3rd Weekend discussion

[Sir Trevor]

I'll add more tomorrow.
Got a lot going on, but wanted to get the thread started.

[tomnaboley]

SATURDAY: The wedding of Jen & Dave was very lovely.
Jen looked beautiful and Dave was very handsome. The procession was very nice.
Don't forget to check out the Dueling Fools back on the chess board. (I think that is what they are called.)
The weather got to be a bit too much, again. I did leave a little early.

SUNDAY: Turned out to be a pretty good day. Even the rain wasn't all that bad.
Watched the checkers match again. I really like it. It is very different from the chess match.
If you haven't seen DaVinci yet, you should give him a looksy. Very funny.

I think there have been very nice crowds each weekend. They all seem to be enjoying themselves.

[countessofmidnight]

Saturday--- One of the most scorchingly HOT days I've EVER experienced at the Faire... DAMN UNCOMFORTABLE !!! ICK !!! I am a hard-core Medieval AND I almost went Home early !!!

BUT,--- It was great fun---regardless... I was just starting to get a bit headachey and exhausted---like a wilting lily .

Sunday---The day was beautiful, a little rain in the morning cooled it right down !!! Owain Phyffe was cleverer than ever. Circa Paleo were their usual spectacular selves. ( Kelly wearing exotic gypsy footgear... )

I laughed my ass off at Broon & Danger Slash's last show . If you haven't seen it you DEFINATELY should ! HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't laughed that HARD IN YEARS !!! I was tearing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... It was wonderful .

I had a great time eating a huge chicken dinner ( Half a chicken ! ) with 2 sides ( red potatoes & green beans ) from " Friar Plucks "--- best food, in my opinion, at the Faire ! & listening to the music of "Menagerie" under the big tarp & talking to Liz and John. ( They are such adorable Folks ! )

SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...

---Love , The Comtesse Suzanne. ( Yeah... That's me dancing gypsy-style with my zils at the Stumble Inn ! )

[Lady Catharine]

I must chime in.
Cast is not in lanes as they should be.
I see them clumped together @ Fairyland, Ogre, Faires etc..
Main town lane, a peasant was lying *sleeping*.

As far as the rest where are they?

Some what disappointed.

They are @ opening & closing gate..

Scattered in lanes, I have say no.
Sorry....

[Just Kara (for now)]

Jul 26, 2010 11:31:00 GMT -5 Lady Catharine said:

I must chime in.
Cast is not in lanes as they should be.
I see them clumped together @ Fairyland, Ogre, Faires etc..
Main town lane, a peasant was lying *sleeping*.

As far as the rest where are they?

Some what disappointed.

They are @ opening & closing gate..

Scattered in lanes, I have say no.
Sorry....

Lady Catherine,
Just as the heat effected all of you it effected several of our cast members as well.

As far as fairyland is concerned, they are not clumping, we want there to a be presence of fey and mythical creatures back there at all time. They were doing exactly as they should have been.

As for everyone else, I know that people were pacing themselves as they were told to do and were doing a lot of intimate one-on-one type interactions. I ran into many cast members and saw them interacting with patrons.

Also, many of our cast members are in several shows, so there are times during chess and checkers especially where the cast is spread a little thin, but those out there are doing a wonderful job.

So, as I appreciate the concern, as far as I am concerned they were all doing exactly what they should have been doing for such an extreme weekend.


Thanks,
Kara
Cast Music Director
Production Staff

[Olive]

In spite of the brutal humidity, everyone seemed remarkably pleasant and cheerful Saturday. I must say, we have a wondrous Shire and a marvelous collective mood about the place. Thank you all for your part in creating it.

We appreciate all who stop by to visit us. Our humble place is open to all kind-hearted folk. And we are grateful to each of our patrons.

Brie is quite earning her keep at the Cottage; she is an answer to Pimento's and my prayers! Do make her acquaintance, and if she earns it--as she likely will--consider tipping her directly.

Stop by to see the likenesses of our entire Black Ox Peddler crew recreated in clay by our dear new neighbor on Fairie Dust Lane, Marilyn of Fae Clay! How precious a gift she presented us this week of our images--- crafted by her own hands in striking detail-- in polystyrene. Indulge me to suggest that if ye seek delightful gifts for young or old, make Fae Clay a destination on your quest. Perchance you may even commission her for particular works of your specification. . .

Huzzah to Barrett who gives us a bit of pipes each day, and to Capt. Richard for his company and his piping. And --oh!--I had my hand kissed and soul melted **sigh** during a torrid recitation by our handsome horn-selling neighbor, who "COULD BE" a grande Shakespearean actor!

Word is that iced tea will again be available from our kind neighbors at the Dungeon. Their macabre museum is educational and well-done, worth looking into; I understand it is thankfully NOT an audience-participation show! So fear not to enter.

The Ear-Art masters, busy making their line of one-of-a-kind blingy things, find time to offer us cookies and sandwiches. Thanks Mistress Ginny!

And the Pickle Grove is in full blossom with briney cukes, salty humour, and new faces.

That's some news from our end of the Shire. . .Lots going on along Faire Dust Lane. . .don't miss it.

[Sir Trevor]

Well, we had a good weekend up until Sunday night.

Yeah, Saturday was humid, but I didn't think it was nearly as hot as last weekend.
We didn't have as much full sun, and there was a lot more breezes.

Sunday was awesome weather wise.
We showed up late to miss the rain, and thoroughly enjoyed the cooler temps.

As for activities.
The wedding Saturday was great. Dave was beaming, and Jen looked glorious in that dress.
The ceremony itself was very nice as well. It was great to see such a good turn out for it as well.
Caught a bit of the joust on Saturday as well, but bailed when it started raining briefly.
Also, finally made it to closing gate, and glad we did, as the fight just inside the gate was awesome. Very realistic and action packed.

Sunday we did a lot more stuff. Finally got to see the vikings in action this season, as well as Dueling Fools. Also some Circa Paleo, and of course the 5:30 Danger Slash show.
Slash makes such a good deer
Especially with Aubrie's ears.

As for the cast, I have no problem finding them around the shire.
Especially when you consider they are responsible for
Parade
Chess
Checkers
2 Dances
3 Chorus programs
3 Jousts
4 plays
and Feast on Saturdays.
(and a few are also tied up with squiring for a good part of the day as well)
Most of the fae stay in fairyland so that children will always have a place to play and interact.
You can find the nobilty moving between joust / dance / chessboard throughout the day.
Always in groups of at least 2 or 3 as it would be very unseamly for the ladies to be walking about unattended.
Best places to find the peasants is around the story telling tree, town square, and the path between alpackas and chess. And the path between Mud and Town Square.

You won't find them doing many big bits, if any at all. Not many good times or places with the way the stage schedule worked out this year.
You will find several of the female members sitting and sewing or knitting in various places.
The baker is usually doing something with dough somewhere. If you slow down, or stop near her, she may ask if you would be interested in trying out her creation once she gets it baked.
I could go on and on, but I don't have time to type all the cool little bits I have seen and interacted in.
You have to remember that those of us in garb generally need to initiate these things.
As the cast are there to help enhance the experience for the "normal" visitors.
We already know where to have fun, and how to interact. So, unless we show an interest, they aren't going to go out of their way to pull us into their bits.

[Guest]

I for one agree with Lady Catherine. Despite bringing ungarbed people, we still haven't MUCH interaction. I'm very sorry, but I must agree with her on this point. I can count about 8 - 10 seasoned cast members that keep us in stitches and interact very well. I understand the cast is spread thin. I understand they are doing a large amount of work.....I understand it is a sore subject.....no one wants to hear criticism, but in this case it should be taken as CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.

Also, after the final checkers match, it would be nice if cast weren't grouping in the back at the Finale In Song. Those performing at the Finale in Song have a VERY DIFFICULT time this year due to the scheduling. The crowd is thin and it's NOT because it's at Drift and not Stumbull. One thought could be to sit with patrons and interact along with the patrons, not gather at the back, that can be disruptive.

[countessofmidnight]

I had such fun Last Weekend !!!...

Especially,--- Sunday, when the cooler weather revived me !!! :

THE HIGHLIGHTS---

---Interacting with the 2 Pucks (male & female ) in the town square... Funny discussion there including The Black Fox Pirate ( sadly without his ear hat & tail. Sigh ! ) about the merits and flaws of goats .

---Laughing with adorable barefoot Piper Barrett Taylor outside the incense and candle makers.

---Eating a great dinner from Friar Pluck's and gabbing with Liz and John from Menagerie Music.

---Seeing an ABSOLUTELY hilarious last show of Danger Slash & Broon at the Stumble Inn.

---Enjoying the wacky show of The Di Vinci Bros. at The cottage Stage : " Go Figaro ". (If you haven't seen it, check it out. Very funny. )


I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE COMING " PIRATE INVASION" WEEKEND !!! I'm working on my new personna The Doctress Annabelle Arabee for it !!!

And, I'm so looking forward to seeing "The Lake Erie Pirates" once again with the wondeful Jack Sparrow, Barbosa, C. Gull, ---and Crew !!!

[countessofmidnight]

I must SAY...

I love interacting with The Cast . I find them more than willing to play and flirt and have fun !!! The little bits they do can be the highlight of your day !!!

I thought very entertaining the final fight with the Templar & Locksley as we leave the Faire... Quite realistic !!!

I've always liked the Cast's singing the patrons out of the Gates ...

[blueguy]

Spent sunday with a former cast member looking about and watching the cast. Both of us are impressed with the stage work (particularly the combats). We would both prefer to see more activity among the fae who always seem to be napping or sitting in large groups. She would like to see more action near the stocks as well. to me, the vets seem very active and half the rookies are doing fine. But we are hitting week 4 so it is time to turn the play up.

[Higgins]

I would like to give a huge Kudos to the cast! This is by far the strongest cast in a very long time. Your assesment of the stage work is spot on Blueguy. The cast has nicely filled in some of the holes opened by the reduction of entertainment this year. Wish there was more cast in the lanes as well but I understand the demands placed upon them. I miss the "Justice of Avaloch" in town square that was so nicely done by Jeremy Young and others right in the middle of town last year. Some good new acts this year not as much music. Attendance seems nice. I got there late (1:00) on sunday and they were 90 percent full in the second lot already.

[Sir Trevor]

Yeah, we got there shortly after 12 on Sunday and were one of the last in the main lot.
By the time we got to gate, there were only a couple spots remaining.
Pretty good for a Sunday with a big storm to kick off the day.

I am hearing mixed results on the vendor front so far this season.
Some seem to be doing pretty good, while other aren't sure if they are going to cover costs.

[Sir Michael of Mentor]

Greetings All, just wanted to put my comments in. Both Princess Emma & I attended the first two weekends. I am takinh her back to NC Saturday bit will be attending next weekend.

I think the cast has done a wounderous job. Kara really needs to be complimented as Chior Director. Both the gals and mixed chourses are brillient. Nice touch.

As for working the lanes, I had many interactions, of course with Princess Emma also being there, it helps. So I will judge interactions again next weekend, when I am at the Faire alone. I did have a really nice time with the Farmer Wallace Martin and his family. The Princess planted the seed sticks all over the shire. I also met Anita Stich the seamstress. There were numerous cast as well. Overall in my 7 years attending, I think this is by far the best cast. I also can't saw enough about our Queen. She radiates joy every time I see her. Last our King is the Best. But as I always say no such thing as a bad faire, just some that are better than others. Well this year they are the BEST!!!! Thanks cast.

Sir Michael of Mentor