows up and we play catch up. Once I am made up, I head to the Costume House and start getting dressed. I actually work toward getting my hair more wild and frizzed each morning. I think I am crazy. I am in early and am hoping to be out before it gets too crazy, as wings and a crowd are never good. I head out to the Lyric and drop off my items at the generous lady’s place for later today, stopping to say good morning to the staff I know rather well. Then, to morning meeting.
FRIENDLY FACES
There are many new and recently returned faces. I give a big hug to the ones I see and sit down. We are all peppier because of the cooler temps, though we know it won’t last for long. Morning meeting reminds us of good and important things to know. A few actors are a bit gimpy so the Hermit is re-vamping the Opening Gate show as the meeting is happening. The man is brilliant. And after we BEEP and head to gate, the new show is fabulous. I even peek as my Mustard-y self to see it. In comes a panicked Duke and away we go! BOOM.
THE BEST LAID PLANS
So I welcome the crowd with Master Knuckles. We are greeting guests and doing tours. It appears that Master McCoy has become a new permanent addition to the fountain as well. It’s nice to have a multitude of greeters as none of us can talk the whole time as we stop for pictures and to greet guests. Eventually, the crowd dies down and there are no lines outside, so I head in. I am walking about and greeting the patrons, fanning them, asking them what they are looking for in the program…in gibberish. It sometimes takes a few tries, but “lalala, hahaha, poke poke?” usually let’s them know I am going to help guide them to a show that fits their mood.
UH-OH
I go to look at my umbrella and some of the points are off. I reconnect them and walk around a bit, then I go to close it again…and it won’t. I keep trying, but it won’t close. This is bad as I can’t leave it open all the time. I can see inside something is wrong. A goodly friend looks at it and shows me where the rust has formed at the top and we see the tip is bent all wonky. He suggests WD40. I begin to think and head to Piland’s booth. I say “WD40?” and after the official word from the lady of the house, it comes down. Tommy helps me aim the liquid and it starts to move, but the upper coil is still screwed up. I know WHAT I need to do, but can’t get it. I begin to head to the Costume House to my kit of many things.
FAIRY BUSINESS
On the way, I see Molly and Roseanna McCoy in an argument with Samuel Hatfield. I start to stand behind Sam and make faces at him and evil eyes and other appropriate fairy things to some patrons’ amusement. At one point, Roseanna even hands me her Shileligh (sp) and I (VERY LIGHTLY, don’t want to break the actors) start tapping him with it. He makes eye contact as he is not sure whether he should see me or not. He turns back to the conversation and begins to yell. I am not sure what I can do to make the bit better or evolved, so I head out and let it be.
THE MAGIC OF CRAZY GLUE
I get to the costume house after chatting with other random guests and giving directions still. I pull out my kit of many things and find the crazy glue. I undo the whole umbrella to get it moving in the right direction and then get the point back on where it needs to be and finally it all fixes itself and I hook all the point parts back on. There is much rejoicing….well much opening and closing gently of it now that it i1qs working.
TRAVELING DOWN DOOM WAY
I head back out to the street and proceed out to the sunbowl, which is getting insanely dusty already. There is a light breeze, which would be lovely, if not for that. I meet and chat with various patrons and guests. I sing a bit more and try to expand my collection of songs, but nothing sticks much. Eventually, I head down the hill of doom toward my stage. I am early so I head a bit in toward the boardwalk. A little boy is sobbing because he got a splinter they can’t see and he doesn’t want anyone to take it out, but it hurts. I fan him and he calms some. I let his family know where first aid is and they start to take a more calm little one there to get it taken care of. By that time, I am now only 5 minutes from my show and I don’t have my props.
OH, ITS ONE OF THOSE SHOWS
I get my props from the great wall of workers and head to the stage as the Ditty Sisters are cleaning up…they have a LOT of instruments…and they use them all. They have just added one more. A little ukulele. It’s cute and a good choice for their finale. I set up and there are lots of kids willing to play, but for whatever reason, I get an adult for Papa Bear. He is silly and theatrical, which is perfect. I get to Goldilocks and a little boy shoots his hand up with more enthusiasm than anyone else. I ask is he sure and he is adamant, so I chose him…and then…um, ok. He doesn’t want to do it, so I let him know he has to do what I do, it’s part of the show. He says he doesn’t want to, fakes to almost cry and I tell him over an over I can choose someone else if he doesn’t want to do it, because it’s a specific part. The audience cheers him on enthusiastically each time he does something. He is pouting and slowing the show down, and suddenly, 2/3 through the show, he throws down the goldilocks headgear and says he’s done and walks off the stage. great. I call to the young woman in the back row and she comes forward and finishes the part with great energy. She even bursts out laughing when Goldilocks’ chair breaks. The audience had fun, even though I didn’t, so I suppose that’s a win. The young woman shows me a wood claw/sword she bought and mentions that we could have used it. I ask if she meant on the other Goldilocks. She was a bit shocked…yeah, maybe not my most stellar moment. We finish our conversation on a happy note and I pack my basket and head back to the Climbing Wall.
THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE
I head back through the village greeting and chittering, posing for pics and giving directions as I wander. Once back in the costume house, I peel of layers and clean the make up off. I am all ready and go to grab my props. I am going to put my water in the box, when I realize that Stupina’s face isn’t in there. I go back to the shelf of props just to see if I forgot to put it in, but no, it’s not there. I am now, very calmly panicking. I had had lots of extra time to go out and hawk, but it’s dwindling away quickly and I STILL DON’T HAVE MY FACE. The Hermit begins to help me figure out who/where/what might have happened to it. My worst fear is that it is stolen. I have had that face since winter break at Dell’ Arte back in the end of 1995 when I made her. She and I have been through a lot together. I know I have a back up face, hood and wrap (for wet weather) so I grab those. I am trying to be logical and work through where it might be. Both the Hermit and I think it could possibly be at the stage as I take it off before I head down the hill each day. I get there, and don’t see it. I start packing my props for the show all the while looking around the shelves. I suddenly turn behind me and close the door. Stuffed in the corner behind the door I see her. I grab her and the relief is palpable. I begin to sob cradling her in my arms. Yeah, she’s that important to me.
ONWARD AND UPWARD WE DASH
I calm down, drink water and see my reader who wanted to warn me that he is in a different colored shirt. I am so fine with that. I finish packing the props and set them, then head out. I have lost 20 minutes to the search and panic of not finding her. I head out, put her on and only have a few moments to hawk the show before I am on the stage and ready to start. Today, Dash Rippington is my reader and he does a lovely job. He has that parent voice and goes logically off script so we can play a bit for the group’s amusement. The Bob is good and the show runs smoothly…and no shoe breaks. We end on time and the stage is clear with minutes to spare before the next act has to come up. I am packing props and TAKING MY MASK WITH ME today. When I get back to the costume house, I am able to let everyone know that everything is ok and I have my little girl.
ITS NOT THAT COOL
So it’s warmer than we had hoped today. By the end of this show, I am red-faced and sweaty all over. I joyously remove the worst layers and start to transition to Columbina. I let myself cool down a bit so my face isn’t too crazy. While there, I run a song with Carmita. Soon enough, and a bit faster than the really hot days last week, I am changed and ready to head back out in my burgundy. I head over through the village to the Steak on a Stake booth to get lunch. Yes, those that are counting, it’s now 3:30ish and I am just now getting lunch. Welcome to the performer’s world. I sit with patrons and chat about the day and their favorite things. I am hearing that many like the Wheel of Death, which makes me happy, as I remember him when he was 8 years old. It’s very cool to see how he’s turned out.
WANDERING ABOVE MY STATION
I have made plans to meet with the Duke of Ferrara today. He is wandering with other characters of the village to see some of us up close and personal…well, in public, so not that personal. I finish my meal, introduce him to my new friends, and we take our leave. We wander through the sunbowl and I show him places where I like to grab people to chat, things I comment about, he learns a bit more Italian, and I share a bit of the art of being host of the best party ever. We wander up Kenwood and are about to chat with a couple when he realizes that he was going to be at Tudor Twister. I stay as he travels and chat with the couple and laugh with them. Their kids come up and we have them join the conversation. It’s very charming. I say goodbye and wander toward twister. I offer to hold Lady Salisbury’s belt and suddenly discover it is only 7 minutes to 5. I pass off the items, call to the Duke to remind him as he as to be at Court’s Court, then rush off to get my props and get miced up for my show. I have a few moments to spare and say hello to a few of those at the tavern before I start.
SINGING AND OTHER IMPROMPTU MOMENTS
I begin to sing and the audience warms to me. By the end of the show, they are laughing and singing along. It’s nice to hear the audiences respond. These are not the regulars (well a few of them) so this is all new to them. When the show is over, I clear and make way for Cu dubh who is next on the stage. I see that I ran short today, but did do all the sections of the show. I chat with a few patrons, then head to drop my props off. Once props are set, I grab water and head back out. I see the Vers’d Poets getting ready and let them know I will visit them shortly. I have a banana calling my name. I do end up chatting with a few groups of women. For some reason, each of the groups of women I speak to turn out to be more interested in me than any of the men in the village. It seems on par with the kiss I gave Thomas Tallis earlier, which has been confusing people all day.
WORDY BLESSINGS
I head to the poets. It’s harder to get people to stop today. The dust is awful and it’s a sweatier day than expected. We gather words and when I see Molly, I get them to write poems using the word Aerialist. We finally get people to stop and get one group that has no desire to move after many rounds. I try to solicit more words. Suddenly, a little girl asks for the word Gem. Ariosto has left for a moment and the two others are thinking thinking thinking. I just turn to the girl and start speaking. Completely off the top of my head, I compose a poem complimenting the little Gem she is. The other 2 poets follow with poems, but the audience chooses mine. The next person offers up a word and again, as the others think, I just start letting words fall out. It rhymes in couplets and make sense. John Skelton rhymes and Thomas Wyatt forfeits the round. Again I win. Ariosto returns and I step out of the competition. I am pleased. They are finishing another round when suddenly we hear the cannon boom. We had no idea that it was so late, we had been having fun. It’s time to go and we head backstage and down the hill…and scene.
LUNG HACKING
I get changed and am just coughing. I am not sick, not at all, just trying to bring back the mud that has settled in my lungs. I finish changing and get out of the space in time to meet with some foolish sword guys for a meal. The group continues to grow until by time we get to the restaurant the group of 8 has become 14. We spill to a second table, which they luckily had. My dinner is a gift from someone at the restaurant and would have been enjoyable either way. The hot tea is really helping my throat. As we go to leave, the Hermit shows up and we share some tales with him as we stay with the gimpy lady waiting for her ride. I head home a bit later than I’d want, rinse of the dust, take antihistamines, get into bed and crash.
IT’S A PARTY
So I am up and out of the house on time. I stop for brekkies and some hot water to use with my teabag. They give me a bag as well, which I set to the side, then head to site. I am stretched and vocally warmed up using a bit more time to stretch than the day before (oy, I am stiff). I am putting on my makeup when a unicycle unicorn arrives on stage. I move my items off so the cast of Fizzical Fairytales can work on some issues they wanted to clean up. They are having difficulties with one particular move, which ironically, I know rather well from my Dell ‘arte days. I ask if they would like a suggestion and once they say yes, I give them a few tweaks to the move. The queen is very happy and straightens her legs more than I’ve seen before. Yayee! A year in California paid off!
MUSICAL MOMENTS
I finish my makeup and chat with Richard who has arrived, then head off to get changed. I am in and out pretty quickly and have another help slide in my wings. I head to the Lyric to meet another actor to run a song. He’s running a little late, but that gives me time to make a stop I needed to. I am back and ready for him. We work through a song and expect to run it next weekend. I head to my seat and drink my water. I am sucking on a honey drop and have stuffed my pouch with them to counteract the dust. I finish my water and after we BEEP, I go get more water. Anything to keep the dust down or at the least, away from my lungs. Even with the antihistamines, I am coughing more than I want to. The revised opening runs again…I am amused at the lumpy Adventurers. BOOM and away we go.
MOMENTS THAT TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY
I am doing my normal meet and greets, hugs to patrons and regulars, squeaks and tours, making fun of the Leftenant and more. Eventually, the first wave leaves but I stay up a bit longer. Finally, I head out and give some directions. Then, I go and sit in the blue chair that Bertilda Spriggans (you knew her as the fairy godmother) used to it in. I attract some attention there and many pics are taken. Some little girls are so excited to meet a real fairy. One little girl is a bit shy and nervous about the day. Her mom asks if I would put a protection spell to her. I remembered that Bertilda always gave out spiders and gems and other things to little ones. I remember that someone gave me a little blue glass stone. I pull it out of my pouch and think positive thoughts as I say gibberish over the stone. Then, I present it to the little girl. I try to tell her that it will always protect her, but Mom misunderstands my gesture and says it is meant to protect the whole family for the day. I figure, that’s good enough. She smiles and seems to be happier. I am really very touched. It’s moments like this that I remember what a responsibility these jobs are. We move people, We take them somewhere they can’t go on their own. Damn, I’m lucky.
FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS
As I sit there, I see the press pass and the cameraman who filmed me as the gates open (well, filmed everyone at the fountain). As I hear them speak, I realize they are Russian. The young woman turns to me and tells me they would like to film me for their next segment. I explain that I only speak gibberish, and they say that is fine. It takes them a while to set up and they do a few takes. I am asked to respond with a yes when she turns to me and says “Shruti.” I am still not sure what I agreed to. But once we do that, we are done, they thank me and move on.
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
I wander into the village now and am still pleased to see the umbrella working today. I chitter and wander. I head over to Stub Toe and sit at a tree and sing. Today, Amazing Grace is stuck in my head. It feels wrong for a fairy to sing it, but eh, I’m not using the words anyway. At one point, some kind people wander by and I recognize something that surprises me. I don’t think the lady knows exactly HOW special what she has is, but hey, there’s nothing I can do about it now. I head to the Globe to watch some of Faction of Fools shortened Romeo and Juliet. I can only stay for the first half hour, but was sad at how much of the DSA’s smoke wafted down to the seat I was at and how rude some people were by talking. They at least quieted when turned to ask them to be quiet.
IT’S NOT NICE TO CALL ME, MOTHER NATURE
I start to wander to the hill of doom and hear some woman say to her kid “Oh look it’s Mother Nature.” I was not amused. While I didn’t say anything to her, Mustardseed was mumbling to herself about how rude it was and how people just don’t recognize fairies…mother nature my foot. I head down the hill and head in to meet a very flirtatious 70 year old with his friends. They are funny but stop picking on me when I fan them. Heck, I think I made friend for life, especially after his wife returned. I head back to the wall, which seems a bit crowded and grab my props. The Ditties are finishing one song and then go to sing their finale with their parents there as visual aids. Once they finish, I head to the stage.
OH GREAT, ANOTHER FUN AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION SHOW
I start the show and the audience is amused by the fairy potion. But when I go to ask for people to play parts in the show, even though the show description in the program says you may play a part IN the show, all eyes go down and not one hand goes up. I try the kids that aren’t 3. No one. I finally get one kid to be Papa Bear and a little girl DOES want to be Mama Bear. Baby bear ends up being an adult with a sense of humor, that is not conducive to the flow of the show, but if I saw it elsewhere, I might actually find it funny. He did get laughs…it just threw off my gibberish. When I tried to get Goldilocks, I asked one guy who seemed the right age and health to do it. He said “Do I look like a girl” to which I countered “Did I say it had to be a girl?” He at least gave me a Touche before he stared at the ground and moped with his mom for the rest of the show. Did I mention he appeared to be in his 20’s. Yeah…ok. Goldilocks turned out to be a girl who did a fine job. At the end of the show, a number of people came up to thank me or ask a question. I talked to them as I packed up and soon enough was on my way.
PINK AND ROSY
I head back to the costume house by way of the climbing wall and many patrons greeted. Once there, I wash of the makeup and peel off the wet and sticky clothing that I am happily putting into my laundry bag for the week (drip drying now actually). I am cooling down and changing, switching hair and gathering props. I drink a lot of water and head up to the Gatehouse to set props and get out on street. I am not there for too long, though I do claim my favorite seat for a few moments before going to stand by the stage and officially hawk for a few moments. Today, Ethelfrith Gripley, the town Widow and manners etiquette specialist, is reading my book for me. She does a great job, even though it takes my guy two tries for him to realize he needs to like me ‘just the way I am” before the show can end happily. Ethelfrith is great and even helps me walk my props back down the hill. It’s much appreciated.
LEARNING THE WAYS
Once there I peel off more layers for a more red face and drink water and pee, a lot. Then transition to Columbina. While backstage, you learn a lot that you don’t even realize is going on…such as the broken actors from last weekend. On street, we don’t share that, It’s not part of what makes a fun day for the audience. There has been some unusual stuff that I hear about, I run a song again while doing my makeup and get tidbits of people’s days told to me. I keep working the whole time, but I love those moments. A still moment, maybe with drama, that makes everything special. The heat is getting to me a little. I am out in decent time but not as good as yesterday.
FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP
Out on the street, I head to Steak on a Stake and get my regular. I sit down with some patrons. Older folk on one side, twenty somethings on the other. I bounce between conversations with both groups, but bond more with the costumed older gang. I tell them about my show and they are suddenly interested. They say they will try to see it. I wander more and meet up with a crochety but amusing gent who is trying to get me to flirt with his soon to be nephew…who is not comfy at all. I mention my show, but don’t know if they’ll come. I also sit with a woman, her mom and her brother, who is a special needs gent. They are also interested in the show and I tell them how to find me.
WANDERING WITH PLEASANT MOMENTS
I wander and greet and chat with others. The dust has been getting so bad that the last cup of water I had showed a film on the top of it. I have been CONSTANTLY sucking on honey drops or drinking. Which means I need the privy. I head to Kenwood…DID YOU KNOW THAT KENWOOD’S PRIVIES HAVE SINKS WITH WATER? How cool is that. I also found out that there is an additional ATM on the Queen’s Path that I didn’t know about. I forgot to go look at it, but I want to next week. I head to the place of props, grab my stuff and head to the stage where SMDave hooks me up and sets up a second mic for me to play with.
A HAPPY AND FUN SHOW
I walk out into the crowd to talk with everyone including a kind gent who has seen all of my shows today. In the audience are the “older folk” and the Pink haired lady with her mom and brother. The audience is half full for the start of the show and others wander up as I begin to perform. Carmita Gonzales joins me for Captains Daughter and she gets to experience an audience who is mostly hearing the song for the first time. The laughter at the end of each verse is so much fun and our energy draws more people into the space. I bring up “Josh” who works in baseball and whose adult mom told me to flirt with him…after I got his girlfriends permission, I knew I was ok. He was alright on stage, he behaved well, and the audience had fun. The show ended on a lot of energy with 3 Jolly Coachmen with the crowd clapping and laughing. I demiced and tried to clear the stage for Cu Dubh, but the audience wanted pictures and a cd and all the other good stuff that comes from a show that clicked. It was a really nice feeling. I think Ms. Gonzales may visit me again from time to time.
CHARMING THE MASSES
I take my props back and drop them off at the costume house then head back out to the street after refilling my water. I meander about and stop near O’Schucks. There, some costumed regulars ask me to join them in a group photobomb, where the entire pic is people jumping into it. I head to the back behind a tree, as I am an artist at this. They say go and I lean out. This pic has ended up on Facebook already. It is amusing. I wander to the front to help out the Vers’d poets, but they have a fourth poet with them as well as another official who can act as host, so I head back into the village. I sit with some people getting their last round of shooters. We chat about the day. The gent is a regular and his wife and brother are new. I welcome them and share some happy history. Next, I move to the nearby table after I hear them sing Happy Birthday to a young woman. I let her know that now she has learned the boring English version, let me sing you the better Italian version and sing Happy Birthday to her in Italian. It turns out she is 21 today and has been coming to fest since she was 5. While I have been performing longer than that, I don’t bring it up. I raise a glass to her and move on my way.
QUIET REFLECTIONS
The streets are rather empty of people but full of dust. I sit for a moment with the face casters and see Sir Real and we discuss how much rain would be good for the dust and how much makes no difference. I am gifted with a honey stick from a generous gent and later share it with the Mayor as I had a second of the same type in my bag and I know how much we both need them. I head toward the front, thinking the poets might need help, to find them gone. For the first time ever, I experience the last moment gauntlet. We block the path under the cannon so no one gets hurt. The men are singing words to passing people in barbershop harmonies. I, being the perfectionist, take them one step farther, which I think they enjoyed. Soon enough, and even though we warned them, the cannon shocks some people getting ready to leave. The day is done and we head backstage.
CLOSING MOMENTS
I go in and get changed and am out in record time, mostly because others have gone to get their paychecks before changing. I get out and then stand in line chatting with his Maj, Roxanne, and other people who are very different when not in the Tudor world. After some chatting, a group plans to meet for Chinese, but the group goes from 11 to 5 very quickly. The quiet group is really nice though and we share our favorite memories from the weekend. At first no one can think of any, but as one shares a tale it reminds us all of great moments from our day. We close the restaurant and head home. It was a stressful weekend and some of us are bearing the marks, but it has been lovely overall.
I can’t wait to do it all again.
PREPARATIONS
I loaded in on Friday and had a quiet evening including sleep…which was lovely. Saturday morning I was up and out a bit early and to the stage, stiff as a board and stretching. Richard shows up and we play catch up. Once I am made up, I head to the Costume House and start getting dressed. I actually work toward getting my hair more wild and frizzed each morning. I think I am crazy. I am in early and am hoping to be out before it gets too crazy, as wings and a crowd are never good. I head out to the Lyric and drop off my items at the generous lady’s place for later today, stopping to say good morning to the staff I know rather well. Then, to morning meeting.
FRIENDLY FACES
There are many new and recently returned faces. I give a big hug to the ones I see and sit down. We are all peppier because of the cooler temps, though we know it won’t last for long. Morning meeting reminds us of good and important things to know. A few actors are a bit gimpy so the Hermit is re-vamping the Opening Gate show as the meeting is happening. The man is brilliant. And after we BEEP and head to gate, the new show is fabulous. I even peek as my Mustard-y self to see it. In comes a panicked Duke and away we go! BOOM.
THE BEST LAID PLANS
So I welcome the crowd with Master Knuckles. We are greeting guests and doing tours. It appears that Master McCoy has become a new permanent addition to the fountain as well. It’s nice to have a multitude of greeters as none of us can talk the whole time as we stop for pictures and to greet guests. Eventually, the crowd dies down and there are no lines outside, so I head in. I am walking about and greeting the patrons, fanning them, asking them what they are looking for in the program…in gibberish. It sometimes takes a few tries, but “lalala, hahaha, poke poke?” usually let’s them know I am going to help guide them to a show that fits their mood.
UH-OH
I go to look at my umbrella and some of the points are off. I reconnect them and walk around a bit, then I go to close it again…and it won’t. I keep trying, but it won’t close. This is bad as I can’t leave it open all the time. I can see inside something is wrong. A goodly friend looks at it and shows me where the rust has formed at the top and we see the tip is bent all wonky. He suggests WD40. I begin to think and head to Piland’s booth. I say “WD40?” and after the official word from the lady of the house, it comes down. Tommy helps me aim the liquid and it starts to move, but the upper coil is still screwed up. I know WHAT I need to do, but can’t get it. I begin to head to the Costume House to my kit of many things.
FAIRY BUSINESS
On the way, I see Molly and Roseanna McCoy in an argument with Samuel Hatfield. I start to stand behind Sam and make faces at him and evil eyes and other appropriate fairy things to some patrons’ amusement. At one point, Roseanna even hands me her Shileligh (sp) and I (VERY LIGHTLY, don’t want to break the actors) start tapping him with it. He makes eye contact as he is not sure whether he should see me or not. He turns back to the conversation and begins to yell. I am not sure what I can do to make the bit better or evolved, so I head out and let it be.
THE MAGIC OF CRAZY GLUE
I get to the costume house after chatting with other random guests and giving directions still. I pull out my kit of many things and find the crazy glue. I undo the whole umbrella to get it moving in the right direction and then get the point back on where it needs to be and finally it all fixes itself and I hook all the point parts back on. There is much rejoicing….well much opening and closing gently of it now that it i1qs working.
TRAVELING DOWN DOOM WAY
I head back out to the street and proceed out to the sunbowl, which is getting insanely dusty already. There is a light breeze, which would be lovely, if not for that. I meet and chat with various patrons and guests. I sing a bit more and try to expand my collection of songs, but nothing sticks much. Eventually, I head down the hill of doom toward my stage. I am early so I head a bit in toward the boardwalk. A little boy is sobbing because he got a splinter they can’t see and he doesn’t want anyone to take it out, but it hurts. I fan him and he calms some. I let his family know where first aid is and they start to take a more calm little one there to get it taken care of. By that time, I am now only 5 minutes from my show and I don’t have my props.
OH, ITS ONE OF THOSE SHOWS
I get my props from the great wall of workers and head to the stage as the Ditty Sisters are cleaning up…they have a LOT of instruments…and they use them all. They have just added one more. A little ukulele. It’s cute and a good choice for their finale. I set up and there are lots of kids willing to play, but for whatever reason, I get an adult for Papa Bear. He is silly and theatrical, which is perfect. I get to Goldilocks and a little boy shoots his hand up with more enthusiasm than anyone else. I ask is he sure and he is adamant, so I chose him…and then…um, ok. He doesn’t want to do it, so I let him know he has to do what I do, it’s part of the show. He says he doesn’t want to, fakes to almost cry and I tell him over an over I can choose someone else if he doesn’t want to do it, because it’s a specific part. The audience cheers him on enthusiastically each time he does something. He is pouting and slowing the show down, and suddenly, 2/3 through the show, he throws down the goldilocks headgear and says he’s done and walks off the stage. great. I call to the young woman in the back row and she comes forward and finishes the part with great energy. She even bursts out laughing when Goldilocks’ chair breaks. The audience had fun, even though I didn’t, so I suppose that’s a win. The young woman shows me a wood claw/sword she bought and mentions that we could have used it. I ask if she meant on the other Goldilocks. She was a bit shocked…yeah, maybe not my most stellar moment. We finish our conversation on a happy note and I pack my basket and head back to the Climbing Wall.
THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE
I head back through the village greeting and chittering, posing for pics and giving directions as I wander. Once back in the costume house, I peel of layers and clean the make up off. I am all ready and go to grab my props. I am going to put my water in the box, when I realize that Stupina’s face isn’t in there. I go back to the shelf of props just to see if I forgot to put it in, but no, it’s not there. I am now, very calmly panicking. I had had lots of extra time to go out and hawk, but it’s dwindling away quickly and I STILL DON’T HAVE MY FACE. The Hermit begins to help me figure out who/where/what might have happened to it. My worst fear is that it is stolen. I have had that face since winter break at Dell’ Arte back in the end of 1995 when I made her. She and I have been through a lot together. I know I have a back up face, hood and wrap (for wet weather) so I grab those. I am trying to be logical and work through where it might be. Both the Hermit and I think it could possibly be at the stage as I take it off before I head down the hill each day. I get there, and don’t see it. I start packing my props for the show all the while looking around the shelves. I suddenly turn behind me and close the door. Stuffed in the corner behind the door I see her. I grab her and the relief is palpable. I begin to sob cradling her in my arms. Yeah, she’s that important to me.
ONWARD AND UPWARD WE DASH
I calm down, drink water and see my reader who wanted to warn me that he is in a different colored shirt. I am so fine with that. I finish packing the props and set them, then head out. I have lost 20 minutes to the search and panic of not finding her. I head out, put her on and only have a few moments to hawk the show before I am on the stage and ready to start. Today, Dash Rippington is my reader and he does a lovely job. He has that parent voice and goes logically off script so we can play a bit for the group’s amusement. The Bob is good and the show runs smoothly…and no shoe breaks. We end on time and the stage is clear with minutes to spare before the next act has to come up. I am packing props and TAKING MY MASK WITH ME today. When I get back to the costume house, I am able to let everyone know that everything is ok and I have my little girl.
ITS NOT THAT COOL
So it’s warmer than we had hoped today. By the end of this show, I am red-faced and sweaty all over. I joyously remove the worst layers and start to transition to Columbina. I let myself cool down a bit so my face isn’t too crazy. While there, I run a song with Carmita. Soon enough, and a bit faster than the really hot days last week, I am changed and ready to head back out in my burgundy. I head over through the village to the Steak on a Stake booth to get lunch. Yes, those that are counting, it’s now 3:30ish and I am just now getting lunch. Welcome to the performer’s world. I sit with patrons and chat about the day and their favorite things. I am hearing that many like the Wheel of Death, which makes me happy, as I remember him when he was 8 years old. It’s very cool to see how he’s turned out.
WANDERING ABOVE MY STATION
I have made plans to meet with the Duke of Ferrara today. He is wandering with other characters of the village to see some of us up close and personal…well, in public, so not that personal. I finish my meal, introduce him to my new friends, and we take our leave. We wander through the sunbowl and I show him places where I like to grab people to chat, things I comment about, he learns a bit more Italian, and I share a bit of the art of being host of the best party ever. We wander up Kenwood and are about to chat with a couple when he realizes that he was going to be at Tudor Twister. I stay as he travels and chat with the couple and laugh with them. Their kids come up and we have them join the conversation. It’s very charming. I say goodbye and wander toward twister. I offer to hold Lady Salisbury’s belt and suddenly discover it is only 7 minutes to 5. I pass off the items, call to the Duke to remind him as he as to be at Court’s Court, then rush off to get my props and get miced up for my show. I have a few moments to spare and say hello to a few of those at the tavern before I start.
SINGING AND OTHER IMPROMPTU MOMENTS
I begin to sing and the audience warms to me. By the end of the show, they are laughing and singing along. It’s nice to hear the audiences respond. These are not the regulars (well a few of them) so this is all new to them. When the show is over, I clear and make way for Cu dubh who is next on the stage. I see that I ran short today, but did do all the sections of the show. I chat with a few patrons, then head to drop my props off. Once props are set, I grab water and head back out. I see the Vers’d Poets getting ready and let them know I will visit them shortly. I have a banana calling my name. I do end up chatting with a few groups of women. For some reason, each of the groups of women I speak to turn out to be more interested in me than any of the men in the village. It seems on par with the kiss I gave Thomas Tallis earlier, which has been confusing people all day.
WORDY BLESSINGS
I head to the poets. It’s harder to get people to stop today. The dust is awful and it’s a sweatier day than expected. We gather words and when I see Molly, I get them to write poems using the word Aerialist. We finally get people to stop and get one group that has no desire to move after many rounds. I try to solicit more words. Suddenly, a little girl asks for the word Gem. Ariosto has left for a moment and the two others are thinking thinking thinking. I just turn to the girl and start speaking. Completely off the top of my head, I compose a poem complimenting the little Gem she is. The other 2 poets follow with poems, but the audience chooses mine. The next person offers up a word and again, as the others think, I just start letting words fall out. It rhymes in couplets and make sense. John Skelton rhymes and Thomas Wyatt forfeits the round. Again I win. Ariosto returns and I step out of the competition. I am pleased. They are finishing another round when suddenly we hear the cannon boom. We had no idea that it was so late, we had been having fun. It’s time to go and we head backstage and down the hill…and scene.
LUNG HACKING
I get changed and am just coughing. I am not sick, not at all, just trying to bring back the mud that has settled in my lungs. I finish changing and get out of the space in time to meet with some foolish sword guys for a meal. The group continues to grow until by time we get to the restaurant the group of 8 has become 14. We spill to a second table, which they luckily had. My dinner is a gift from someone at the restaurant and would have been enjoyable either way. The hot tea is really helping my throat. As we go to leave, the Hermit shows up and we share some tales with him as we stay with the gimpy lady waiting for her ride. I head home a bit later than I’d want, rinse of the dust, take antihistamines, get into bed and crash.
IT’S A PARTY
So I am up and out of the house on time. I stop for brekkies and some hot water to use with my teabag. They give me a bag as well, which I set to the side, then head to site. I am stretched and vocally warmed up using a bit more time to stretch than the day before (oy, I am stiff). I am putting on my makeup when a unicycle unicorn arrives on stage. I move my items off so the cast of Fizzical Fairytales can work on some issues they wanted to clean up. They are having difficulties with one particular move, which ironically, I know rather well from my Dell ‘arte days. I ask if they would like a suggestion and once they say yes, I give them a few tweaks to the move. The queen is very happy and straightens her legs more than I’ve seen before. Yayee! A year in California paid off!
MUSICAL MOMENTS
I finish my makeup and chat with Richard who has arrived, then head off to get changed. I am in and out pretty quickly and have another help slide in my wings. I head to the Lyric to meet another actor to run a song. He’s running a little late, but that gives me time to make a stop I needed to. I am back and ready for him. We work through a song and expect to run it next weekend. I head to my seat and drink my water. I am sucking on a honey drop and have stuffed my pouch with them to counteract the dust. I finish my water and after we BEEP, I go get more water. Anything to keep the dust down or at the least, away from my lungs. Even with the antihistamines, I am coughing more than I want to. The revised opening runs again…I am amused at the lumpy Adventurers. BOOM and away we go.
MOMENTS THAT TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY
I am doing my normal meet and greets, hugs to patrons and regulars, squeaks and tours, making fun of the Leftenant and more. Eventually, the first wave leaves but I stay up a bit longer. Finally, I head out and give some directions. Then, I go and sit in the blue chair that Bertilda Spriggans (you knew her as the fairy godmother) used to it in. I attract some attention there and many pics are taken. Some little girls are so excited to meet a real fairy. One little girl is a bit shy and nervous about the day. Her mom asks if I would put a protection spell to her. I remembered that Bertilda always gave out spiders and gems and other things to little ones. I remember that someone gave me a little blue glass stone. I pull it out of my pouch and think positive thoughts as I say gibberish over the stone. Then, I present it to the little girl. I try to tell her that it will always protect her, but Mom misunderstands my gesture and says it is meant to protect the whole family for the day. I figure, that’s good enough. She smiles and seems to be happier. I am really very touched. It’s moments like this that I remember what a responsibility these jobs are. We move people, We take them somewhere they can’t go on their own. Damn, I’m lucky.
FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS
As I sit there, I see the press pass and the cameraman who filmed me as the gates open (well, filmed everyone at the fountain). As I hear them speak, I realize they are Russian. The young woman turns to me and tells me they would like to film me for their next segment. I explain that I only speak gibberish, and they say that is fine. It takes them a while to set up and they do a few takes. I am asked to respond with a yes when she turns to me and says “Shruti.” I am still not sure what I agreed to. But once we do that, we are done, they thank me and move on.
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
I wander into the village now and am still pleased to see the umbrella working today. I chitter and wander. I head over to Stub Toe and sit at a tree and sing. Today, Amazing Grace is stuck in my head. It feels wrong for a fairy to sing it, but eh, I’m not using the words anyway. At one point, some kind people wander by and I recognize something that surprises me. I don’t think the lady knows exactly HOW special what she has is, but hey, there’s nothing I can do about it now. I head to the Globe to watch some of Faction of Fools shortened Romeo and Juliet. I can only stay for the first half hour, but was sad at how much of the DSA’s smoke wafted down to the seat I was at and how rude some people were by talking. They at least quieted when turned to ask them to be quiet.
IT’S NOT NICE TO CALL ME, MOTHER NATURE
I start to wander to the hill of doom and hear some woman say to her kid “Oh look it’s Mother Nature.” I was not amused. While I didn’t say anything to her, Mustardseed was mumbling to herself about how rude it was and how people just don’t recognize fairies…mother nature my foot. I head down the hill and head in to meet a very flirtatious 70 year old with his friends. They are funny but stop picking on me when I fan them. Heck, I think I made friend for life, especially after his wife returned. I head back to the wall, which seems a bit crowded and grab my props. The Ditties are finishing one song and then go to sing their finale with their parents there as visual aids. Once they finish, I head to the stage.
OH GREAT, ANOTHER FUN AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION SHOW
I start the show and the audience is amused by the fairy potion. But when I go to ask for people to play parts in the show, even though the show description in the program says you may play a part IN the show, all eyes go down and not one hand goes up. I try the kids that aren’t 3. No one. I finally get one kid to be Papa Bear and a little girl DOES want to be Mama Bear. Baby bear ends up being an adult with a sense of humor, that is not conducive to the flow of the show, but if I saw it elsewhere, I might actually find it funny. He did get laughs…it just threw off my gibberish. When I tried to get Goldilocks, I asked one guy who seemed the right age and health to do it. He said “Do I look like a girl” to which I countered “Did I say it had to be a girl?” He at least gave me a Touche before he stared at the ground and moped with his mom for the rest of the show. Did I mention he appeared to be in his 20’s. Yeah…ok. Goldilocks turned out to be a girl who did a fine job. At the end of the show, a number of people came up to thank me or ask a question. I talked to them as I packed up and soon enough was on my way.
PINK AND ROSY
I head back to the costume house by way of the climbing wall and many patrons greeted. Once there, I wash of the makeup and peel off the wet and sticky clothing that I am happily putting into my laundry bag for the week (drip drying now actually). I am cooling down and changing, switching hair and gathering props. I drink a lot of water and head up to the Gatehouse to set props and get out on street. I am not there for too long, though I do claim my favorite seat for a few moments before going to stand by the stage and officially hawk for a few moments. Today, Ethelfrith Gripley, the town Widow and manners etiquette specialist, is reading my book for me. She does a great job, even though it takes my guy two tries for him to realize he needs to like me ‘just the way I am” before the show can end happily. Ethelfrith is great and even helps me walk my props back down the hill. It’s much appreciated.
LEARNING THE WAYS
Once there I peel off more layers for a more red face and drink water and pee, a lot. Then transition to Columbina. While backstage, you learn a lot that you don’t even realize is going on…such as the broken actors from last weekend. On street, we don’t share that, It’s not part of what makes a fun day for the audience. There has been some unusual stuff that I hear about, I run a song again while doing my makeup and get tidbits of people’s days told to me. I keep working the whole time, but I love those moments. A still moment, maybe with drama, that makes everything special. The heat is getting to me a little. I am out in decent time but not as good as yesterday.
FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP
Out on the street, I head to Steak on a Stake and get my regular. I sit down with some patrons. Older folk on one side, twenty somethings on the other. I bounce between conversations with both groups, but bond more with the costumed older gang. I tell them about my show and they are suddenly interested. They say they will try to see it. I wander more and meet up with a crochety but amusing gent who is trying to get me to flirt with his soon to be nephew…who is not comfy at all. I mention my show, but don’t know if they’ll come. I also sit with a woman, her mom and her brother, who is a special needs gent. They are also interested in the show and I tell them how to find me.
WANDERING WITH PLEASANT MOMENTS
I wander and greet and chat with others. The dust has been getting so bad that the last cup of water I had showed a film on the top of it. I have been CONSTANTLY sucking on honey drops or drinking. Which means I need the privy. I head to Kenwood…DID YOU KNOW THAT KENWOOD’S PRIVIES HAVE SINKS WITH WATER? How cool is that. I also found out that there is an additional ATM on the Queen’s Path that I didn’t know about. I forgot to go look at it, but I want to next week. I head to the place of props, grab my stuff and head to the stage where SMDave hooks me up and sets up a second mic for me to play with.
A HAPPY AND FUN SHOW
I walk out into the crowd to talk with everyone including a kind gent who has seen all of my shows today. In the audience are the “older folk” and the Pink haired lady with her mom and brother. The audience is half full for the start of the show and others wander up as I begin to perform. Carmita Gonzales joins me for Captains Daughter and she gets to experience an audience who is mostly hearing the song for the first time. The laughter at the end of each verse is so much fun and our energy draws more people into the space. I bring up “Josh” who works in baseball and whose adult mom told me to flirt with him…after I got his girlfriends permission, I knew I was ok. He was alright on stage, he behaved well, and the audience had fun. The show ended on a lot of energy with 3 Jolly Coachmen with the crowd clapping and laughing. I demiced and tried to clear the stage for Cu Dubh, but the audience wanted pictures and a cd and all the other good stuff that comes from a show that clicked. It was a really nice feeling. I think Ms. Gonzales may visit me again from time to time.
CHARMING THE MASSES
I take my props back and drop them off at the costume house then head back out to the street after refilling my water. I meander about and stop near O’Schucks. There, some costumed regulars ask me to join them in a group photobomb, where the entire pic is people jumping into it. I head to the back behind a tree, as I am an artist at this. They say go and I lean out. This pic has ended up on Facebook already. It is amusing. I wander to the front to help out the Vers’d poets, but they have a fourth poet with them as well as another official who can act as host, so I head back into the village. I sit with some people getting their last round of shooters. We chat about the day. The gent is a regular and his wife and brother are new. I welcome them and share some happy history. Next, I move to the nearby table after I hear them sing Happy Birthday to a young woman. I let her know that now she has learned the boring English version, let me sing you the better Italian version and sing Happy Birthday to her in Italian. It turns out she is 21 today and has been coming to fest since she was 5. While I have been performing longer than that, I don’t bring it up. I raise a glass to her and move on my way.
QUIET REFLECTIONS
The streets are rather empty of people but full of dust. I sit for a moment with the face casters and see Sir Real and we discuss how much rain would be good for the dust and how much makes no difference. I am gifted with a honey stick from a generous gent and later share it with the Mayor as I had a second of the same type in my bag and I know how much we both need them. I head toward the front, thinking the poets might need help, to find them gone. For the first time ever, I experience the last moment gauntlet. We block the path under the cannon so no one gets hurt. The men are singing words to passing people in barbershop harmonies. I, being the perfectionist, take them one step farther, which I think they enjoyed. Soon enough, and even though we warned them, the cannon shocks some people getting ready to leave. The day is done and we head backstage.
CLOSING MOMENTS
I go in and get changed and am out in record time, mostly because others have gone to get their paychecks before changing. I get out and then stand in line chatting with his Maj, Roxanne, and other people who are very different when not in the Tudor world. After some chatting, a group plans to meet for Chinese, but the group goes from 11 to 5 very quickly. The quiet group is really nice though and we share our favorite memories from the weekend. At first no one can think of any, but as one shares a tale it reminds us all of great moments from our day. We close the restaurant and head home. It was a stressful weekend and some of us are bearing the marks, but it has been lovely overall.
I can’t wait to do it all again.
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Date: 2013-09-15 02:06 am (UTC)