MD part nove, et fini
Feb. 16th, 2014 08:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradIt’s bittersweet to have the festival end, but sometimes it has to happen. I know this is very late, and many details will be lost to my memories, but I am glad to have some down time to share a few warm memories during this cold winter, though I’d happily give it up for more time to play with you all. Things forgotten, misordered and removed by finally getting sleep. Let’s see what I remember.
THE SLOW TRANSITION
So when I went to load in on Friday with the cleaned laundry, I also loaded out some of the items I knew I wouldn’t need for the last 2 days. It wasn’t a ton, but it would save me space as there are lots of props that get loaded in over days and I have to take it out in one trip. I return the key and thank the kindness of the office staff as they let me purchase a couple tickets even though I was a few minutes past the deadline. Yayee to them. I also drop off a few thank you gifts where they can be easily gotten during the weekend and even hand one off in person. It’s best to wait for the last day, but really, who wants to be handed a bottle in the morning when you have to go running around immediately after. I head home, work a bit more and end up getting a good night’s sleep, sort of. I am a bit wired and restless, but hey, these things happen. I just meditate and don’t really sleep, but eventually start to.
WHO LET THE HEAT OUT
I get up in the am and it’s chilly. I have many blankets and don’t want to get out of bed. Bleah. I add multiple layers underneath and by doing so, don’t much need the coat I brought. After years of doing this, you learn what you need to stay protected. I head to site after grabbing brekkies and start to stretch. I do a bit more up on my feet, not to move a bit more, but get stretched. I also start makeup and end up alone as it appears that Richard is a bit behind schedule. I get to the costume house all made up and switch to Mustardseed. I have layered as much as I can. The only place that I don’t get is my forearms and I had not been able to find my cream gloves. Ah well. I grab my umbrella and head out to the stage.
CACAPHONIC MUSIC IN THE MORNING
I head to the Lyric and drop off my things to go get Job, the rose seller. He comes out and we get ready to run the song, just as Sirena is doing a sound check. Um, THIS ain’t going to work. We head a bit more around the corner so we can hear each other. We run a song for the evening and he is doing well. I tweak a few things and we are ready to go. I send him back into rose land while I head back to get checked in and do any other morning connections that need to be made. Morning meeting has some welcome backs and other announcements that make me laugh. We get our notes, reminders, sad moments and finally, BEEP and head out onto the field of funny.
BOOMING BOOMING
Last weekend, there was lots of rain, so this weekend we are expecting crowds. We are NOT disappointed. I pop my honey drop, go to the privy, give the honey drop to SMKen, then do a stretch or two and suit up on the wall. The cannon booms and the crowds roll in. There are a lot of them. At one point, William McCoy makes a joke/ comment to a patron that the patron doesn’t get. I show him his comment splattering against a wall and sliding down to the pile of despair where all the old sad jokes go to die. He laughs when he remembers our conversation from last week. We give a few tours, but today, they are off the wall and leaving me alone early. They head to the top of the gate to yell at people. Since the first official rush hasn’t passed yet, I am still waiting. Once that first crowd is finished, the flow of traffic is still heavy, so I head out with 4 stacks of programs and “head” them out. It’s a bad balance day for some reason. I do mostly ok, but I am reassembling and balancing a lot. It makes me sad. Overall, people are amused though.
TREATS AND TREATS
The flow is steady, but not heavy, so I head back in as I hear others out and about helping with traffic. Inside. I sit at the blue chair and find little ones to hand out ribbons and stones. Today, a little boy comes up and demands a stone. I explain that they are for those in need or those making wishes. He finally comes up with something and the mother explains that he got a bravery stone on a prior year from the Fairy Godmother who sat here. It meant a lot to him. If I had known that, it might have made my job easier, but oh well. I gift him with a stone and he does leave happy. Soon enough, I head into the village and wander toward my tree. I stop at O’Shucks to chitter at a few patrons, but don’t stay for long.
VISTATION RIGHTS
I wander to my tree and begin to sing to people. I notice that the Purple Unicorn’s smashed witch has some text next to the “accident “. This makes me smile. I sing more standards, no crazy new songs, though I tried some of Hello from the Book of Mormon. It doesn’t flow very well musically, so I give it up. I am visited by many patrons and regulars. Soon enough I head down the way to the sunbowl, for the warmth, and wander by the picnic where a grape or 3 go floating before I move on. I stop again at the jewelry booth that was such a surprise for me and price a few items. Reasonable, so I make plans to try to stop by again.
QUIET REFLECTION
I head to my favorite bench chittering at others along the way. While I have my fan on me, I am really not using it. I am sticking mostly with standards today. People stop for pics or music. I run into John and Lisa who let me know they will be stopping to see the show. Soon enough, its time to head to get props and get to my stage. Today’s audience is ok, but I can’t get any adults to volunteer, so my stage is all kids with one young woman as Goldilocks. To me, it was a lackluster show compared to a lot of the others. The fact that the powers that be watched this one was sadly ironic to me. As they have often commented, they never seem to make it to the shows that go great. It’s sad as I was pointedly avoiding looking that way and just tried to do a show as I always do. Meh. Hopefully it read better than it felt.
THE FINAL REPACK
As I clean up and head backstage, I go to refill the fairy juice and see that the floaties are just beginning. Well, at least I know when to expect them now and there is only one more day to worry about. I finish out the magic juice, empty my water and throw out the bottles before I pack up the rest of my materials. It’s a little late, so I rush back to get changed, chittering and interacting on the way. I switch into Stupina, cleaning off the leaves and flowers.
MASKING ABOUT
I am out and on street listening to the crowd as they chat away. I pose on the blue chair after chatting with the patrons. Most of those coming in now just want to get the heck inside. They are not much about hearing about a new show at the Gate…they want beer, food and shopping. Ah well. I head to the stage and see the end of the show. Today, the woman who is normally the queen, but is the Petulant Princess in this show is going to be reading for Stupina. I do a quick touch base with her and set my props then begin. There is a smallish house, but they are responsive. There is one guy in the center, row three who is very vociferous. The Queen is thinking he is doing this on purpose, but he’s not. I finally get a polite way to let him know he should stop and the show continues smoothly. We run a hair longer than I would like, so I rush to clear the stage at the end in time for the Donkey Boy to start. I pack my props up and send the queen on her way to get changed back in time for her next show. I head down with the props to the costume house.
MUSICAL MULTI TASKING
Today, I will be singing with Cyd and Peter who are violining for me. We are trying to run the piece in advance, but with traffic outside, he is running late, so I begin to change costume while waiting. He shows up and I come out to sing twice through…then I head back in to finish the change. The weather is looking iffy, so after I set up my hair, I totally change it back to rain hair and put on the hat of doom, then out I go. On street, I grab some fruit and cheese and sit with some patrons to let them know about the show. I lose track of time and rush back to get my props. I am set up in time with some time to meet the crowd and warn those with little ones that the show might not be great for the kids, but they can make their own decisions.
A LITTLE FALL OF RAIN
As my show starts, so does a rain that brings in a big crowd of people trying to stay dry. I get a great response from those on this side of the pub and even when the rain stops after a few minutes, most of them stay. They really seem to be enjoying themselves. Toward the middle, I see Job who is joining me for a song today. He does a great job and my brain can’t keep the old harmony line, which frustrates me, but they audience seems to enjoy it. I finish the show with a rousing drinking song in the crowd. Afterwards, some regulars come up to me and say that they didn’t realize I had a show here…on day 18…sigh.
SWITCHING TO THE OTHER PUB
I grab up my props after saying some cheery goodbyes. I rush to drop off props and head to the White Hart Pyrate Camp to check in. I sit for a few moments and go grab water before we begin. The show is energetic and our violin song goes over well with happy enthusiasm from the audience. 90 minutes later, the show is over and we all say goodbye and head backstage. I clean up and dry off and pull out the gift I had prepared for SMDave. I was glad I trusted other SM’s rather than the parents, as they had a better idea of what he drank. The crowd is slow getting out so we are stuck waiting a while. Eventually, a small group of us meet at Noodles and Company. The food is tasty. There I confirm plans for the next day. I head back home, pack and organize and get ready for bed.
NOT OF MY OWN ACCORD
Bright eyed and bushy tailed ( I don’t sleep well) I am greeted by Roseanna McCoy and I treat her to breakfast as a thank you as we head into site. She heads off to sleep again and I head to Gatehouse to stretch. Once I finish, I realize I have left my stiff stuff for my hair in the costume house and have to go without. I fluff it as best I can. Richard is running late and doesn’t arrive until I am finishing up my makeup. I head to the Costume house to touch up my hair and get dressed. I am in such a last day tizzy, I leave my wings there and have to come back after getting up the hill. Wow…that was a brain fart. I get to Lyric and again, Sirena is rehearsing, so Ginger Rose and I head up the hill to run our song for the evening. We are including both guitar and bodhran so we just want to make sure we are ready and in the same comedy vein.
THANKS ABOUNDING
As it’s closing day, there are many thank yous to be given to everyone for their help. We BOOM and head off to gate. The last bathroom break (carefully so I don’t hurt the wings) before we open is quick and eventless. I make sure to give SMRobert honey candy as a thank you for his help as well, so he will have a happy morning memory to carry him through the winter. The gates boom open and in come some very wrong things. I am looking for the clever, subtle and creative. There are some fun moments, but surprisingly quiet compared to other years…this is fine for me. The other gents leave me a bit early, so after a bit I head outside with some programs and try to balance them on my head. It is harder today, I think the spritz actually helped make the hair stickier. I do ok, but do have to pick stuff up a few times. I give up after 3 packs of programs and head into the village and sit on the blue chair.
THE FINAL SONATA
I pose, sing and hand out “Believe” necklaces and stones. I am enjoying the last day greeting guests. I head in after a bit and find my tree where I sing. Sunday, as all other Sundays, is Amazing Grace day. I enjoy singing that as well as other music. I have people visiting and stopping to enjoy the music. I can’t actually lay against the tree as the wings would get damaged, but there is lots of fun to be had even though I am rather cold. Time passes and I head down to the boardwalk to visit and sing. On the way, I visit Bullseye and the owner very generously loans me a fuzzy warm hand muff. I am nervous about borrowing it, but it does make such a huge difference. I take my time walking down the path. I stop by the jeweler’s booth and get my ring. I also remember that the jeweler has a son that Margaret Plantagenet mentioned to me. There, I ask to meet him and provide him with a believe ribbon. Finally, I end up down at the end of the walk on my bench. Its nice to sing. I see people stay on the benches in either their own conversations or to listen. I have my umbrella up, but that muff is making my life sane, or fingers warm. I get cold far too easily.
THE FINAL FAIRY TALE
I head and get my props and head to the crooked cottage for the last hurrah. The show is ok with a decent mix, but again, no adults wanting to play. I get some good laughs and enjoy the audience telling the story along with me. Today, I put the props back, but don’t worry about how I am repacking, since I will be taking the whole thing back the next day. I head up the hill and run back to the costume house while playing on the way. I take my last breath as a flittering being and step behind the wall again. Down the hill I go and clean her off to put on Stupina. I have put on multiple layers to combat the cold. I drink some water and head back out with the props, set them backstage and hit the street.
THE LAST CHANCE FOR GIRLINESS
I head to the chair to sit upside down and enjoy the energy of seeing the world from a different perspective. I call to people, many who pointedly ignore me, others who have hugs and well wishes for me. I am not seeing one face that I am concerned about and when I head backstage to get the props ready, I let Penelope know that I MIGHT need her. Right before I start, I see the gent I needed and I begin the show. Today, my reader is in civvies. Graham, who was on cast in prior years, comes up as an innocent audience who is worried for the crying Stupina. He reads the book with a playful confusion and gets lost watching me on occasion, which is perfect and sells the “audience member who has no idea what is going on” terrifically. The show is over soon enough and I thank both my Bob and my Graham and clear the stage quickly. Stupina says her last goodbye to Revel Grove for the season and I repack props and head down the hills with them. I have to repack these, because if I don’t, they won’t all fit and I won’t be able to carry them back.
THE COURTESAN’S LAST CLIENT
I put away the props, get out Columbina’s props and begin the transition. Its still chilly, so I put on lots of layers again. It’s not raining, so I can put my hair up the way it should be. One of the newer actresses notes that she likes that color on me and I should wear it more. I don't have the heart to tell her I have worn this color for 5 years prior to her being here. I finish the transition, grab my things and head out. I grab lunch of mashed potatoes with garlic butter with some meat. It makes me happy and I joke and share history with the patrons I join with. I hit O’Shucks tables and some people on benches on the way around. Eventually, it’s time to start the show, so I grab my props with a big thanks to the flower ladies and head to the Boar’s Head. The show goes well enough. Today, I have a little time, so I end the final show on the Parting Glass. It’s the first time I have sung it this year. I miss the song and sharing it, but today it feels right. I am having fun with them and they are having a good time. I raise my glass for the last time on this stage this season, and head to pack up.
FINAL PUB SING
I grab everything and rush back to the costume house. There, I help Rose Jones in her costume transition for Pub Sing, then head to the pub to check in. I meet up with Ginger Rose and make sure I have a bodhran to play. I then sit down on the bench and have…chocolate. I’ve missed this and it brings a bit of tears to my eyes. We do the opening fine. When it’s time for us to play, I realize I need something to put my knee up so I don’t lose the drum and almost upend a long bench trying to move it one handed. Bleah. Once we get going, its fun and the audience joins us as we sing about that Scotsman. Then, it’s that time…I haven’t had any alcohol since a month before the show started, and today, my required sobriety ends and I get my first and only drink of the season. It’s tasty, especially being the only one. Eventually, the show ends, the bells are rung, and the lights go out for one more season.
THE FINAL CAST PARTY
We do final clean up and close out. I change into a comfortable but nicer outfit. Then, I wait for Margaret and family to help drive me over. There, we touch base over life, etc. Once there, we mix and mingle and I get seafood and more alcohol. I bounce from table to table and chat with many people. I stay with those who close the party down and Dawntreader and White Dragon pack me safely in their car and drive me home.
THE FINAL VISIT
The next morning, I am up and heading to the fair site to load out. I head to the White Hart to get my props from Crooked Cottage, then down to the costume house. There, I am met by others coming in to load out, we take turns and I hang there as I have the key. I help some load out as Margaret has hurt her foot and can’t make it down the hill. Finally, we have cleared our stuff out, take a few pics, then head up to the Bizarre Bazaar, then off to Thai food. This means we are leaving the site and closing the chapter for this year.
Thanks to all of you for your laughter and support, for joining us in both work and play. It’s such a special experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Let’s do it again next year!
THE SLOW TRANSITION
So when I went to load in on Friday with the cleaned laundry, I also loaded out some of the items I knew I wouldn’t need for the last 2 days. It wasn’t a ton, but it would save me space as there are lots of props that get loaded in over days and I have to take it out in one trip. I return the key and thank the kindness of the office staff as they let me purchase a couple tickets even though I was a few minutes past the deadline. Yayee to them. I also drop off a few thank you gifts where they can be easily gotten during the weekend and even hand one off in person. It’s best to wait for the last day, but really, who wants to be handed a bottle in the morning when you have to go running around immediately after. I head home, work a bit more and end up getting a good night’s sleep, sort of. I am a bit wired and restless, but hey, these things happen. I just meditate and don’t really sleep, but eventually start to.
WHO LET THE HEAT OUT
I get up in the am and it’s chilly. I have many blankets and don’t want to get out of bed. Bleah. I add multiple layers underneath and by doing so, don’t much need the coat I brought. After years of doing this, you learn what you need to stay protected. I head to site after grabbing brekkies and start to stretch. I do a bit more up on my feet, not to move a bit more, but get stretched. I also start makeup and end up alone as it appears that Richard is a bit behind schedule. I get to the costume house all made up and switch to Mustardseed. I have layered as much as I can. The only place that I don’t get is my forearms and I had not been able to find my cream gloves. Ah well. I grab my umbrella and head out to the stage.
CACAPHONIC MUSIC IN THE MORNING
I head to the Lyric and drop off my things to go get Job, the rose seller. He comes out and we get ready to run the song, just as Sirena is doing a sound check. Um, THIS ain’t going to work. We head a bit more around the corner so we can hear each other. We run a song for the evening and he is doing well. I tweak a few things and we are ready to go. I send him back into rose land while I head back to get checked in and do any other morning connections that need to be made. Morning meeting has some welcome backs and other announcements that make me laugh. We get our notes, reminders, sad moments and finally, BEEP and head out onto the field of funny.
BOOMING BOOMING
Last weekend, there was lots of rain, so this weekend we are expecting crowds. We are NOT disappointed. I pop my honey drop, go to the privy, give the honey drop to SMKen, then do a stretch or two and suit up on the wall. The cannon booms and the crowds roll in. There are a lot of them. At one point, William McCoy makes a joke/ comment to a patron that the patron doesn’t get. I show him his comment splattering against a wall and sliding down to the pile of despair where all the old sad jokes go to die. He laughs when he remembers our conversation from last week. We give a few tours, but today, they are off the wall and leaving me alone early. They head to the top of the gate to yell at people. Since the first official rush hasn’t passed yet, I am still waiting. Once that first crowd is finished, the flow of traffic is still heavy, so I head out with 4 stacks of programs and “head” them out. It’s a bad balance day for some reason. I do mostly ok, but I am reassembling and balancing a lot. It makes me sad. Overall, people are amused though.
TREATS AND TREATS
The flow is steady, but not heavy, so I head back in as I hear others out and about helping with traffic. Inside. I sit at the blue chair and find little ones to hand out ribbons and stones. Today, a little boy comes up and demands a stone. I explain that they are for those in need or those making wishes. He finally comes up with something and the mother explains that he got a bravery stone on a prior year from the Fairy Godmother who sat here. It meant a lot to him. If I had known that, it might have made my job easier, but oh well. I gift him with a stone and he does leave happy. Soon enough, I head into the village and wander toward my tree. I stop at O’Shucks to chitter at a few patrons, but don’t stay for long.
VISTATION RIGHTS
I wander to my tree and begin to sing to people. I notice that the Purple Unicorn’s smashed witch has some text next to the “accident “. This makes me smile. I sing more standards, no crazy new songs, though I tried some of Hello from the Book of Mormon. It doesn’t flow very well musically, so I give it up. I am visited by many patrons and regulars. Soon enough I head down the way to the sunbowl, for the warmth, and wander by the picnic where a grape or 3 go floating before I move on. I stop again at the jewelry booth that was such a surprise for me and price a few items. Reasonable, so I make plans to try to stop by again.
QUIET REFLECTION
I head to my favorite bench chittering at others along the way. While I have my fan on me, I am really not using it. I am sticking mostly with standards today. People stop for pics or music. I run into John and Lisa who let me know they will be stopping to see the show. Soon enough, its time to head to get props and get to my stage. Today’s audience is ok, but I can’t get any adults to volunteer, so my stage is all kids with one young woman as Goldilocks. To me, it was a lackluster show compared to a lot of the others. The fact that the powers that be watched this one was sadly ironic to me. As they have often commented, they never seem to make it to the shows that go great. It’s sad as I was pointedly avoiding looking that way and just tried to do a show as I always do. Meh. Hopefully it read better than it felt.
THE FINAL REPACK
As I clean up and head backstage, I go to refill the fairy juice and see that the floaties are just beginning. Well, at least I know when to expect them now and there is only one more day to worry about. I finish out the magic juice, empty my water and throw out the bottles before I pack up the rest of my materials. It’s a little late, so I rush back to get changed, chittering and interacting on the way. I switch into Stupina, cleaning off the leaves and flowers.
MASKING ABOUT
I am out and on street listening to the crowd as they chat away. I pose on the blue chair after chatting with the patrons. Most of those coming in now just want to get the heck inside. They are not much about hearing about a new show at the Gate…they want beer, food and shopping. Ah well. I head to the stage and see the end of the show. Today, the woman who is normally the queen, but is the Petulant Princess in this show is going to be reading for Stupina. I do a quick touch base with her and set my props then begin. There is a smallish house, but they are responsive. There is one guy in the center, row three who is very vociferous. The Queen is thinking he is doing this on purpose, but he’s not. I finally get a polite way to let him know he should stop and the show continues smoothly. We run a hair longer than I would like, so I rush to clear the stage at the end in time for the Donkey Boy to start. I pack my props up and send the queen on her way to get changed back in time for her next show. I head down with the props to the costume house.
MUSICAL MULTI TASKING
Today, I will be singing with Cyd and Peter who are violining for me. We are trying to run the piece in advance, but with traffic outside, he is running late, so I begin to change costume while waiting. He shows up and I come out to sing twice through…then I head back in to finish the change. The weather is looking iffy, so after I set up my hair, I totally change it back to rain hair and put on the hat of doom, then out I go. On street, I grab some fruit and cheese and sit with some patrons to let them know about the show. I lose track of time and rush back to get my props. I am set up in time with some time to meet the crowd and warn those with little ones that the show might not be great for the kids, but they can make their own decisions.
A LITTLE FALL OF RAIN
As my show starts, so does a rain that brings in a big crowd of people trying to stay dry. I get a great response from those on this side of the pub and even when the rain stops after a few minutes, most of them stay. They really seem to be enjoying themselves. Toward the middle, I see Job who is joining me for a song today. He does a great job and my brain can’t keep the old harmony line, which frustrates me, but they audience seems to enjoy it. I finish the show with a rousing drinking song in the crowd. Afterwards, some regulars come up to me and say that they didn’t realize I had a show here…on day 18…sigh.
SWITCHING TO THE OTHER PUB
I grab up my props after saying some cheery goodbyes. I rush to drop off props and head to the White Hart Pyrate Camp to check in. I sit for a few moments and go grab water before we begin. The show is energetic and our violin song goes over well with happy enthusiasm from the audience. 90 minutes later, the show is over and we all say goodbye and head backstage. I clean up and dry off and pull out the gift I had prepared for SMDave. I was glad I trusted other SM’s rather than the parents, as they had a better idea of what he drank. The crowd is slow getting out so we are stuck waiting a while. Eventually, a small group of us meet at Noodles and Company. The food is tasty. There I confirm plans for the next day. I head back home, pack and organize and get ready for bed.
NOT OF MY OWN ACCORD
Bright eyed and bushy tailed ( I don’t sleep well) I am greeted by Roseanna McCoy and I treat her to breakfast as a thank you as we head into site. She heads off to sleep again and I head to Gatehouse to stretch. Once I finish, I realize I have left my stiff stuff for my hair in the costume house and have to go without. I fluff it as best I can. Richard is running late and doesn’t arrive until I am finishing up my makeup. I head to the Costume house to touch up my hair and get dressed. I am in such a last day tizzy, I leave my wings there and have to come back after getting up the hill. Wow…that was a brain fart. I get to Lyric and again, Sirena is rehearsing, so Ginger Rose and I head up the hill to run our song for the evening. We are including both guitar and bodhran so we just want to make sure we are ready and in the same comedy vein.
THANKS ABOUNDING
As it’s closing day, there are many thank yous to be given to everyone for their help. We BOOM and head off to gate. The last bathroom break (carefully so I don’t hurt the wings) before we open is quick and eventless. I make sure to give SMRobert honey candy as a thank you for his help as well, so he will have a happy morning memory to carry him through the winter. The gates boom open and in come some very wrong things. I am looking for the clever, subtle and creative. There are some fun moments, but surprisingly quiet compared to other years…this is fine for me. The other gents leave me a bit early, so after a bit I head outside with some programs and try to balance them on my head. It is harder today, I think the spritz actually helped make the hair stickier. I do ok, but do have to pick stuff up a few times. I give up after 3 packs of programs and head into the village and sit on the blue chair.
THE FINAL SONATA
I pose, sing and hand out “Believe” necklaces and stones. I am enjoying the last day greeting guests. I head in after a bit and find my tree where I sing. Sunday, as all other Sundays, is Amazing Grace day. I enjoy singing that as well as other music. I have people visiting and stopping to enjoy the music. I can’t actually lay against the tree as the wings would get damaged, but there is lots of fun to be had even though I am rather cold. Time passes and I head down to the boardwalk to visit and sing. On the way, I visit Bullseye and the owner very generously loans me a fuzzy warm hand muff. I am nervous about borrowing it, but it does make such a huge difference. I take my time walking down the path. I stop by the jeweler’s booth and get my ring. I also remember that the jeweler has a son that Margaret Plantagenet mentioned to me. There, I ask to meet him and provide him with a believe ribbon. Finally, I end up down at the end of the walk on my bench. Its nice to sing. I see people stay on the benches in either their own conversations or to listen. I have my umbrella up, but that muff is making my life sane, or fingers warm. I get cold far too easily.
THE FINAL FAIRY TALE
I head and get my props and head to the crooked cottage for the last hurrah. The show is ok with a decent mix, but again, no adults wanting to play. I get some good laughs and enjoy the audience telling the story along with me. Today, I put the props back, but don’t worry about how I am repacking, since I will be taking the whole thing back the next day. I head up the hill and run back to the costume house while playing on the way. I take my last breath as a flittering being and step behind the wall again. Down the hill I go and clean her off to put on Stupina. I have put on multiple layers to combat the cold. I drink some water and head back out with the props, set them backstage and hit the street.
THE LAST CHANCE FOR GIRLINESS
I head to the chair to sit upside down and enjoy the energy of seeing the world from a different perspective. I call to people, many who pointedly ignore me, others who have hugs and well wishes for me. I am not seeing one face that I am concerned about and when I head backstage to get the props ready, I let Penelope know that I MIGHT need her. Right before I start, I see the gent I needed and I begin the show. Today, my reader is in civvies. Graham, who was on cast in prior years, comes up as an innocent audience who is worried for the crying Stupina. He reads the book with a playful confusion and gets lost watching me on occasion, which is perfect and sells the “audience member who has no idea what is going on” terrifically. The show is over soon enough and I thank both my Bob and my Graham and clear the stage quickly. Stupina says her last goodbye to Revel Grove for the season and I repack props and head down the hills with them. I have to repack these, because if I don’t, they won’t all fit and I won’t be able to carry them back.
THE COURTESAN’S LAST CLIENT
I put away the props, get out Columbina’s props and begin the transition. Its still chilly, so I put on lots of layers again. It’s not raining, so I can put my hair up the way it should be. One of the newer actresses notes that she likes that color on me and I should wear it more. I don't have the heart to tell her I have worn this color for 5 years prior to her being here. I finish the transition, grab my things and head out. I grab lunch of mashed potatoes with garlic butter with some meat. It makes me happy and I joke and share history with the patrons I join with. I hit O’Shucks tables and some people on benches on the way around. Eventually, it’s time to start the show, so I grab my props with a big thanks to the flower ladies and head to the Boar’s Head. The show goes well enough. Today, I have a little time, so I end the final show on the Parting Glass. It’s the first time I have sung it this year. I miss the song and sharing it, but today it feels right. I am having fun with them and they are having a good time. I raise my glass for the last time on this stage this season, and head to pack up.
FINAL PUB SING
I grab everything and rush back to the costume house. There, I help Rose Jones in her costume transition for Pub Sing, then head to the pub to check in. I meet up with Ginger Rose and make sure I have a bodhran to play. I then sit down on the bench and have…chocolate. I’ve missed this and it brings a bit of tears to my eyes. We do the opening fine. When it’s time for us to play, I realize I need something to put my knee up so I don’t lose the drum and almost upend a long bench trying to move it one handed. Bleah. Once we get going, its fun and the audience joins us as we sing about that Scotsman. Then, it’s that time…I haven’t had any alcohol since a month before the show started, and today, my required sobriety ends and I get my first and only drink of the season. It’s tasty, especially being the only one. Eventually, the show ends, the bells are rung, and the lights go out for one more season.
THE FINAL CAST PARTY
We do final clean up and close out. I change into a comfortable but nicer outfit. Then, I wait for Margaret and family to help drive me over. There, we touch base over life, etc. Once there, we mix and mingle and I get seafood and more alcohol. I bounce from table to table and chat with many people. I stay with those who close the party down and Dawntreader and White Dragon pack me safely in their car and drive me home.
THE FINAL VISIT
The next morning, I am up and heading to the fair site to load out. I head to the White Hart to get my props from Crooked Cottage, then down to the costume house. There, I am met by others coming in to load out, we take turns and I hang there as I have the key. I help some load out as Margaret has hurt her foot and can’t make it down the hill. Finally, we have cleared our stuff out, take a few pics, then head up to the Bizarre Bazaar, then off to Thai food. This means we are leaving the site and closing the chapter for this year.
Thanks to all of you for your laughter and support, for joining us in both work and play. It’s such a special experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Let’s do it again next year!
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Date: 2014-03-10 08:51 pm (UTC)